Mass Effect: Legendary Edition releases in less than a month and fans are already excited to get their hands on it. The graphic improvements alongside reworked combat and Mako driving mechanics seem to be promising for the remastered Mass Effect trilogy. With the release date so close, players are already planning their strategy for their new game. The struggle between a Paragon or Renegade playthrough is present throughout all three games, but luckily players don’t exactly have to stick to one or the other if they don’t want to.
Perhaps one of the most important decisions in the Mass Effect series doesn’t have to do with combat style at all. Romance is also one of the main appeals of Mass Effect, and BioWare has a history of being fairly inclusive with its romance options. However, the decision of who to romance in the Mass Effect trilogy isn’t one that should be taken lightly. Players may already have their favorites that they can’t wait to relive, while others may want to try something new. Either way, romance is by far one of the most important choices players will make in the sci-fi RPG.
Factors That Determine The Best Romance Experience
Obviously, the best romance will be determined by the opinion of the player. Each Mass Effect fan has a romance or character they turn to because it’s a personal preference. However, there are a few key factors that will determine what romance is the best option for day one gameplay.
Longevity
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is full of three games worth of content along with DLC. However, not all romances span across all three games. Players could stick with a romance all the way from the first Mass Effect game to ME3, but they might find a different character they like more in a later game. Additionally, sometimes a romance can only be continued if it happened in a previous game. When it comes to longevity, there are both long-spanning or one-game romances that players can choose from.
Personality
Players who are longtime fans of the Mass Effect series will already have an idea of which characters they gravitate towards and which ones they don’t. However, it’s important to note that there are certain options that are gender-locked depending on if the Commander is male or female. For example, only female Shepard can romance Garrus Vakarian starting in ME2, but only male Shepard can romance characters like Tali’Zorah or Miranda Lawson. So, if players find themselves wanting to romance a specific character based on personality, it’s best to make sure the Commander created allows for the romance to happen.
The Best Romance Options Per Game
In the first Mass Effect game, there are 3 total romance options, with Liara T’Soni being the only one that both male or female Shepard can pursue. Come Mass Effect 2, the options open up a bit more with 3 exclusive options for both Shepards as well as 3 characters who are romanceable by either Shepard (these characters, however, don’t grant the Paramour Achievement upon completion.) Mass Effect 3 has 5 different options for male Shepard, 3 options for female Shepard, and 4 available for either Commander.
After the first Mass Effect game, the romance options clearly open up a lot, which can leave many players wondering who the best romance is. While it will always come down to personal preference from the player, there are some romances that are higher ranked than others. Each game has highs and lows with characters that players either love or hate.
Mass Effect
The first game in the trilogy, as mentioned before, has 3 total romance options. Male Commander Shepard can pursue Ashley Williams or Liara T’Soni, while female Commander Shepard can pursue Kaidan Alenko or Liara T’Soni. With little variety in the lineup, players may not have that difficult of a time choosing between the three characters, especially because it boils down to if players would rather romance an alien or a human. That being said, as far as the original Mass Effect goes, Liara T’Soni is the most interesting romance option available.
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 is where things get to be a bit more complicated, especially in terms of romance. Liara is largely absent from this game, so players who want to remain loyal to her probably shouldn’t pursue anyone else. However, this is the game where fan-favorites Garrus Vakarian and Tali’Zorah become romance options, as well as new characters like Miranda Lawson, Jack, and Thane Krios. Almost every single romance in Mass Effect 2 is a rewarding player experience. However, it’s largely agreed upon by fans that Jacob Taylor is the worst romance of ME2.
Mass Effect 3
The game with the most romance options is also the last game of the trilogy. However, a lot of romances can only be continued if they occurred in Mass Effect 2, so that’s something to keep in mind when picking a romance for the final game of the trilogy. This is also the first game with exclusive same-sex options for either Commander, where female Shepard can pursue Samantha Traynor or male Shepard can pursue Steve Cortez. There are lots of great romance options in ME3, though players may have a more fulfilling experience by continuing romances with past characters or avoiding Diana Allers, a reporter who doesn’t bring a lot to the table.
Overall Best Romance
Players will have the pleasure of discovering (or rediscovering) their favorite characters and their personalities all over again thanks to Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. However, if accolades were to be given, there are some romances that would definitely rank higher than others. In the grand scheme of things, Liara T’Soni is one of the best romances Shepard can have, especially if players continue from Mass Effect to Mass Effect 3. Garrus Vakarian is a solid choice for female Shepard, as is Thane Krios. Male Shepard players may want to consider Jack for her character arc.
Romance is an important part of the Mass Effect experience, and it can be a tough call when deciding who to pursue. There are very few wrong choices, and in the end, it all comes down to what the player wants to experience in their romantic choice.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition releases May 14 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.