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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →You can start Mass Effect 3 directly, but for a first playthrough, play Mass Effect, then Mass Effect 2, then Mass Effect 3. Mass Effect Legendary Edition already includes all three single-player games, and choices can carry forward between them. Starting with the third game is a shortcut, not a way to experience the trilogy’s full story and continuity.
Does Legendary Edition include Mass Effect 3?
Yes. Mass Effect Legendary Edition includes the single-player base content for Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3, along with more than 40 DLC items across the trilogy, according to Electronic Arts’ product page. Check the current store listing for your region and platform for purchase and availability details.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Mass Effect Legendary Edition - PlayStation 4 | $58.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Mass Effect (Legendary Edition) - For Xbox Series X | $19.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Mass Effect Legendary Edition - Origin PC [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51u4qsXeCeS._SL160_.jpg)
|
Mass Effect Legendary Edition - Origin PC [Online Game Code] | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Mass Effect Legendary Edition (Import) | $23.34 | Buy on Amazon |
That means you do not need to play a separate version of Mass Effect 3 before starting the collection. You can play all three games from the beginning in the intended sequence.
Should you play Mass Effect 3 first?
For a first playthrough, no: start with the first game and follow the numbered order. The trilogy is designed around events and choices carrying from one game into the next. Xbox Wire’s May 28, 2021 guidance cautions against skipping straight to the conclusion, saying the trilogy is about “the journey from game to game” (Xbox Wire).
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- One person is all that stands between humanity and the greatest threat it’s ever faced.
- Relive the legend of Commander Shepard in the highly acclaimed Mass Effect trilogy with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition.
- Includes single-player base content and over 40 DLC from Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3, including promo weapons, armors, and packs - remastered and optimized for 4k Ultra HD.
Playing in order gives you the earlier story, the relationships and context built across the games, and the chance to shape later events through your own choices. EA likewise describes choices as carrying over between games in its Legendary Edition overview.
Two ways to approach the trilogy
| Approach | Story and character context | Choice continuity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, then Mass Effect 3 | Builds the narrative and character context across all three games. | Preserves the intended progression of choices between games. | First-time players who want the complete trilogy experience. |
| Start directly with Mass Effect 3 | Leaves earlier events and much of their context to inference; it does not reproduce the full earlier-game narrative. | Uses the setup and choices available in the game rather than a playthrough of the earlier entries. | Players who knowingly accept missing story context to reach the third game sooner. |
What if you want to start with Mass Effect 3?
You can. The game offers ways to establish some prior choices, but they are not a substitute for playing the previous games. Before Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, the optional Mass Effect: Genesis comic experience lets you make selections about events from earlier games. It provides a continuity aid, not the complete stories of those games (PlayStation Blog, May 14, 2021).
Rank #2
- RELIVE THE CINEMATIC SAGA - Heart-pounding action meets gripping interactive storytelling where you decide how your unique story unfolds
- Three Games – One Launcher: Play through the single-player base content and over 40 DLC from all three games, including promo weapons, armors, and packs
- Remastered for a New Generation - Experience the trilogy in 4K Ultra HD with enhanced performance, visuals, and graphics, all available in HDR
- Visual Improvements on All Three Games - Updates include enhanced models, shaders, FX, lighting, and depth of field plus full-resolution audio
- EXPERIENCE THE LEGEND OF SHEPARD - Create and customize your own character, from appearance and skills to a personalized arsenal then lead your elite recon squad across a galaxy in turmoil
That same PlayStation Blog explanation says that a player who plays only Mass Effect 3 must take just about every available option to be eligible for an ending without massive galactic losses. This is the publisher’s 2021 explanation, not a guarantee for every setup. If you want the narrative and choices to develop through the trilogy rather than rely on a compressed setup, begin with the first game.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Recommended play order
- Start Mass Effect.
- Continue with Mass Effect 2, carrying your choices forward where the game supports it.
- Finish with Mass Effect 3, using the resulting continuity from the preceding games.
EA Help lists PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC through the EA app or Steam for the collection; platform and storefront availability can vary, so confirm the current regional store listing (EA Help).
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- 0014633377651
Rank #3
- One person is all that stands between humanity and the greatest threat it’s ever faced.
- Relive the legend of Commander Shepard in the highly acclaimed Mass Effect trilogy with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition.
- Includes single-player base content and over 40 DLC from Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3, including promo weapons, armors, and packs - remastered and optimized for 4k Ultra HD.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
