One of the many things people love about the Mass Effect games is their deep lore. The universe Commander Shepard and Pathfinder Ryder inhabit feels like a real-world with real alien species. While the games themselves deserve credit for that, they can't build the entire universe on their own.
There's an abundance of comics, novels, and side stories set in the same universe that help fill in many of the gaps in the story. So many, in fact, that working out when everything takes place can be tricky. Don't worry, though; here are all of them in chronological order.
*The comics that use flashbacks are ordered based on when the majority of their events take place.*
Mass Effect: Evolution
Nine years after humanity discovered the Mass Effect relays, they engage in a war against the Turians. The conflict is referred to as The First Contact War. It's during this period that the four-part comic series named Mass Effect Evolution takes place.
Yet, the piece isn't solely about the humans' struggles against the cool alien species. It also serves as a fascinating origin story for Mass Effect's most mysterious character, The Illusive Man.
Mass Effect: Foundation Issue One
The Foundation comic series gives more insight into characters before they appear in the games. This first issue serves as the origin story of Rasa, aka Maya Brooks.
During the piece, she gets rescued from her life as a child laborer by a mysterious agent. She then accompanies the hero on her mission to track down a man named Roth.
Mass Effect: Revelation
Drew Karpyshyn's Revelation novel follows David Anderson on one of the most vital missions of his career.
It occurs shortly after the end of the First Contact War, and the protagonist is partnered up with Saren Arterius. Their mission is to apprehend an Alliance scientist conducting illegal AI research.
Mass Effect: Foundation Issue Four
Kaiden Alenko is not always regarded as one of the best companions in the series. But this interesting Foundation Issue revolves around his time at Jump Zero (a biotic training facility).
It mostly focuses on his relationship with his fellow student, Rahna. The two are close friends until an incident occurs with an unsavory instructor named Commander Vyrnnus.
Mass Effect: Foundation Issue Ten
One of the best DLCs in the series is Kasumi - Stolen Memory, and its titular character is the protagonist in this issue.
The story is set a long time before she meets Shepard and helps save the world. In fact, she's still teaming with fellow thief Keiji Okuda. During the comic, the pair attempt to steal from Donovan Hock.
Mass Effect: Homeworlds Issue One
Mass Effect 3 fans know James Vega as a muscle-bound wise-cracker aboard the Normandy. But he used to be a conflicted young man, and those days are depicted in the first Homeworlds comic.
After enlisting in the Alliance Military, James becomes at odds with his drug addict father. And Vega ends up questioning his future.
Mass Effect: Foundation Issue Nine
During his days in STG, Mordin was a part of some vital operations. The ninth issue of Foundation is about one of his most significant.
It begins with a group of high-level Salarians deciding that they need to infect the Krogans with a new strain of the Genophage to quell their growing resistance. It's then up to Mordin and a few of his allies to get it done.
Mass Effect: He Who Laughs Best
At this point, it's hard to imagine anyone else besides Joker piloting the Normandy. Yet, he isn't initially the first choice to helm the state-of-the-art ship.
This comic tells the tale of how the ambitious young pilot earns that prestigious position. Spoiler alert: he does more than simply ask for it.
Mass Effect: Foundation Issue Two
Few individuals can give Urdnot Wrex a good fight, and this comic proves it. During the issue, the Krogan mercenary goes on a warpath to hunt down Fist.
Meanwhile, Cerberus works in the shadows to complete their own mission. It all goes down right before Shepard meets Wrex on the Citadel.
Mass Effect: Foundation Issue Three
By the time the Normandy crew arrives on Eden Prime, the settlement is already ripped apart, with Ashley Williams being one of the only survivors.
Luckily, this comic sheds some light on what happened right before the Commander's arrival. It's all told through Ashley as she recounts all of the events of that dark day.
Mass Effect: Homeworlds Issue Two
Commander Shepard meets Tali early into the first game on the Citadel. At the time, she's in the crosshairs of Saren's assassins. Issue two of Homeworlds shows how the Quarian got into the perilous situation.
It turns out her problems start before arriving at the Citadel. After acquiring incriminating evidence against Saren from an ice planet, she becomes a target for Commander Jacobus.
Mass Effect
The first game in the series sees a promising Commander Shepard try to stop Saren and his army of Geth.
This means gathering his team, hopping aboard the Normandy, and traveling all over the galaxy. Along the way, Shepard discovers a lot more about Saren's plan and his connection to the Reapers.
Mass Effect Galaxy
Mass Effect Galaxy is a forgotten game of the series. Released on IOS, the title is very different from its predecessors. However, it still includes a story that's a part of the same timeline.
In it, Jacob Taylor joins forces with Miranda Lawson for the very first time. Thankfully, they make a great team, as they're required to stop a group of Batarian Pirates from killing the Council.
Mass Effect: Ascension
The Ascension Project is a program that helps talented biotic children harness their strange powers. In this novel, one of the project's most promising students, Gillian Grayson, becomes the target of Cerberus.
The organization is desperate to get its hands on the girl because of her great potential. Lucky for her, she has Kahlee Sanders as a bodyguard.
Mass Effect: Incursion
Incursion is a short eight-page comic that stars the ruler of Omega, Aria T'Loak.
Her two bodyguards get wind of a deal the Blue Suns are making with some slavers, and they're ready to handle it alone. But the intuitive Aria is suspicious of the transaction, so she accompanies them.
Mass Effect 2 - Prologue
There's plenty of debate among the fanbase about whether the first or second game is the best. However, it's hard to deny that the sequel has a better opening.
While searching for the remaining Geth, the Normandy is attacked by a mysterious ship. It makes short work of Joker's baby, slicing right through its armor with ease. Everyone has to evacuate, but Shepard doesn't make it out in time.
Mass Effect: Foundation Issue Five
Shortly after Shepard is declared KIA, a disillusioned Jacob joins Cerberus. He and Miranda then work together to retrieve the Commander's body.
Unfortunately, their search isn't straight-forward. Instead of finding a status pod containing a hero, they run into Batarian slavers. This story is all beautifully depicted in the fifth issue of Foundation.
Mass Effect: Foundation Issue Six
This comic serves as a continuation of the Foundation's fifth issue. Although, the search for Shepard's body gets put on hold.
Miranda and Jacob now have to deal with a Batarian Warlord after Miss Lawson is captured. The Cerberus agent isn't the only prisoner they aim to save, however.
Mass Effect: Redemption
After struggling to get their paws on the Commander's body, Cerberus acquires the help of Liara T'Soni in this comic. And the Asari teams with a Drell named Feron to locate what's left of her former friend.
Yet, Cerberus aren't the only ones interested in Shepard. The Shadow Broker is on the hunt as well.
Mass Effect: Foundation Issue Seven
The seventh Foundation comic begins with Jack taking down a Cerberus doctor. Then she has to flee because both Blue Suns mercs and Cerberus agents are looking to apprehend her.
It's a tricky situation, but Jack is a biotic badass, so she's not scared. It's one of the reasons the character is among the series most beloved.
Mass Effect: Foundation Issue Eight
Cerberus agent Rasa (Maya Brooks) is once again the main focus of this comic. And because of her inability to capture Jack in issue seven, the Illusive Man isn't happy with her.
Not all hope is lost, though, as she gets a chance to redeem herself by stealing confidential data on Shepard. Yet, to do so, she has to get past the powerful Spectre Tela Vasir.
Mass Effect: Foundation Issue Eleven
Anyone who's recruited Zaeed in the past knows the man is filled with exciting stories of his adventures. Well, this comic lets you witness one of them.
The veteran mercenary is hired by The Shadow Broker to take down a frigate. A hefty job for one man, so Zaaed first assembles a team, and then, they all attempt to complete the difficult task.
Mass Effect: Foundation Issue Twelve
Thane has never been the typical assassin. His incredible calm and spirituality are a stark contrast to the gun-ho mercenaries found on Omega. And few killers are involved in the sort of story the Drell stars in during this comic.
It starts with a typical hired hit until Thane is distracted by a female Drell. The two then embark on a beautiful yet tragic love story.
Mass Effect: Paragon Lost - Prologue
Thus far, the only official film ever set in the Mass Effect universe is Paragon Lost. It tells the story of a human colony named Fehl Prime and the two major attacks they face.
The first occurs in the prologue, where a group of Blood Pack Mercenaries invades the place. But a group of Alliance troops, including a certain James Vega, are there to defend.
Mass Effect: Foundation Issue Thirteen
While not always the main focus, Rasa's place within Cerberus is a running plotline throughout the Foundation series. And in issue thirteen, it all comes to ahead.
Frustrated at the company, Rasa attempts to break into the Lazarus Research Station to steal Commander Shepard's clone. It serves as a precursor to Mass Effect 3's Citadel DLC.
Mass Effect Andromeda: Initiation
The events of the Initiation novel occur while the mission to Andromeda is still being organized. Those plans almost unravel, though, as some essential technology is stolen.
However, Cora Harper is on the case, as she tries to prove herself to the initiative. Unfortunately, the mission doesn't go quite as smoothly as she expects.
Mass Effect: Homeworlds Issue Three
Upon reuniting with Garrus in the second game, you learn about his adventures as Archangel. Homeworlds Issue Three lets you witness exactly how Omega's ultimate Vigilante was born.
It all starts when Garrus grows incredibly frustrated with C-Sec's abundance of red tape. So, he heads to Omega, which has no restrictions and a lot of crime to stop.
Mass Effect: Paragon Lost
Once the Blood Pack is defeated in the film's opening, time jumps ahead two years. And Fehl Prime is under attack once again. This time the invaders are the Collectors, looking to harvest the people of the settlement.
James Vega is once again at the forefront of the defense, yet the Reaper-controlled creatures are a much bigger threat than Omega mercs.
Mass Effect 2
After dying in the Collector attack during ME2's prologue, Commander Shepard is brought back to life as part of the Lazarus Project.
Once awake, the hero wants to exact revenge on the creatures and stop them from wiping out human settlements. Although to do that, the Commander needs to first recruit the best specialists from around the Milky Way.
Mass Effect 2: Arrival
Because you can play Mass Effect 2's expansions whenever you want, most don't have a canonical place in the timeline. Many people just assume that those adventures take place while Shepard is building his team.
However, the Arrival DLC is different. The Commander's attempt to stop the Alpha Relay invasion is supposed to happen after the Collectors are dead.
Mass Effect: Discovery
Mass Effect: Discovery is another set of comics that focus on the Andromeda mission. In the four-part series, a Turian called Tiran Kandros infiltrates the entire Initiative.
His goal is to uncover a plot that's hidden within. Typically things quickly get complicated for the Turian protagonist.
Mass Effect: Conviction
After Shepard blows up the Alpha relay in the Arrival DLC, people are understandably angry. This short comic shows some of the aftermath.
The Citadel Council denounces the Commander, and Udina denies Alliance involvement. James Vega, on the other hand, simply spends time on Omega playing cards with several Batarians.
Mass Effect: Retribution
Once again, a member of the Grayson family becomes the target of Cerberus in this novel. This time it's Paul Grayson, who's a former agent of the organization.
The Illusive Man sends Kai Leng to capture him, so they can implant the poor guy with Reaper technology. Anderson and Kahlee Sanders do what they can to rescue him.
Mass Effect: Inquisition
The Inquisition comic tells a short story about how Captain Bailey earned his promotion to Commander.
It all begins when Udina informs Bailey of his belief that C-sec has been compromised, and Executor Palin is involved. Bailey then launches an investigation to see what's happening.
Mass Effect: Deception
It's debatable whether the Mass Effect: Deception novel should count as canon due to its numerous universe inaccuracies. But if it does, its events happen months after Mass Effect: Retribution.
It acts as the last chapter in the conflict between Cerberus and the Grayson family. In this one, a now very powerful Gillian Grayson wants to exact revenge on the Illusive Man for her father's death.
Mass Effect: Invasion
Aria T'Loak is one of the most badass characters in the series, yet she finds herself in trouble during this four-part comic series. Her beloved Omega gets attacked by a group of mysterious and powerful creatures. Plus, she's got Cerberus to deal with too.
The story functions as a full explanation of how the Asari lost the crime-riddled station before Mass Effect 3.
Mass Effect: Homeworlds Issue Four
There are many reasons to love Liara. One of the biggest is that she discovers the plans for the Reaper-stopping crucible. Her adventures leading to the discovery are depicted in the fourth issue of Homeworlds.
Throughout the comic, Liara attempts to use her impressive connections as the Shadow Broker to help against the Reapers. This leads to her uncovering some interesting secrets.
Mass Effect: Infiltrator
Few fans hold Mass Effect: Infiltrator in as high esteem as the original trilogy of games. That being said, the mobile title does add to the universe's lore.
It tells a tale about a Cerberus operative named Randall Enzo, who starts to sour on his organization after seeing their experiments. He then has to fight against his former employers.
Mass Effect 3
During the third game in the series, the Milky Way Galaxy's worse fears have come true - The Reapers are here. Naturally, it's up to Shepard to lead the assault to stop them.
Even a legendary hero can't do it alone, though. So, he sets out to unite every species in the galaxy to fight the seemingly unstoppable machines.
Mass Effect Andromeda: Annihilation
To travel to Andromeda, the Milky Way residents use arks, each containing a certain species. The Human, Salarian, Turian, and Asari ones all get accounted for during the Andromeda game.
However, there is also a Quarian ark, which isn't only carrying its namesake, but Drell, Elcor, and Batarians as well. The Annihilation novel is about their difficult journey, which includes a deadly virus.
Mass Effect Andromeda: Nexus Uprising
Several things happen between Mass Effect 3 and Andromeda, including the Nexus Uprising. This is where some of the people living on the Nexus fight back against those in charge.
The sequence of events that led to that moment is shown in this novel. Plus, it fills in some of the gaps between the Nexus' arrival and Ryder getting there.
Mass Effect: Andromeda
In Mass Effect: Andromeda, the people of the Milky Way make their journey to a new galaxy. The idea is to colonize the worlds they discover, but it's not as simple as that.
Much like the old galaxy, this new place is filled with many dangers. So, it's up Pathfinder Ryder to make Andromeda habitable for everyone.