10 Years Later, Mass Effect Fans May Finally Get The Andromeda They Deserve

Mass Effect: Andromeda isn’t a terrible game by any means, it just happens to be a step down from the original trilogy. It also marked the end of Mass Effect‘s golden age – Andromeda released in 2017 and the series has been dormant since. Despite Mass Effect being so beloved, nothing has really stepped up in its place, but that might be changing a decade later.

Exodus is one of a couple of promising games (The Expanse: Osiris Reborn being the other) that clearly take inspiration from Mass Effect, and its setting is uniquely poised to deliver what Andromeda failed to. The debut title for Archetype Entertainment, Exodus is part of a new franchise undertaking from publisher Wizards of the Coast (of Dungeons & Dragons fame). An actual play tabletop series has been going to showcase Exodus‘ setting, and a prequel novel has already been published with a second coming this year. Exodus, however, is scheduled for launch in 2027.

Exodus Gameplay Looks Exactly Like Mass Effect – And That’s OK

New gameplay clips from Exodus have been released, with a promise of an extended showcase this summer. It looks almost exactly like a new Mass Effect game, at least spiritually. This isn’t necessarily surprising; its first gameplay reveal looked a lot like Mass Effect already. These new clips are, however, uninterrupted and contain the game’s HUD, making them a more comprehensive look at what it may be like upon release – though the video is explicitly labeled, “WIP Gameplay – Not Representative of Final.”

Even further, Exodus‘ combat in the first clip looks quite similar to Andromeda‘s. It’s quite fluid, and very fast-paced. Comparisons to Andromeda are usually unfavorable, but combat was definitely not the game’s weak point. Andromeda‘s game feel is arguably the best in the series, and the combat is especially dynamic thanks to added mobility features like a dash and a jetpack. For the tacticians out there, Exodus does appear to take a classical cue from the original Mass Effect trilogy by slowing time to switch weapons and use abilities – a feature that Andromeda abandoned.

Exodus’ Omega Centauri Cluster Already Sounds More Interesting Than Andromeda’s Heleus Cluster

Beyond the gameplay similarities, Exodus feels especially like Andromeda because of its setting. It takes place in the Omega Centauri cluster centuries after humanity fled a dying Earth. Colony ships set out in disparate directions, and were called to Omega Centauri when a surplus of habitable worlds were found there. Because of the time dilation inherent to interstellar travel, those that arrived in the Omega Centauri cluster become known as Celestials, having evolved beyond normal human biology and adopted advanced technology.

With Celestials now dominating the upper class of an interstellar society that includes aliens, Exodus feels like a more compelling version of Andromeda‘s story. Arrival in the Heleus Cluster in Andromeda has a lot of similarities, but it always felt like the game is set well after the galaxy’s most interesting events had already taken place. This maybe could have been remedied by sequels fleshing out the Heleus Cluster a bit more – or even taking us into the wider Andromeda Galaxy – but the game’s reception effectively put Mass Effect on ice.

The jury is still out, obviously, but Exodus is looking very promising, and the extended gameplay reveal coming in the summer will be something to look out for. Mass Effect: Andromeda wasn’t a complete disaster, but it was a disappointment compared to its predecessors. A decade later, Exodus has a very similar framework, combat and all, and it could be what Mass Effect fans have been hoping for.