How long does it take to play all 3 mass effects?
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The total playtime for all three Mass Effect games can vary significantly depending on the player’s level of engagement and completionism, with players aiming to complete the main story throughout all three games expecting to spend around 68 hours playing Mass Effect Legendary Edition, while completionists can expect to spend about 150 hours on all three games. The playtime can also be estimated as 78½ Hours – 110 Hours to beat all 3 Mass Effect games, indicating a wide range of possible play durations.
Understanding Playtime Variations
The playtime for the Mass Effect series can be broken down into several factors, including the player’s skill level, the difficulty level chosen, and the amount of time spent on side quests and exploration. For players who want to experience the main story without delving too deep into side missions, the playtime can be significantly shorter, while completionists who aim to complete every side quest, mission, and achieve 100% completion will naturally spend more time playing.
Main Story and Completionist Playthroughs
- Main Story Playthrough: This involves playing through the game’s main storyline, completing the necessary missions to progress through the story, and finally, reaching the game’s conclusion. The main story playthrough of each Mass Effect game can take around 18 to 30 hours per game for players focusing solely on the main storyline.
- Completionist Playthrough: This involves completing every aspect of the game, including all side quests, optional missions, and achieving 100% completion. A completionist playthrough can significantly increase the playtime, with estimates suggesting around 150 hours for all three games in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is ME3 longer than ME2?
ME2 and ME3 have different gameplay pacing, with ME2 being considered a cooler, slower game and ME3 being a heart-pounding war story. In terms of playtime, ME2 can last around 30 hours in an imported runthrough, while ME3 can last about 27 hours, not counting around 8-10 hours of multiplayer.
2. Do I need to play all 3 Mass Effect games?
Playing all three Mass Effect games is recommended to experience the full depth of the story and its interconnectedness. However, Mass Effect 2 can stand on its own, and players can start with it before going back to play Mass Effect 1 if they choose to.
3. How long does it take to beat Mass Effect series?
The time to beat the Mass Effect series can vary from 6-10 hours for a main story playthrough without side missions to 20-30 hours or more for a playthrough that includes side missions.
4. Is Mass Effect 1 the shortest game?
Yes, the original Mass Effect is easily the shortest among the three games, with Mass Effect 2 and 3 being about equal in their running time.
5. How long is Mass Effect 4?
Mass Effect: Andromeda, not Mass Effect 4, has a main story playtime of about 18½ Hours. For 100% completion, it can take around 93½ Hours.
6. Is Mass Effect 5 confirmed?
Mass Effect 5 is expected to be released, but there has been no official confirmation of its development status following layoffs at BioWare.
7. Should I start on Mass Effect 1 or 2?
Starting with Mass Effect 2 is recommended for new players, as it introduces the setting strongly, and then players can go back to Mass Effect 1.
8. Can you keep playing ME3 after ending?
Yes, you can keep playing ME3 after the ending by loading an older save or starting a new game, allowing access to DLC content.
9. Why was Mass Effect 3 ending so controversial?
The ending of ME3 was criticized for rendering character choices inconsequential, lacking closure, having plot holes, and narrative inconsistency.
10. What is the hardest ME3 mission?
Several missions in ME3 are considered hard, including battles against Banshees, The Geth Prime, The Reaper At Rannoch, and Kai Leng.
11. Was Mass Effect 3 rushed?
ME3 feels messy and disappointing due to rushed writing and draft revisions, despite following a 3-act structure.
12. What is the longest DLC for ME3?
The Citadel expansion is the longest DLC for ME3, offering new missions and details to the narrative.
13. Can you max out all powers in Mass Effect 3?
You can come very close to maxing out all skills in ME3, but it’s not possible to max out all 9 skills due to the point system.
14. How many endings does Mass Effect 1 have?
Mass Effect 1 has two endings that serve some purpose for Shepard but do not significantly influence the sequels.
15. Does it matter what order you play Mass Effect?
Playing the Mass Effect trilogy in order is recommended to experience the full story and character connections, but Mass Effect 2 can be played first for new players to introduction to the setting.