Mass Effect Andromeda (Sony PlayStation 4, 2017)

BioWare's critically acclaimed action-RPG debuts on PS4 with a new protagonist and setting in Mass Effect: Andromeda. The story of Andromeda begins between the second and third entries of the original Mass Effect trilogy, when each of the four Citadel Council races agree to send 20,000 people on a 600-year journey to help colonize planets in the Andromeda Galaxy. Gamers play as Sara Ryder or her twin brother Scott (both characters can be given customized first names and appearances) as they explore new planets, form relationships, and engage in real-time combat.

Ryder can travel around the galaxy in a ship called Tempest, while planetary exploration takes place in an all-terrain vehicle from which players can scan for resources. Dialogue between characters plays an important role in Andromeda, with gamers choosing from four response types and occasionally an action prompt, and conversations may contain moral decisions that affect Ryder's relationships, some of which may grow romantic. Unlike previous games in the series, players are not bound by specific character classes. As they complete missions they can level up and unlock dozens of combat, tech, and biotics skills, and more than 300 skill upgrades. Gamers will also eventually unlock seven different profiles that add more bonuses to their preferred method of playing, and they can switch between four different profiles at any time.

Combat in Mass Effect: Andromeda was designed to be faster and more fluid than in previous titles, with a new dynamic cover system and a jetpack that lets players hover in midair. Gamers can use guns, melee attacks, and special skills to attack foes, and they get help in battle from six squadmates, each with three active skills and two passive skills. Players can order their squad around the battlefield, choose how they want their skills to evolve, and they can also team up for special Power Combo attacks. Multiplayer fans can also join friends for co-op action.