The Expanse: Osiris Reborn — The Sci-Fi RPG Fans Say Feels Like Mass Effect 5
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Embraces Mass Effect Comparisons
With Mass Effect 5 still far from release, fans are eagerly looking for something to fill that sci-fi RPG void. Enter The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, a new third-person action RPG from Owlcat Games that made its debut at Summer Game Fest. Set in a gritty, realistic future inspired by the popular TV series The Expanse, this game has quickly drawn comparisons to BioWare’s iconic Mass Effect franchise.
- Introduction to The Expanse: Osiris Reborn and its Mass Effect vibes
- Developer insights on inspirations and unique story approach
- Character origins and their impact on gameplay and story
- Details on narrative depth, choices, and companion relationships
- Platforms and release status
Mass Effect Inspiration Meets Owlcat’s Unique Twist
Right after the trailer dropped, fans flooded the comments with enthusiasm, making clear they see The Expanse: Osiris Reborn as a spiritual successor or at least a worthy sci-fi alternative to Mass Effect. One viewer joked, “I’m Commander Shepard, and THIS is my favorite studio on the Citadel.” Another praised the game despite noticing some borrowed elements: “Even though they might have borrowed a ‘few’ things from Mass Effect, I absolutely love it.”
Creative director Alexander Mishulin openly welcomes these comparisons. He shared, “Mass Effect is a great inspiration for us because it’s an iconic game for [the] Xbox 360 generation, and a lot of [Owlcat] team members played it in their youth. We’re inspired by it.” He also highlighted how many developers, including those at Owlcat, were motivated by Mass Effect to pursue game development.
Not Just a Mass Effect Clone
Despite the obvious influences, Mishulin stresses that Osiris Reborn isn’t just Mass Effect with a new coat of paint. The team is focusing on more nuanced choices and consequences that offer players greater agency. Instead of simple binary moral options, the game promises a spectrum of decisions that affect both the story and relationships with companion characters.
Character origin is a key gameplay element. You can choose to be a Belter, Earther, or Martian, and this choice influences how NPCs and companions treat you. Mishulin explains, “If you happen to be playing a character of Mars origin or Earth origin — and you will be able to select your origin from the start — you will not be very welcomed on Ceres because of those events,” referring to the infamous Canterbury ship incident from the show and books. Belter characters, however, will find more opportunities and different side quests available.
Rich Story and Player-Created Captain
The game takes place during the first two and a half seasons of The Expanse TV show, letting players create their own ship captain. Your character’s twin sibling will also be on board and may agree or disagree with your choices, reminiscent of the sibling dynamic in Mass Effect: Andromeda. Romance options are included among the crew, adding another layer of depth to relationships.
Modern Gameplay for a New Generation
Mishulin points out that while Osiris Reborn draws inspiration from a game released years ago, it aims to improve and modernize the experience. “Mass Effect is a game that was released quite a long [time] ago, and the games industry now is a little bit different,” he said. Owlcat is integrating modern UI and gameplay conveniences to create a fresh take on the sci-fi RPG genre rather than just updating Mass Effect.
The game is planned for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, with no official release date yet. Its Steam page simply lists it as “coming soon.”
Check out the announcement trailer here:
