No matter what is going on across the stars one thing can be certain and that is that the Mass Effect series is awesome. Each game in the franchise brings its charm that has drawn in players over the years. However, most gamers will immediately recall a certain aspect of the game play.
Despite all the actions and consequences, romance is one of the greatest elements of the game. There are so many amazing love interests that make the player want to go back and pursue all the best ones. Speaking of best ones, some lacked the spark we’ve come to expect from Mass Effect. We will be ranking the best and worst romantic relationships across all the Mass Effect games.
10 Best: Garrus Vakarian
Garrus is a male Turian that a female Shepard can romance and we recommend doing this. We could talk about his prowess in the field or his interesting roles in the game but this list is to discuss why we love him and Shepard together.
The subtle game of suggestion they play may be seen as frustrating to some but to us, it is an exploration into an unfamiliar lifestyle. Inter-species dating and all of the ups and downs that come with navigating it are one of the many joys one explores with the Garrus and Shepard ship.
9 Worst: Miranda Lawson
Miranda Lawson is a beautiful, intelligent woman with an amazingly smooth voice, but in the universe of Mass Effect, it takes more than looks and smarts to make a player pursue a character or be a notable couple.
While Miranda possesses a somewhat interesting background, most, if not all, interactions with her feel dry and lacking the passion that can be found in other partners. A relationship with Miranda feels mechanical and not worth the effort compared to various other couples.
8 Best: Vetra Nyx
Vetra’s romantic arc is genuinely enjoyable. The second Turian to make this list, Vetra will take any Ryder on an amazing journey of learning to open up after a lifetime of hardship. You meet Vetra early on in Mass Effect: Andromeda but she becomes an important part of the game and our hearts.
This Turian starts as a no-nonsense soldier who knows how to work the system. She appears hard at first but watching Ryder slowly get her to open up and watching her walls come down is moving. Couples everywhere can relate to Vetra and Ryder and if not then simply appreciate the healthy pairing of these two make.
7 Worst: Diana Allers
With the other couples on this list, you could tell that an effort was made to display a unique experience and set of emotions that came with that particular pursuit. However, if a play chooses to pursue Diana Allers they may find themselves disappointed if they were expecting an epic romance.
Almost everything between Allers and Shepard seems strictly focused on Allers’s work which is not something one would want when trying to woo a potential mate. It all comes to a head when the romance scene at the end feels more like a quick hook-up opposed to an actual connection (like Asari melding).
6 Best: Tali’Zorah
Tali belongs to the nomadic species known as Quarians, but that is far from the most captivating thing players will come to learn about this young female. The romance between Tali and players is one of deep intimacy and sacrifice.
For those unfamiliar with Quarians, they lack a strong immune system so engaging in physically romantic acts could be dangerous if not deadly. If one chooses to pursue Tali as a romantic partner, they will be taken down a path of passion and get to watch one of the greatest romances in Mass Effect history.
5 Worst: Jacob Taylor
Awkward is the first word that comes to mind when we recall the beginning of the Jacob Taylor romance. Despite Shepard’s obvious attempts at flirting, Taylor is only made aware of this when it is blatantly stated.
Shepard and Taylor are not seen as a power couple for several reasons across the fandom. When the scene isn’t weird, portraying cliches or Taylor having little personality, they just don’t seem to ignite that spark we look for in a Mass Effect couple.
4 Best: Peebee
Peebee is fun and wild so it is easy to understand why she is an audience favorite. Worry not players, there is enough love in this Asari for a male or female Ryder. Introduced in Mass Effect: Andromeda, Peebee is an enigma that starts as casual fun but watching the feelings of this reserved being develop throughout the game ignites that romantic in us all.
In the end, Peebee wanting all the strings associated with a relationship and going as far as to perform Asari melding proves the feelings these two shares are real.
3 Worst: Suvi Anwar
If players choose to play as a female Ryder, the option to seek a romantic relationship with Dr. Suvi Anwar is possible. You would think that someone with an amazing accent and a superior mind, with the occasional fun aspect, would be able to entice the player on a deeper level.
However, with her, it is all work and nothing else. To sum it up, the entire romantic experience with Suvi is short and lacks luster. Overall, it felt there was so much more that could have been done with her story so players can help but feel they lost a potentially amazing match.
2 Best: Jaal Ama Darav
Jaal Ama Darav is one of the greatest male romantic interest across the whole series for an abundance of reasons. As one of the greatest love interests a player can pursue, Jaal offers a range of complicated choices and emotions.
Following his story and the story of his people is emotive. Slowly, whether male or female, Ryder will learn and grow with Jaal. Through these experiences, a well-established breathtaking bond based on love and respect will make itself known to any who romance Jaal.
1 Worst: Gil Brodie
For a male Ryder, Gil Brodie is an option in the romance department but not one we would recommend. Relationships progress in different ways at different speeds, this is a fact of the dating world, but the reason Brodie and Ryder are not a fan favorite is mostly due to the lack of intimacy.
Aside from inter-species couples, Brodie offers one of the most significant romance endings (with himself, Ryder, and Jill co-parenting a child) and this could have been made so much more powerful if a deeper emotional connection had been established.
NEXT: 5 Reasons Why We Want A New Mass Effect Game (& 5 Why We Want Dragon Age 4 More)
