Ranking the Mass Effect Trilogy DLCs

For those who might be unaware, I am quite a big Mass Effect fan. I have a tradition of playing through the trilogy once a year, and I've been able to keep that up ever since the release of the third game.

They are easily my favourite games of all time, and they've had a huge impact on me, growing up. The intricate storytelling, the iconic characters, the engaging gameplay, the level design, the music; literally everything about the series, I love.

That includes the downloadable content. As part of a reflection, I have decided to rank each of the DLCs from worst to best. For this list, I'm only including story-based expansions, and excluding ones such as Genesis and the multiplayer packs.

I also will not be including 'Bring Down the Sky' from the first game, since that is the only one I haven't played. When playing the remaster, somehow, I forgot to start it. Don't ask, I have no idea how or why.

If you have your own rankings and opinions, feel free to share them! I don't think my list is too controversial, but regardless, here it is...

This list contains minor spoilers for the DLCs. I've tried to be as vague as possible.

11: Firewalker Pack (Mass Effect 2)

Careful, you might accidentally touch a rock the wrong way and it'll freak the Hammerhead out so much that it'll stop working properly.

Okay, let's get this one over with so we can forget about it as soon as possible. The Firewalker Pack is a collection of quests involving the Hammerhead, a vehicular monstrosity that's supposed to be better than the Mako, the previous installment's drivable menace.

You'll travel to different worlds following a vague and hardly engaging storyline, as you try to locate a group of missing scientists. You'll be speeding, boosting and blasting your way up and through abandoned research sites and dangerous shipyards that are littered with Geth activity, with each mission providing clues to the whereabouts of the lost team.

Missions have minimal variety and become tedious very quickly. Combat is barely functional on higher difficulties since the Hammerhead gets destroyed after a few hits.

What's so awful about this DLC you ask? It's a tedious chore that ends up being incredibly anti-climatic. You don't really get anything from it, except for a weird orb thing that you can have in your cabin, and nothing that happens has any impact throughout the rest of the trilogy. You could skip it and you wouldn't miss a thing.

On top of that, the Hammerhead is just awful. I have no idea why people like it. It's sluggish and buggy as hell. It'll often get stuck on various floor outcroppings and the boosters can be highly hit or miss on whether or not they want to work properly. So yeah, the Firewalker Pack is awful. Next.

10: Normandy Crash Site (Mass Effect 2)

The crash site is cold and decrepit, but there are still a few areas that are vaguely familiar to fans of the first game. It's a small map, yet there's quite a bit to see.

This one isn't actually bad by any means. The reason it's so high up the list is because it's only one mission, and there isn't much to it either. Once the Normandy SR2 is complete and ready to roll, you're able to visit the remnants of what's left of the original Normandy, hence the name of the DLC.

While here, depending on where you walk to, you will experience various flashes of images showing what part of the ship that area used to be. It's a haunting, reflective experience that fans of the original game will have some connection with.

Poor Mako... you're much better than that awful Hammerhead thing. You deserve better than this.

The main objective is to place a memorial to commemorate the event, but you are also given a side objective. Many of the dog tags went uncollected. It is up to you if you want to collect all the ones that are missing. Completing it will reward you with extra money and XP.

Overall, It's a nice little mission that'll take no more than fifteen minutes to finish. You don't get much out of it, but the callbacks make it worth playing.

9: Overlord (Mass Effect 2)

A sinister story combined with a haunting atmosphere make this a stand out DLC. There's just a small number of things that hold it back from the others.

Some people would probably rank this higher, and while I can understand why they would, there are a couple of gripes I have with it that put it at the spot it's at, but I'll get to those in a bit.

Overlord has you investigate a Cerberus research facility that's recently gone dark. Upon arriving, it doesn't take long to realise something seriously bad has happened. The result of this calamity is an experiment gone wrong; a human combined with a VI is wreaking havoc, killing almost all of the staff, and is dead-set on leaving the planet. Your task is to stop that from happening through any means necessary.

There are numerous moments throughout this expansion where the intensity shoots straight up. The result is a fight for survival while an AI screams at you. Overlord is far from a joy ride.

What ends up unfolding is something much darker and more disturbing than what's previously perceived, as the horrors of what went on here before the catastrophe are revealed. There are some genuine hard-to-watch moments in this DLC, especially the final cutscene, that leave you feeling gut-punched.

Why do I rank it so high up the list? Well for starters, the Hammerhead is back! Did they improve it at all? Ha, nope! The length is a bit too short as well, and I would've preferred less time with that awful vehicle.

Oh goody, a combat scenario involving the Hammerhead on bumpy terrain. I can't wait to die over and over again. It's so much fun!

Then there's the questionable autism stereotype that's present. Here's a summary:

"Hey look, this guy's autistic and he's good with numbers and stuff, maybe he could do the thing we're trying to do. Wow he can! His autistic mind is special and stuff. It's a miracle!"

The rest of the writing is great, but this comes off as a bit cheap. From the perspective of someone who is autistic, this revelation is just laughable. Not offensive, just dumb and poorly delivered. It doesn't ruin Overlord, and it's still very much enjoyable, but for the consistency of the writing to be interrupted towards the end is a rather unfortunate slip up.

8: Arrival (Mass Effect 2)

Arrival is very much an action packed DLC, and a challenging one at that. It does, however, serve as a bridge between the second and third game, and for that reason alone, it shouldn't be missed.

The last DLC to release for Mass Effect 2 was Arrival. This expansion bridges the gap between this game and Mass Effect 3, and technically marks the beginning of the Reaper invasion. Initially sent on a rescue mission to a Batarian world named Aratoht, the series of events that unfold send you into a race against time, with the fate of the galaxy at stake.

This is something that should've been in the base a game, a trend that seems to unfortunately be common-place with Mass Effect DLCs, but nevertheless, it can be skipped. Players would just miss on some context to the introduction of the third game.

You'll be on your own for the majority of this expansion. Because of this, you will need to resort to careful tactics in order to stay alive. If you play on higher difficulties, you are in for one hell of a challenge.

Like Overlord, it's short, but it's a lot more intense. It's also much more challenging since you're not able to bring any squadmates along for the ride. Some people may find this detrimental, but I didn't, as I liked the difficulty boost.

If I had one complaint for it, I'd say the levels lack variation and any stand-out features. The only exception to this is the last part of the mission, which looks both stunning and haunting. It's far from the best expansion, but Arrival is very much worth the money.

7: Zaeed: The Price of Revenge (Mass Effect 2)

Zaeed has a violent past, and a lot of combat experience. Talk to him on the Normandy to listen to all sorts of stories he has to share. It may take some time to warm up to him, but given the chance, he will grow on you.

The first character DLC in the trilogy, Zaeed Massani is a bounty hunter/mercenary for hire that can be found on Omega. There isn't a grand mission introducing him like there is with other characters. Cerberus has already reached out to him beforehand, so all you do is talk to him, then hire him.

He does, however, have a loyalty mission, but unlike the rest of your squad, his is made available right from the get-go. His quest involves traveling to Zorya in search of Vido Santiago, a fellow merc who wronged him twenty years prior.

His loyalty mission is rather short, and not as good as Kasumi's, the game's second character DLC. Regardless, it's a lot of fun, and Zorya is a charming planet to explore.

Zaeed can be hard to warm up to at first. He's stubborn, violent and an adamant believer of 'the ends justify the means', but he's also a strong fighter with plenty of combat experience. Unfortunately, he doesn't get nearly as much screen time as the rest of the squad, so any chance to further improve his character isn't given any spotlight. That being said, it's a free DLC, so there's no reason not to get it.

6: Omega (Mass Effect 3)

Omega has you exploring parts of the station that were closed off in Mass Effect 2. Some of these set pieces are astonishing. The fighting that ensues in them is tense, but Aria's combat capabilities gives you a fighting edge.

Finally, a Mass Effect 3 DLC. The fact that it took this long for one to appear on this list is a testament to how good they are. That being said, Omega is definitely the weakest of the bunch, but that isn't to say it's bad. Far from it, actually.

One of the events that took place between the second and third game was the Cerberus invasion and subsequent conquer of Omega, one of the major locations you travel to in the previous game. Months after it happened, Aria T'Loak, the former ruler of the station, has built up her forces and asks you to accompany her in retaking it.

What follows is a narrowly successful first strike and a wide-spread conflict between the forces of those who lived there and the occupiers. Alongside these two parties, is a third participant, the Talons, of which you make an uneasy alliance with. It's here where you meet a female Turian for the first time, (and she's pretty cool!).

Nyreen Kandros has some history with Aria T'Loak. The two reuiniting is more than awkward, but thanks to Shepard's diplomatic skills, a formal, if uneasy alliance is formed.

The only reason this DLC is ranked behind the other ones of the third game is the number of bugs, a lot of which, in all fairness, have been resolved in the remaster. There were some amusing ones though, like Aria's infamous speech where she slides around numerous times throughout the performance.

Regardless, Omega is a brilliant expansion that's worth playing, especially for those who are a fan of Aria. It's a decent length, some of the levels are spectacular, and the story is pretty good.

5: Kasumi: Stolen Memory (Mass Effect 2)

Kasumi's cheerful persona is quite the contrast to a lot of the other squad mates personalities, but it's what makes her memorable. That and her iconic loyalty mission, which is what makes this DLC one of my favourites.

The other, and slightly better character DLC released for the second game, Kasumi is a highly experienced thief that can be recruited without having to do a mission. Introduced on the Citadel, she's already been contacted and briefed by Cerberus, and simply needs to be talked to in order to recruit.

Her loyalty mission is also made instantly available, and is much more interesting and memorable than Zaeed's. Fitting the theme of her character, she asks for your assistance in a robbery. But this isn't just any simple heist. This one is personal to her.

The man you are robbing is responsible for the death of her partner, and has taken possession of his 'graybox', a device capable of storing memories. Understandably, she is dead-set on getting it back.

The man you are stealing from has made quite a wealth from other species, harbouring some of their precious artifacts. Yes, that is Lady Liberty's head in the background. That bosh'tet...

The first half of the mission consists of blending in and being covert as you find a way through security, while the second half is a bullet-frenzy escape operation. It's easily one of, if not the best loyalty mission out of all of them. The aesthetic of it is brilliantly executed, and the music is incredible. Kasumi as a character is charming and likeable, though unfortunately, like Zaeed, doesn't have nearly as much screen time as she should.

4: From Ashes (Mass Effect 3)

A living, breathing Prothean, serving as a squadmate is definitely something. Javik is not only a powerful warrior, but a genuinely likeable character. Sure, he starts off callous, but he did just learn that his entire species is dead...

Remember that trend of DLCs that should've been in the base game that I mentioned earlier? Here's another prime example, and it completely boggles my mind that Bioware had the nerve to release this as a separate package.

From Ashes introduces Javik, a long-lost Prothean, frozen and buried underground on Eden Prime, the first location you travel to in Mass Effect 1. The planet's changed a bit since then, and the presence of Cerberus makes things as problematic as they are dangerous.

Not only does this DLC provide a new squad mate to accompany you on missions, it also gives you further insight into the Prothean species; what they were like, how they fought against the Reapers, etc. While this information doesn't have a huge impact on the story, it's marvelous for the player, as the Protheans have been integral to the plot of the whole trilogy.

The various flashes to the past, seeing the extinction of the Prothean race, are something to behold. All Javik has known is conflict, and that is clearly visible in your interactions with him.

Javik is easily one of the best characters in the game. He starts off cold and somewhat reprehensive, but his valuable contributions to both the world-building and the gameplay make him a more than worthy addition to the crew. There isn't much more to say, except for the fact that this is a must-have expansion.

3: Lair of the Shadow Broker (Mass Effect 2)

Lair of the Shadow Broker provides a huge contribution to the development of Liara's character. Fans of her in the first game will definitely not want to miss it.

That moment when a character gets an entire expansion dedicated to them... Say hi to Lair of the Shadow Broker. Beloved by many, and for good reason. In the base game, when you meet Liara on Illium, you learn that she's after the Shadow Broker, an anonymous leader of a vast intelligence network that you can have dealings with in the first game.

This DLC follows up on that quest, as you help Liara track them down, and save a friend of hers that's being kept prisoner. You'll be racing through vast skyscrapers and battling on the outside of a massive ship whilst perservearing through an overwhelming lightning storm, all the while experiencing a story that has a lasting impact on both Mass Effect 2 & 3.

Possibly one of the best chase sequences in the trilogy, you'll be battling atop skyscrapers and flying past oncoming traffic. Try not to stare at the beautiful surroundings too much while you're at it.

It also showcases Liara's character development immensely. In the first game, she's a quiet, solatary individual whose highly enthuasiastic about her research, but after all the events leading up to the present, she's become a lot more bold, combative, and in some cases, ruthless.

Like the others, Lair of the Shadow Broker is a rather small expansion, totaling up to about two hours of playtime, but after completing it, you're given access to a secondary base of sorts that'll provide you with numerous benefits to help you on your mission. Regardless of your opinion of Liara, the DLC is very much worth having.

Heart to heart moments such as these really showcase just how far Liara has come. The voice performances for both her and Shepard in this DLC are fantastic, and make the story all the more better.

2: Leviathan (Mass Effect 3)

A lot of fans wanted to know more about the history of the Reapers. So Bioware listened, and gave us this. The result is nothing short of incredible. This DLC is a must have for those wishing to learn more about their foe.

Most people would probably not have this DLC ranked at second place, and while I can understand that, for me, it completely blew me away. It starts off with a bit of detective work, followed by a lot of combat and capping off with a number of revelations that have a huge impact on the trilogy as a whole.

This expansion puts you on the hunt for a creature aptly named Leviathan, believed to be an ancient being hiding itself from all life in the galaxy. It's a roughly three hour story that has you exploring different worlds whilst throwing intense situations in your face whenever it feels like it.

Leviathan throws you into a mystery, with clues scattered all across the galaxy. The locations you'll be travelling to are quite diverse, but they are all filled with danger.

The narrative is what makes this DLC so iconic for me though, especially the final encounter with Leviathan that makes the journey locating it feel fulfilling. You'll learn about the origins of the Reapers, how they operate, what their early days were like, and much more.

Again, the content doesn't necessarily change the flow of the base game's story, but it's information that's worth investing in, simply because of how intriguing it is, and how it gives you an increased understanding of your enemy.

Well hello there. I won't say anything about this, except that you should go ahead and play it. The following events will give you goosebumps.

Leviathan will stick with you. Whether that's because of the final cutscene, or the package as a whole, it's brilliantly paced and provides a good amount of content. So yeah, I recommend it.

1: Citadel (Mass Effect 3)

What is essentially a family reuinion, Citadel excels in every aspect. From the amusingly brilliant story to the fantastic character interactions, it is a love letter to not just the trilogy, but to the fans who were there every step of the way.

To the surprise of absolutely nobody who has played the DLCs, Citadel takes the number 1 spot. I think I can easily say that this is my favourite piece of downloadable content ever created actually.

It's kind of difficult to explain what this expansion is. I mean, it's fan-service, but with a plot, followed by a party. That last part is easily one of, if not the most iconic section of the whole trilogy. It brings all of the past squad mates together to have a good time.

How many games can you think of where you get to have a party and dance the night away with a group of fantastic characters, who you've fought alongside with through hell and back? I'll wait.

The Normandy crew has been put on shore leave while the ship undergoes maintenance. You finally get to take a break from all the violence and death, sit back, put your feet up and relax. Of course, it doesn't take long for things to go wrong as you're thrusted into a life or death situation within the first five or ten minutes.

The story may come across as a bit intense at first, but once you get into it, you realise that isn't the case. The writing is light-hearted and comedic, and there are plenty of scenes where squad mates don't take things seriously at all. There are countless callbacks to the previous games, and the interactions between the characters alone make this DLC more than worth it.

A new part of the Citadel is made open to you, featuring all sorts of vistas, from arcades, to restaurants, and a casino. Here, you'll get to meet up with fellow squad mates and partake in various fun activities.

Then, after you've done the story, you get to have a party! You can invite every surviving companion that's ever served with you, get drunk, have awkward conversations, and dance. You can explore a new part of the Citadel where you can play on arcade machines, gamble in a casino, or take part in a virtual fighting arena. You can also meet up with other characters and do activities together.

As a Mass Effect expansion, it's not something you'd expect to see, but Bioware completely blew away everybody's expectations, and made a masterpiece that, in all honesty, is perfect in my eyes. For those who may not be a fan of the game's ending, this DLC could easily be a satisfying conclusion, and a happy one at that.

If I really had to force out a complaint for this DLC, is that, unfortunately, it has an ending, and during that conclusion, you'll remember that there's a war going on, and that the fight is far from over. Apart from that, it's perfect.

In Conclusion

Was that a controversial list? Feel free to let me know. I'm pretty confident with my opinions though. I don't hate any of the DLCs... well maybe the Firewalker pack, but that's aside the point. They each bring something new and interesting to the table, and the trilogy as a whole is better with them in it.

I am thankful that Bioware included all of these in their remaster, as a lot of people who played the games beforehand would've likely missed out on them. Think about all of the people experiencing the Citadel DLC for the first time... I'm jealous.

Anyways, that's all for now. Hope you enjoyed this list. I've got a couple more DLC rankings in mind for future articles, so stay tuned.

I should go.