Have you ever finished a great space game and wished there was more? If you’re a fan of Mass Effect, chances are you’ve been searching for a similar experience—something rich in story, deep relationships, and epic interstellar adventure. Well, the wait might be over. The upcoming action RPG, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, is capturing the attention of the sci-fi and gaming community as a spiritual successor that could finally scratch that persistent Mass Effect itch.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into why this game, set in the critically acclaimed universe of The Expanse, is drawing such enthusiastic comparisons to BioWare’s space opera. We’ll explore its confirmed design goals, its unique setting, and why it might just be the character-driven, choice-heavy RPG we’ve been waiting for.
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Why the World Is Still Obsessed with Mass Effect
Before we delve into The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, let’s look at why Mass Effect made such a massive and enduring impact. Released in 2007, the trilogy cemented itself as a benchmark for modern RPGs by offering gamers a chance to:
- Explore an expansive sci-fi universe full of complex alien species and unique cultures.
- Make monumental choices that genuinely shaped the narrative and the fate of entire species.
- Develop deep relationships with a cast of memorable squadmates and pivotal characters, often leading to deep friendships or compelling romances.
- Engage in tactical, squad-based third-person combat while carrying out morally challenging missions.
These elements created a one-of-a-kind RPG experience that stuck with fans, setting a high bar that many subsequent space RPGs have struggled to clear. After the original trilogy, fans were left hungry for a new series that could offer the same kind of emotional depth, space drama, and solar system-spanning consequences—and that’s where The Expanse: Osiris Reborn enters the picture.
What Is The Expanse: Osiris Reborn?
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is an upcoming, story-driven, third-person sci-fi Action RPG developed by Owlcat Games, the studio known for their deep, choice-heavy CRPGs like Pathfinder and Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. The game is set firmly within the universe of The Expanse, the popular series of novels and television shows created by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck.
The game is set during a time of immense tension and political upheaval, where the fragile balance of power between Earth, Mars, and the Belt is on the brink of collapse. You step into the boots of a fully customizable Pinkwater Security mercenary captain—an Earther, Martian, or Belter—whose routine shore leave on the asteroid Eros Station is violently interrupted by an escalating emergency and quarantine. This initial chaos quickly spirals, entangling you in a solar system-wide conspiracy far beyond your control.
The game is not about being a clear-cut hero; it’s about survival, holding your crew together, and navigating a complex web of hidden agendas and political pressure. This morally grey, character-focused premise is the first major point of connection with the Mass Effect ethos.
Let’s look at what else makes this game so promising for fans of BioWare’s work:
- A Familiar and Richly Detailed Universe: Unlike a brand-new IP, The Expanse already offers a deeply established, scientifically grounded setting with rich political conflicts. The game’s story is an original adventure set alongside the events of the first two books/seasons of the show.
- Massive Inspiration from Mass Effect: The developers at Owlcat Games have explicitly cited the Mass Effect series as a major source of inspiration, specifically mentioning the character focus, deep choices, and the highly-regarded Suicide Mission from Mass Effect 2.
- Third-Person, Cover-Focused Combat: The core gameplay is built around a third-person, cover-based shooter with tactical squad commands, a gameplay loop highly reminiscent of the later Mass Effect titles.
- Deep Companion System: Relationship development and the crew are central to the experience, ensuring that those you bring on missions—and even those you leave on your customizable ship—remain engaged with the story.
Commander, Captain, Mercenary: Your Role in the Conflict
In The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, you don’t play a pre-defined savior like Commander Shepard or a clear-cut hero. Instead, you create your own Pinkwater Security mercenary captain. This player-created character and their choices are at the heart of the story.
You get to create and customize your own captain, choosing their origin as an Earther, Martian, or Belter. In the universe of The Expanse, this choice is far from cosmetic. Your origin and subsequent political alignment will influence how characters and factions react to you, what opportunities become available, and the unique challenges you’ll face.
Your journey starts with a personal crisis on Eros, but it evolves into an epic fight to uncover a dark truth and reclaim control over your own fate, all while leading the system’s most advanced ship. This mix of high-stakes conspiracy and personal survival is the perfect recipe for a compelling, Mass Effect-style character arc.
The Heart of the Ship: Squad Dynamics and Relationship Building
For Mass Effect fans, the true genius of the series lies in its companion system and the relationships built on the Normandy. The Expanse: Osiris Reborn appears to be doubling down on this crucial element.
The game promises a deeply personal journey where your relationships with your crew will flourish or deteriorate based on the choices you make and how you choose to lead. Your companions are not just mission assets; they are people with their own scars, loyalties, and personal quests—some chasing redemption, others hiding dark truths. The ship, the Gemini, becomes your base of operations and home, a place where trust must be earned.
Owlcat has revealed key design elements that directly echo and evolve Mass Effect‘s best features:
- Active Crewmates: Unlike many RPGs where characters left on the ship simply sit idle, in Osiris Reborn, companions who don’t join your two-person away squad will still be engaged. They can help from a distance, providing support, hacking systems, drawing enemy attention, or completing secondary mission objectives. This ensures your entire crew feels like a unified, active team, which is a significant evolution for the genre.
- The Mass Effect 2 Inspiration: The developers have cited the unforgettable Suicide Mission from Mass Effect 2 as a direct inspiration. This suggests that the fate of your crew, and perhaps your final mission’s success, will hinge on the careful management of your relationships, your ship, and the choices you make in assigning roles based on your companions’ skills and loyalties.
- Romance and Choice: Just like Mass Effect, the game will feature romance options and deep dialogue choices. The entire narrative is structured so that every decision, even seemingly small ones, will leave a lasting mark on the solar system and on the personal relationships you forge.
Let’s Talk Combat: Tactical and Immersive
While the narrative and relationship building are central, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is also an action RPG that demands thoughtful gameplay.
Combat is a real-time, third-person system built around a strong emphasis on tactical decision-making under pressure. You won’t just point and shoot—you’ll need to control your captain and coordinate your two active companions:
- Cover-Focused Gunplay: The core mechanic involves cover-based shooting, a fundamental component of the Mass Effect combat experience.
- Squad Coordination: You’ll issue real-time commands to your squad, coordinating their skills and specialized abilities to get the upper hand. For example, a companion might deploy a combat drone, a ballistic shield, or use a jetpack for an aggressive maneuver.
- Role-Based Tactics: The game features multiple roles, each with a distinct playstyle. You can create the character you like, with the open RPG system allowing players to experiment with builds inspired by a variety of genres, including some flexibility reminiscent of a Soulslike approach to character progression.
- Support from the Ship: The ability for non-squad companions to support from a distance, whether by hacking systems or providing intel over the radio, adds a unique tactical layer that ties the core missions back to your command ship and the entire crew.
Choices That Actually Matter
One of the biggest promises Mass Effect made was that your choices would shape the fate of the galaxy. The Expanse: Osiris Reborn aims to fulfill that promise within the politically explosive context of The Expanse universe.
The solar system is a tense environment held together by fragile alliances. The story is a personal journey that unfolds alongside the major events of the main series—the repercussions of things like the Canterbury incident and other pivotal moments in the books and show will be visible and felt by the player.
The branching narrative is designed for high replayability and meaningful consequence:
- Faction Alignment: Your choices—whether you side with the Earthers, Martians, or Belters—will change how the political web responds to you, opening and closing strategic and narrative paths.
- Long-Term Memory: Your squad members and major NPCs will remember your actions, leading to organic, emotional reactions and consequences later in the game.
- Moral Complexity: The game is set in a universe where trust is scarce. You’re constantly forced to navigate moral grey areas, with the consequence of your choices being the driving force of the entire adventure.
Exploring the Solar System: More Than Just a Pretty Map
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn gives you command of the system’s most advanced ship, the Gemini, allowing you to traverse the scientifically realistic solar system of the 24th century.
The game’s exploration promises to take players to many of the iconic, high-fidelity locations seen in the show, including the dense, quarantined chaos of Eros Station. This isn’t about generic, procedurally generated worlds; the focus is on a meticulously crafted environment that captures the lived-in feel and political dynamic of the source material. Every station, asteroid, and city in the solar system is a hub for unique quests, deep political interactions, and environmental storytelling that paints a clearer picture of a humanity divided by gravity, politics, and greed.
Who’s Behind The Expanse: Osiris Reborn?
The ambitious scope of this title is matched by the pedigree of its developer: Owlcat Games. While the original prompt incorrectly named a different studio, Owlcat Games is well-known in the RPG community for developing massive, complex, and choice-heavy CRPGs, including Pathfinder: Kingmaker and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous.
Their shift to a third-person action RPG in the hard sci-fi world of The Expanse is a clear signal of their intent to deliver a high-quality, narrative-driven experience. Owlcat’s deep understanding of complex RPG mechanics, branching narratives, and companion development makes them a strong fit to tackle a project so heavily inspired by the Bioware school of design. The involvement of actors from The Expanse TV series reprising their roles further solidifies the game’s commitment to the IP.
The Future of Space RPGs Starts Here
We’ve waited a long time for something to fill the void left by Mass Effect. While many games have tried—from other sci-fi adventures to spiritual successors—none have really matched the unique, winning blend of:
- Story-driven gameplay
- Squad-based mechanics
- Deep galaxy-building
- Meaningful character connections
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn looks poised not just to replicate this formula, but to expand upon it. By mixing the moral complexity of The Expanse with tactical, cover-based combat and relationship-driven storytelling, it doesn’t just try to be Mass Effect 2.0—it’s forging its own path as the next great space opera RPG. While the release date is still “Coming Soon” (with community speculation suggesting it’s unlikely to release in 2026), the previews and ambitious goals already show a game that respects the classics while boldly aiming for something new.
Final Thoughts: Should You Be Excited?
Short answer? Yes, absolutely.
If you’re someone who’s spent hours talking to your crew on the Normandy, agonizing over moral choices, or chasing the perfect ending to a space epic, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is shaping up to be your next obsession. The combination of Owlcat Games’ RPG expertise, the rich lore of The Expanse, and the explicit design goal of channeling the best of Mass Effect ensures this game is one to watch. Get ready to customize your captain, rally your crew, and leave your mark on the solar system, bosmang