Mass Effect AAA RPG Rival Confirms Limited Time Free Availability

Plenty of games opt to use space as a setting, but Mass Effect is easily one of the most beloved space-set franchises.

It just ticks all of the boxes with its engaging combat, likeable characters, narrative that players can influence, and meaningful missions.

It avoids the trap of feeling bloated, and that’s precisely why so many gamers struggled to connect with Starfield due to its many procedurally generated planets that carried very little purpose.

If you’re after a streamlined, high-octane gaming experience set within space, I’d highly recommend Supermassive Games’ latest release, Directive 8020.

Here at GAMINGbible, we awarded the title a score of nine. It follows the classic Supermassive Games formula of players being tasked with keeping characters alive.

It’s not exactly a cheap game though, retailing at £39.99. Pricing will vary regionally.

If you want a fun space adventure that won’t cost you a single penny, AAA RPG Star Citizen has announced yet another free play period.

From now until Wednesday, 27 May, anyone can dive into Star Citizen on PC to coincide with the game’s real-life fan event, DefenseCon.

Star Citizen Is One Of The Most Expensive Games of All-Time

“It’s DefenseCon in the 'verse and the best ships are ready to test fly, with over 100 available throughout the event,” developer Cloud Imperium Games announced.

“Take on missions, explore new worlds, and find your place in the ‘verse. Whether a worker or a warrior, there’s something here for you.”

Star Citizen is perhaps another bloated experience, perfect for those who simply want to venture through the galaxy at their own pace and less ideal for those who want focused mission goals.

Cloud Imperium Games

This RPG is split into various “modules”, which basically equate to modes.

In the Arena Commander module, players can engage in space combat fights, piloting a variety of ships.

There’s the Star Marine module for those who want to land on a planet and engage in regular ol’ ground combat.

Finally, there’s Persistent Universe, which is where the game begins to feel like a traditional RPG as players can create their own avatar, explore, trade, partake in bounty hunting, mine, and more.

Weirdly, Star Citizen remains in early access despite having first dropped into early access in 2017.

Its development has heavily relied on crowdfunding; in fact, as of December 2025, crowdfunding and early access sales have been combined to give the game a budget of over $1 billion.

As such, it’s one of the most expensive games ever produced.

There’s no word on when it’ll leave early access, with 2026, 2027, and 2028 all having been thrown about.

For now though, if you want to get a taste for what this behemoth of a game has to offer, enjoy the free play period while it lasts on PC until 27 May.

READ MORE: Mass Effect Spiritual Successor Gets New Gameplay Teaser