Across the Mass Effect trilogy, Commander Shepard faced war, betrayal, and impossible odds—but also found something even rarer: genuine connection. Whether through flirty banter, slow-burn confessions, or tear-jerking loyalty, the game’s romances became iconic. Some romances were fierce. Others were tender. All made us believe that in a galaxy on the brink, love was still humanity’s greatest hope. These are the ten best romance options that players fell for—again and again.
#10: Kelly Chambers – Mass Effect 2
While not a full romance arc like others, Kelly Chambers still left a huge emotional impact on players who took the time to notice her.
Kelly, Shepard’s yeoman aboard the Normandy SR-2, is charming, supportive, and empathetic, often checking on Shepard’s emotional well-being when no one else does. Her light flirting can blossom into something more intimate if players pursue her, offering a small but meaningful connection amid the chaos of the Collector threat.
Gameplaywise, Kelly’s romance feels casual but warm. She’s a bright spot in an increasingly dark universe—a reminder that kindness matters even when the world’s falling apart.
Lore-wise, Kelly’s understanding of alien cultures and her non-judgmental attitude highlight Mass Effect’s broader theme of acceptance and trust beyond politics and war.
If Shepard cares for her, she survives the Collector attack. Ignore her, and she might tragically perish—showing that small kindnesses can ripple into life-saving consequences.
Kelly’s romance isn’t grandiose, but it’s heartfelt—and for many players, that made it unforgettable.
#9: Steve Cortez – Mass Effect 3
Steve Cortez offered players something groundbreaking for Mass Effect: an earnest, emotionally rich same-sex romance option for Male Shepard.
A shuttle pilot grappling with grief over the death of his husband, Steve’s romance arc is a beautifully handled story of loss, healing, and hope.
Gameplaywise, it’s a slow build. Shepard first offers Steve friendship, gently helping him process his pain. Only after trust is earned can the relationship deepen into something romantic.
Lore-wise, Steve’s story touches on the cost of war—not just on heroes, but on the ordinary people trying to survive. His vulnerability makes his romance feel deeply personal and earned.
Developers crafted Steve’s arc specifically to offer a portrayal of queer romance that was both respectful and emotionally authentic, a significant step forward in mainstream gaming narratives.
Players who pursued Steve found a relationship defined not just by passion, but by mutual strength—and a quiet, fierce kind of love.
#8: Jacob Taylor – Mass Effect 2
Jacob’s romance in Mass Effect 2 is steady, loyal, and grounded qualities that made him a favorite for players seeking stability amid Shepard’s dangerous life.
A former Alliance soldier turned Cerberus operative, Jacob values honor, duty, and integrity. If romanced, he treats Shepard with deep respect and open admiration, offering a rare sense of emotional security.
Gameplaywise, Jacob’s romance unfolds through conversations that explore trust, loyalty, and the burdens of leadership. His steadiness offers Shepard a rock to lean on during the darkest missions.
Lore-wise, Jacob represents the best of humanity’s ideals—courage, discipline, and compassion, untainted by politics.
However, Jacob’s romance takes a bittersweet turn in Mass Effect 3, where a complex subplot involving personal betrayal adds painful layers to his story, making the romance feel heartbreakingly real rather than idealized.
For players who valued honesty and strength in a partner, Jacob Taylor was an unwavering light in the void.
#7: Kaidan Alenko – Mass Effect Trilogy
Kaidan Alenko’s romance is one of the most layered, emotionally satisfying arcs across the entire Mass Effect series, offering players a slow-burn story of trust, loyalty, and vulnerability.
Kaidan, a biotic and officer in the Alliance Navy, starts off reserved but deeply principled. Romancing him requires patience—earning his trust, navigating his natural caution, and proving that Shepard values genuine connection over battlefield bravado.
Gameplaywise, Kaidan’s romance stands out because it feels earned. His walls aren’t easy to break down, but when he opens up—sharing his struggles with biotic implants, his fears, and ultimately his love—it’s incredibly rewarding.
Lore-wise, Kaidan’s relationship with Shepard mirrors the trilogy’s larger themes of loyalty versus duty, and personal sacrifice versus the greater good. In Mass Effect 1, he offers calm steadiness. In Mass Effect 3, after years of war and separation, reuniting with him feels like coming home.
One of the most powerful moments comes during the Citadel DLC, where a tender, quiet rooftop conversation cements Kaidan as a rock in Shepard’s life—a partner who sees past the legend to love the person underneath.
Kaidan’s romance became especially groundbreaking when Bioware expanded it to allow Male Shepard romances in Mass Effect 3, giving players more freedom to define Shepard’s personal journey.
Through Kaidan, players found a romance built not on whirlwind passion—but on deep, abiding trust.
#6: Miranda Lawson – Mass Effect 2
Miranda Lawson’s romance arc takes one of the trilogy’s most seemingly “perfect” characters—and humanizes her completely.
Engineered to be genetically superior in intelligence, strength, and beauty, Miranda initially projects cool confidence and control. But beneath that façade lies a woman struggling with immense pressure, loneliness, and a deep need for acceptance beyond her genetics.
Gameplaywise, romancing Miranda is a slow process of peeling back her defenses. Shepard’s loyalty and belief in her—not just her abilities, but her worth as a person—is what opens the door to romance.
Lore-wise, Miranda’s romance highlights one of Mass Effect’s recurring questions: What does it mean to be human? Miranda, crafted like a weapon, seeks affirmation that she can still choose her own destiny—and love freely.
Her story arc reaches powerful emotional peaks in Mass Effect 3, as she fights to free her sister from Cerberus’ clutches, risking everything she once believed in.
Developers designed Miranda’s romance to showcase the tension between control and vulnerability—and her relationship with Shepard is where she finally allows herself to be both strong and soft.
For players who fell for Miranda, it wasn’t just her brilliance or beauty—it was the realization that even the “perfect” ones needed to be loved for who they truly are.
#5: Thane Krios – Mass Effect 2
Tragic, poetic, and unforgettable, Thane Krios offered one of Mass Effect’s most beautifully bittersweet romance arcs.
An assassin suffering from a terminal illness, Thane combines lethal skill with profound spirituality. His relationship with Shepard is a delicate dance between urgency and devotion, as both know their time together is heartbreakingly limited.
Gameplaywise, Thane’s romance is slow, respectful, and incredibly tender. Shepard earns his trust not through conquest, but through deep conversations about life, faith, forgiveness, and regret.
Lore-wise, Thane’s story touches on mortality, legacy, and the possibility of redemption. Even as he approaches death, Thane seeks connection—a chance to live fully, if only for a moment.
In Mass Effect 3, the emotional weight of this romance crescendos. Thane’s fate at the Citadel’s hospital and his final prayer—whether for Shepard or the galaxy—stands as one of the trilogy’s most devastating and beautiful moments.
Bioware’s writers have called Thane’s arc “a love story about time”—and every scene with him feels like a reminder that the brightest lights often burn out the fastest.
Choosing Thane is choosing to love fiercely, even knowing you will lose. And that bravery makes his romance utterly unforgettable.
#4: Garrus Vakarian – Mass Effect 2 & 3
When players think of “ride or die” loyalty in Mass Effect, Garrus Vakarian almost always comes to mind. As a romance option for Female Shepard, Garrus offers one of the trilogy’s most beloved and emotionally fulfilling love stories.
Garrus starts as Shepard’s trusted squadmate, a hot-headed C-Sec officer turned vigilante sniper. But over time, especially during the events of Mass Effect 2, Garrus and Shepard’s relationship deepens into something rare: true partnership built on mutual respect, battle-forged camaraderie, and teasing affection.
Gameplaywise, romancing Garrus feels natural and deeply earned. It’s not instant chemistry—it’s years of fighting side-by-side, saving each other’s lives, and slowly realizing that trust has turned into love.
Lore-wise, Garrus represents the best of cross-species relationships in the Mass Effect universe: different worlds, different ideals, but a shared devotion to justice and to each other.
Players who pursue Garrus experience some of the trilogy’s most heartwarming and hilarious scenes—like the adorably awkward “calibration” date before the Suicide Mission, or the stargazing moments in Mass Effect 3’s Citadel DLC.
The developers intended Garrus’s romance to feel like “falling for your best friend”—and it succeeds beautifully. Garrus never sees Shepard as an idealized hero; he sees them as a person, flaws and all, and loves them even harder for it.
Choosing Garrus means choosing someone who has your back no matter how dark things get—and players loved him for it.
#3: Tali’Zorah vas Normandy – Mass Effect 2 & 3
Tali’s romance arc offers one of the most emotionally satisfying slow burns in Mass Effect—a tender story of trust, vulnerability, and deep connection.
Tali, the brilliant Quarian engineer, is shy, passionate, and fiercely loyal. Over the course of the trilogy, players build a bond with her—first as an ally, then as a friend, and finally, potentially, as a lover if Male Shepard chooses to pursue her.
Gameplaywise, romancing Tali feels deeply personal. It requires patience, kindness, and a willingness to look beyond differences—to see the heart beneath the environmental suit.
Lore-wise, Tali’s romance captures Mass Effect’s central theme of bridging worlds. Loving her means accepting her culture, her physical vulnerabilities, and the risks she’s willing to take for love, even when it could literally kill her due to her immune system.
The culmination of Tali’s romance in Mass Effect 3—including the tender reveal of her face in the Legendary Edition—feels like the ultimate payoff for players who invested in her from the beginning.
Bioware writers crafted Tali’s romance as “a story about first love”—and players resonated deeply with that authenticity.
Choosing Tali isn’t just about passion. It’s about believing that no barrier—cultural, physical, or galactic—can stand against true connection.
#2: Liara T’Soni – Mass Effect Trilogy
Liara T’Soni was Shepard’s first romance option for many players—and she remains one of the most iconic and enduring love interests in the series.
Introduced in Mass Effect 1 as a young Asari scientist fascinated by Prothean ruins, Liara’s gentle intellect and wide-eyed wonder quickly made her a favorite. But her growth over the trilogy—from shy academic to powerful information broker—makes romancing her feel like falling in love with someone who’s growing alongside you.
Gameplaywise, Liara’s romance is steady and quietly intense. She offers emotional depth, unwavering support, and a connection that transcends lifetimes—especially poignant given the Asari’s natural lifespan compared to humans.
Lore-wise, romancing Liara taps into Mass Effect’s grandest sci-fi themes: connection across species, across time, even across death. Her creation of the Shepard time capsule in Mass Effect 3’s “From Ashes” DLC is one of the most beautiful love letters in gaming.
Whether you pursue her in ME1, rekindle your bond in ME3, or share one last tender embrace before the final battle, Liara’s romance always feels eternal.
Bioware developers intentionally wrote Liara’s romance as “the heartbeat of the trilogy,” and it shows.
Choosing Liara means choosing a love that spans stars, centuries, and beyond.
#1: Jack – Mass Effect 2 & 3
Jack, the tortured biotic powerhouse with a rap sheet longer than most war criminals, offers the most powerful redemption romance in Mass Effect.
Initially guarded, furious, and self-destructive, Jack is all spikes and rage when Shepard first meets her. But behind her tattoos and bravado lies someone desperate for connection—and for the first time in her life, unconditional acceptance.
Gameplaywise, romancing Jack demands patience and genuine compassion. Players can’t just flirt their way into her heart—they have to prove they care, standing by her side through her emotional defenses until she dares to trust.
Lore-wise, Jack’s romance arc embodies Mass Effect’s core message of hope. If someone as broken and battle-scarred as Jack can find love and purpose, then anyone can.
Her transformation by Mass Effect 3—teaching biotic students, forging a life outside of violence—feels like a shared triumph between her and Shepard.
Developers specifically crafted Jack’s romance to show “that strength isn’t about walls—it’s about the courage to let someone in.”
Choosing Jack isn’t easy—but it’s incredibly rewarding. It’s the story of two warriors who found peace—not by conquering the galaxy, but by learning to believe in each other.
Across battles, betrayals, and world-ending threats, Mass Effect’s romances weren’t just side quests—they were emotional cores.
Through these relationships, players didn’t just save the galaxy. They saved each other—proving that even among stars and monsters, love remains the strongest force of all.
