Freedom. That’s a central theme around which we’ve built so much of the design in Mass Effect: Andromeda.
Freedom to explore. Freedom to discover. Freedom to choose.
We wanted to build a game that players can play however they want. Like previous Mass Effect games, that includes choices in how the story will unfold—but we wanted to expand that sense of choice and freedom to permeate every part of the experience. In Andromeda, you have tremendous freedom in how you move across the battlefield, how you build your character, which worlds you choose to explore, and even in the unique personality you craft for your Ryder.
But there’s a trouble with freedom. With over 100 hours of content in the single-player campaign alone, the sheer scale of Andromeda can be daunting. How can you decide what to do, where to go, how to focus, with a vast sea of stars before you? What if you want to pursue a certain kind of content or to tailor your experience a particular way? Where do you begin?
That’s where this guide comes in.
The team at Prima Games has done a top-notch job compiling a vast store of knowledge on every aspect of the game, with everything from overviews of lore and various alien species that will get you up to speed on the state of the world, to deep dives on specific mechanics, systems, and items that will help you optimize your character. Meanwhile, the mission walkthroughs and relationship guide can give you clear directions to the content and characters that interest you most.
Of course, the multiplayer aspect of Andromeda is huge in its own right, and Prima has provided an excellent tactical breakdown of each map via their Multiplayer Atlas, as well as an overview of multiplayer systems and strategies that should help set you up for success.
With this wealth of information, I’d like to think that this book can be your “Lewis & Clark’s journal” for the Heleus Cluster, an invaluable guide to aid you in getting the most from your time in Andromeda and plumbing all the depths of the game.
The creation of Mass Effect: Andromeda has been a massive endeavor. It’s taken nearly half a decade of work across three studios (Montreal, Edmonton, and Austin), plus various outsourcers—hundreds of people in total—to make it possible. Now that it’s done at last, we’re very excited to see you all explore the far reaches of the Heleus Cluster and make it your home. With this book by your side, you should have everything you need to find every last hidden treasure, Architect battle, and Remnant mystery that awaits you out in the untamed wilds of Andromeda—and to conquer all the challenges that lie ahead.
Good luck out there, Pathfinder.
Ian S. Frazier
Lead Designer