Mass Effect Trilogy and Andromeda Timeline

Mass Effect: Andromeda Events

1600-2400

The Remnant are deployed to the Heleus Cluster, installing their vaults and initiating the process of terraforming otherwise uninhabitable planets into life-enabling worlds.

1600-2400

As the only native species to the Heleus Cluster, several separate angaran civilizations develop on disparate systems in the Cluster. The angara consider Havarl to be their homeworld.

2172

Jien Garson plans an ambitious endeavor to colonize the Andromeda galaxy. This venture, known as the Andromeda Initiative, is wholly financed by Garson without government involvement.

An Initiative research team was tasked with finding habitable planets within Andromeda.

2172-2178

Prototypes of massive vessels designed for traversing to and colonizing in the Andromeda galaxy are developed. These vessels include arks and the Nexus.

2178-2184

The testing phase for the arks and the Nexus concludes, and production of these vessels commences. Near the end of this time frame, the construction of these projects causes disquiet with galactic governments. They begin to question the ulterior motives of the Initiative’s plans.

2184-2815

The Initiative enlists 100,000 colonists for the journey to the Heleus Cluster.

2185

The Nexus and the four arks—human, salarian, turian, and asari—depart for the Heleus Cluster in the first wave of colonists bound for Andromeda. A second wave is planned to follow, including quarians, drell, and other species.

2185-2818

With its passengers in cryostasis, the arks traverse to Heleus. However, the vessels become separated, creating a fourteen-month travel distance between each of them.

2450-2600

The Scourge is unleashed upon Heleus, devastating the angara and sending them back into a “dark age.”

2600-2750

Heleus stabilizes, and the angara begin to recover from the setback caused by the Scourge. Five unique angaran worlds advance their technology sufficiently, enabling space travel—this leads them to discover each other.

2749

Kett reconnaissance of the Heleus Cluster reveals the existence of the angara and discovery of Remnant technology.

2818-2819

The Nexus and arks arrive in a staggered fashion, separated from one another.

Mass Effect Trilogy Events

2183: (Mass Effect)

One of humanity’s first colonies, Eden Prime, is attacked by a species of artificially intelligent synthetics, known as the geth.

A cycle of extinction by an ancient organic-synthetic species called the Reapers is revealed. The Reaper Sovereign attacks the Citadel but is destroyed by the Normandy thanks to Commander Shepard’s efforts.

2183: (Mass Effect 2)

A month after the defense of the Citadel, Commander Shepard is killed in action when the Normandy is attacked by a Collector Cruiser. Shepard’s body is eventually obtained by an enigmatic organization called Cerberus.

2185: (Mass Effect 2)

Collectors begin attacking human colonies and abducting their inhabitants.

Cerberus successfully revives Commander Shepard. Shepard leads an investigation on the attacks of human colonies and eventually defeats the Collectors, saving humanity.

2186: (Mass Effect 3)

The Reapers launch an invasion of Earth.

Commander Shepard finds and delivers schematics of the Crucible, a superweapon designed to stop the Reapers. The Alliance eventually completes the enormous task of constructing the device.

With the Crucible activated, Shepard is given the responsibility of deciding the fate of the galaxy.