As a longtime fan of the original Mass Effect trilogy, I’ve spent years looking for something that could recreate what made those games so special. I’m a big lover of all things sci-fi, but with Mass Effect, it was also about the companions you grew attached to, the choices that affected how those relationships and the overarching narrative played out, and the atmosphere that made the galaxy feel alive. Those elements are hard to replicate, and in the years since Mass Effect 3, very few games have even come close. Truthfully, I’m not sure if I’ve played anything that captured that same combination in quite the same way. And yet, after roughly 90 minutes with The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, I already have a strong feeling that this might finally be the game that does.
What makes that even more surprising is that I didn’t go into Osiris Reborn as a fan of The Expanse. If anything, I was coming in with no real attachment to the series at all. But the game doesn’t rely on its players being predisposed to The Expanse‘s universe. Its story, built around a mercenary crew caught in the aftermath of a catastrophic event on Eros, is easy to follow and almost instantly engrossing, even for newcomers. Within minutes, it establishes its tone, its stakes, and the kind of world you’re stepping into, one where corporations, factions, and ordinary people are all colliding in messy, human ways. Its atmosphere, combined with early glimpses of dialogue exchanges and crew dynamics, makes it clear you don’t need to know The Expanse to appreciate what Osiris Reborn is doing. By the end of my session, I felt like I understood the world, and I wanted to stay in it.
Osiris Reborn Feels Like Mass Effect, Talks Like The Expanse
My hands-on time with The Expanse: Osiris Reborn didn’t begin at the start of the game, and it makes that clear immediately. Before I was handed the reins, I was greeted with a “Previously in The Expanse: Osiris Reborn” recap that I imagine will appear anytime players load their saved game. It tells me that I’m playing as one half of a twin pair of Pinkwater Security mercenaries, fresh off a disastrous mission on Eros Station, where an entire population was infected by an unknown substance. Our squad is gone, we barely made it out alive, and the only reason we’re still breathing is because we escaped on an enemy ship. Now, we’ve arrived at Pinkwater 4 Station to report to our boss, Oscar O’Connell, and figure out what actually happened on Eros and who’s responsible.
While I don’t know all that much about The Expanse, I do know that the Eros incident is one of the defining early events of the series and a turning point for the whole story, so I’m glad it ended up in Osiris Reborn and that I’m able to experience the aftermath firsthand. If nothing else, it all but confirms that the game is aiming to be a great entry point for Expanse newcomers and a familiar touchpoint for longtime fans who already understand just how significant that moment is.
Even in the short time I played, I was invested enough in the story to want more, even if it mostly serves as the vehicle for everything else. What stands out almost immediately is how The Expanse: Osiris Reborn manages to feel so much like Mass Effect without actually being Mass Effect. Its atmosphere, in particular, is something that promptly brought me back to the first time I played Mass Effect 2, where simply walking through a location gave me the feeling that an entire sci-fi world was bursting to life around me.
Even Osiris Reborn‘s soundtrack and sound design give the impression they were orchestrated by Mass Effect fans who wanted nothing more than to pay tribute to their favorite sci-fi RPGs. The sound of opening a door, looting containers, and the ambient noise of chatter from nearby NPCs all made me feel like I was back in 2010, but in the best way possible.
And yet, despite feeling like Mass Effect, Osiris Reborn avoids being a pure imitation by grounding itself firmly in the universe of The Expanse. The dialogue is one of its primary methods for doing so, with terms and lingo that can only make sense within its world, and it’s also already proving to be one of the most enjoyable parts of the whole experience. Around 20 minutes of my 90-minute preview were spent in dialogue exchanges, and each one was so well acted that I never felt compelled to skip a single line.
What stands out almost immediately is how The Expanse: Osiris Reborn manages to feel so much like Mass Effect without actually being Mass Effect.
I spent time talking with characters like Larry, a burnt-out dispatch worker who’s clearly overworked, underpaid, and stuck. He hasn’t had a day off in a month and doesn’t expect one anytime soon. On top of that, he’s dealing with personal baggage and family issues. Then there’s Luciana, who’s essentially the complete opposite of Larry, in that she’s enthusiastic, observant, and plugged into everything. As a traveling vendor who brings goods from across the system, she knows what everyone is buying, who’s connected to whom, and what rumors are circulating. She also openly shares gossip, but she knows where the line is.
These are just a couple of side characters, but if Owlcat put this much attention to detail into fleshing out The Expanse: Osiris Reborn‘s companions, then players are in for some very interesting interactions. And speaking of companions, I did get a chance to engage with Zafar quite a bit during the preview, who immediately stands out as a calm presence, often speaking in thoughtful metaphors and choosing his words carefully. It’s a subtle trait, but one that gives him a distinct identity right away, especially when contrasted with the more tired or abrasive personalities around him, and it makes even brief conversations feel like a return to normalcy.
If The Expanse: Osiris Reborn‘s dialogue and atmosphere feel this good after such a short time with the game, it’s a good sign of what’s to come. Companions and characters, specifically, are one of the places where the Mass Effect trilogy shines brightest, and Osiris Reborn is already gleaming in that regard.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn’s Familiar Gameplay Still Works
Another way The Expanse: Osiris Reborn channels Mass Effect is in its gameplay, which essentially comes down to three pillars: choices, exploration, and combat. Choices are largely made via dialogue options, though not all of them are equally important. In some cases, choosing certain dialogue options can prevent you from hearing others, but the game is fairly clear about when that’s possible. Whenever a major choice is made—I only had one during the preview—the dialogue boxes change in appearance and everything seems to slow down for dramatic effect, making it evident that you’re about to make a decision that will alter the events that follow.
If The Expanse: Osiris Reborn‘s dialogue and atmosphere feel this good after such a short time with the game, it’s a good sign of what’s to come.
There are also skill checks like Persuasion in dialogue, which, when passed, can offer unique opportunities. For example, I managed to persuade Luciana to give me “juicier” gossip, and not only did it give me EXP for successfully passing the check, but I got to delve even deeper into the goings-on of major characters in The Expanse. Skill checks also factor into exploration, which there was plenty of during my short time playing the game.
Should players venture off the beaten path in Osiris Reborn, they’re bound to come back to it with a decent haul. There are plenty of crafting materials to be found, scattered datapads with fun bits of lore, quite a few credits (money), and even weapons and other gear if you look hard enough. The Engineering skill can be used to unlock doors and access new areas, and companions apparently possess other skills you might need to complete a variety of tasks. In short, exploration feels rewarding in The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, even in the smaller, more confined spaces like Pinkwater Station.
Combat in The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is solid, and it works as intended, even if what I played was a bit simplistic. It’s largely cover-based, much like Mass Effect‘s combat, and from there, players can fire their weapon, execute skills derived from a variety of equipped gadgets, and even command their companion to engage with specific targets or perform environmental exploits for an advantage. There’s a tactical pause mode as well, which slows down time so players can choose their next actions carefully.
Gunplay in Osiris Reborn already feels solid, with each weapon packing a punch and feeling like they’re legitimately causing damage. But everything feels balanced enough that I’m actually encouraged to use my gadgets alongside my weapons. There were many times playing the original Mass Effect trilogy where I felt like I could get by with only using my weapons, but Osiris Reborn doesn’t leave much room for that. It slightly heightens the challenge to encourage more variety in playstyle, and that’s one thing I can’t help but feel players who enjoy customizing their builds are really going to appreciate.
In addition to weapons and gadgets, subsystems in Osiris Reborn are equippable passives that grant various effects like extra armor, increased skill duration, and decreased skill cooldowns.
On the performance side, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn already runs so smoothly, I’m surprised it won’t be here until next year. I had next to no hiccups during the preview, with negligible frame drops and zero bugs that I noticed. That being said, there was a zero gravity sequence during my sessions that caused me some trouble. I was tasked with flying through space without hitting debris that was floating by, as it would naturally knock me off course, but if I ever did collide with any of it, rather than allowing me to immediately attempt the sequence again, the game would reload even further back. It only took me about 4 attempts to make it through, however, so it was a minor headache.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Has Time to Grow, But It’s Already Impressive
Even with a release window set for Spring 2027, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn still has plenty of time to evolve, and a lot could change between now and launch. That’s the reality of any early hands-on preview, especially one experienced in April 2026, where things can still be tuned, expanded, or even reworked entirely. But if what I played is any indication of the direction Owlcat is heading, there’s already a strong foundation here. The dialogue, companions, and atmosphere all feel well-realized, and if the rest of the game maintains that same level of quality, it’s hard not to feel confident about where this is going.
That said, my time with the preview did leave me wanting more in at least one key area. Just as I reached my ship, the session came to an end, meaning I didn’t get to explore what will likely be one of the most important parts of the experience. In a game so clearly inspired by Mass Effect, the ship is where relationships develop and the crew comes together between missions. If Osiris Reborn delivers on that side of things the same way it already has with its world and characters, it could end up being something special.
- Developer(s)
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Owlcat Games
- Publisher(s)
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Owlcat Games
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5
- Number of Players
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Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
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Unknown
