10 Best Multiplayer Modes of All Time
1. Galaxy at War - Mass Effect 3
The sure stink of Mass Effect 3's lackluster ending faded considerably after spending hundreds of hours in its considerably less controversial multiplayer mode, despite plenty of hand-wringing when it was first announced.
Galaxy at War is effectively Mass Effect's answer to Gears of War's Horde Mode - a co-operative four-player mode in which players must battle increasingly tough waves of foes.
That might sound simple enough, but the sheer number of species to choose from, each with their own unique abilities, invited a ton of player experimentation to find the right build for them.
Combine this with a legit emphasis on teamwork, genuinely satisfying progression, and thoughtful integration into the single-player experience - with multiplayer boosting your "Readiness Rating" in the campaign - and Mass Effect 3's co-op multiplayer was leagues ahead of what anyone expected.
It's just a shame that the multiplayer wasn't included in 2021's Legendary Edition compilation, even if a few-dozen hardcores are still playing the OG 2012 release on Steam.