10 Video Game Fan Theories Better Than The Story We Got

5. Mass Effect 3's Indoctrination Theory

The ending of Mass Effect 3 will go down in history as one of gaming's most divisive moments, but in between the controversy and backlash the game also birthed one of the most popular fan theories of all time.

Throughout the series it was repeatedly emphasised that the closer you got to understanding the invading Reaper threat, the more you opened yourself up to being indoctrinated by their will, with most characters in the game connected to Reaper technology becoming nothing but mindless husks after prolonged exposure.

With this in mind it was argued that throughout Mass Effect 3, Commander Shepard was actually battling against his own indoctrination. Reflected in repeated gameplay that had players chasing a child who Shepard couldn't save in an early mission (who's likeness was later used as the manifestation of the commanding Reaper A.I.), dark shadows reflecting the Reapers' influence grow in number every time this section reappears.

This slow indoctrination process allegedly kicks in and knocks out Shepard when he gets blasted by a Reaper laser, with the many inconsistencies in the game's ending explained as all being part of Shepard's mind being tricked into accepting his new machine overlords.