The Mass Effect games are coming back full-force this weekend, with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition offering players the chance to dive back into the space-faring shoes of Commander Shephard. With the package bundling together three games, though, it's natural that players might be wondering how much time they'll need to invest to see the adventure through. Kicking things off is Mass Effect 1, but how long does Mass Effect 1 take to beat?

The question is a bit more loaded than some may assume. Mass Effect 1 has a pretty broad final playtime, much like the other games in the story do. Naturally, those that spend time soaking up every last little bit of content that Mass Effect 1 offers are going to end up spending more time with their crew than other players might.

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In total, though, Mass Effect 1 takes 18-30 hours to beat on average, depending on how players pace themselves throughout the game. Those that are really invested in the game can expect to spend even longer than that, though, possibly even upwards of 40 hours total for completionists. That's a pretty healthy chunk of time to spend in any game, but it only totals to about a third of what Mass Effect Legendary Edition is offering.

There are reasons to complete everything that Mass Effect 1 offers, too. The very nature of the trilogy is predicated on how connected a player is with the members of their crew, and spending more time with that crew, naturally, is a great way to forge a stronger bond with them. Mass Effect Legendary Edition is meant to be the definitive version of the original trilogy, so it makes sense that players would want to embark on definitive playthroughs.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that even with the improvements to Mass Effect Legendary Edition, elements of the game are going to look and feel dated compared to modern games, especially in Mass Effect 1. That's not a dealbreaker for everyone, especially considering how beloved the franchise is among its proponents, but it's still something to consider before jumping in. Be prepared for some early Xbox 360 era game design.

All that aside, though, defining how long Mass Effect 1 takes to beat is a tricky proposition, but expect to spend a few dozen hours working through what it offers. By the end of the journey, players will still have Mass Effect 2 and 3 to enjoy, so they'll certainly be getting their fill of the franchise.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition releases May 14 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

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