Can you play as a female in Mass Effect 1?
Mia Moss
Published Jan 12, 2026
Kaidan Alenko
Kaidan Alenko is a fictional character in BioWare's Mass Effect franchise, who acts as a party member (or "squadmate") in the first and third games in the series. The character is initially introduced in the original Mass Effect as a human Systems Alliance Officer and primary squad member in Commander Shepard's team.
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Can you play a female in Mass Effect?
To get a romance going, all it takes is a little flirtation here and there and saying the right things at the right time. Romance in Mass Effect starts after the events of Eden Prime. Once Shepard gains consciousness, either Kaidan (female Shepard) or Ashley (male Shepard) will be by Shepard's bedside.Was there a female Shepard in Mass Effect 1?
The female Shepard is played by prolific voice actress Jennifer Hale, who also voices May O'Connell in Mass Effect.Does your gender matter in Mass Effect?
Commander Shepard will enjoy unique dialogue and cutscenes regardless of gender, and gain access to different experiences in each playthrough. Shepard's gender will determine many interactions throughout the Mass Effect series, but do not directly influence gameplay.Who can you romance as a female in Mass Effect 1?
In Mass Effect 1, female Shepard can romance either Kaidan or Liara. Male Shepard can romance either Ashley or Liara. Aside from these main romances, you can also experience a romance scene with the Asari Consort on the Citadel.How To Pick The Right Class In Mass Effect Legendary Edition!
Who is the best romance option in Mass Effect 1?
Liara T'SoniLiara's status as by far the best long-term romance option in the original Mass Effect game is already reason enough to rank her high on this list, but her lofty placement is really all about how your relationship with Liara evolves across the trilogy.
Are there romance options in Mass Effect 1?
Whether you play as a Male Shepard or Female Shepard, you have two romance options in Mass Effect 1: Kaidan Alenko, a reserved soldier who is talented with biotics. Female Shepard only. Liara T'Soni, a curious but knowledgeable Asari scientist. Available for any Shepard.Can I change gender in Mass Effect?
No, your imported Shepard cannot change their gender when you import them. Other factors you cannot change upon import include their Pre-Service History (Spacer/Earthborn/Colonist) and Psychological Profile (Sole Survivor/War Hero/Ruthless).Is male or female Shepard canon?
The character is clearly a woman. "Yup, Commander Shepard was originally a woman," said Cooper. That settles it once and for all: FemShep is the one true Commander Shepard. This is definitely canon, right, BioWare?Can you romance aria?
While Nyreen is “an absolute no”, Aria is “more ambiguous”. You can't romance her, but depending on the choices you make during the DLC your relationship at the end could be one extreme or the other.Is male or female Shepard better?
Allowing the player to choose between a male and female Shepard, however, is an example of too much choice resulting in less specificity and poorer narrative quality. Commander Shepard is a more interesting, deeper, and more fully realized character as a woman.Why is Shepard grounded in Mass Effect 3?
Mass Effect 3Shepard has been grounded and stripped of rank by the Alliance before the game starts, due to either working with Cerberus or blowing up a Mass Relay in the Mass Effect 2 DLC pack Arrival.
Should I play default Shepard?
Arguably, playing as the default Shepard allows the player to experience the games in the way that Bioware intended. Although the games are customizable and designed to be so, default Shepard has been present in many promotional artworks that could make players feel more comfortable playing Shepard.Can you romance Jack as a girl?
There's no option for a female relationship with Jack, although it has recently been revealed that this was once considered as an option for the original release.Can I romance Garrus in Mass Effect 1?
Commander Shepard first meets Garrus Vakarian in Mass Effect 1, but he's not a romantic option alongside Liara, Kaidan, and Ashley until the following game.How long is the Mass Effect 1 campaign?
Mass Effect 1The first game of the series is the shortest of the three in regards to its base single-player campaign, sitting at around 18 hours to complete.