One of the most foundational aspects of the Mass Effect trilogy is the relationships players can build between Shepard and their crewmates, many of which can blossom into romance given enough time. Between both male and female Shepard there are well over a dozen different romance options to pick from throughout the series. However, not all of them are as well-developed as others. For example, Shepard's romance with a majorly reoccurring crewmate like Tali will likely feel more fleshed-out than a romance with a minor character such as ME3's Diana Allers.
The series first implemented romances as a major choice in Mass Effect 1. Even Mass Effect: Andromeda, which was otherwise mostly detached from the previous trilogy, implemented a romance feature similar to that seen in the rest of the series. Between that and the fact that romance also plays a prominent role in other BioWare games such as Dragon Age, most anticipate that this element will return in Mass Effect 4. Currently, though, little is known about the sequel to the trilogy, and outside of the initial reveal trailer, footage has been scarce. Of course, that hasn't stopped Mass Effect enthusiasts from speculating which of Shepard's possible love interests may make a return in ME4.
It appears as though Mass Effect 4 may be set at some point further along the timeline of the Mass Effect universe, in which case many of the crewmates and other characters from earlier games may have long since died. Even Shepard may not have survived the Reaper War, though this depends on which of Mass Effect 3's different endings BioWare ends up canonizing in ME4. In either case, the studio may take the same approach as Mass Effect: Andromeda and introduce new companions to romance instead of carrying over some of the most iconic relationships from previous games.
How Jack's Romance Develops Throughout Mass Effect
Jack, otherwise known as Subject Zero, is one of the most challenging companions to get along with when first recruited in Mass Effect 2. Used as an experiment by Cerberus in her youth, which serves as the source for her impressive biotic abilities in Mass Effect 2, she fosters a deep resentment towards just about everyone else on the Normandy as a result. She especially butts heads with a Paragon Shepard, and when she s the team for Shepard's suicide mission, she's being housed in the high-security prison ward of Purgatory. She is severely antisocial and predictably violent due to her past and initially is slow to trust. Despite that, she's a possible romance option for male Shepard.
Though it's also possible for Shepard to have a more casually intimate fling with Jack, completing her Loyalty mission and spending time having conversations with her will open up a more serious romantic pathway. Especially after her Mass Effect 2 loyalty mission, Jack begins to open up about her past and her feelings, allowing Shepard to see her more vulnerable side by the time the final mission rolls around. Jack isn't a recruitable crewmate in Mass Effect 3, but her romance can still be continued into the game, and she'll make several appearances to help further cement her attachment to Shepard. It's an example of how Mass Effect's romance mechanics can tie into the development of certain characters.
Garrus Is One Of Mass Effect's Most Loyal Romances
Garrus is one of the most popular crewmates in Mass Effect, and it's not just because he's one of the only two characters who can be recruited as Shepard's companion in all three Mass Effect games. He's also another example of a companion who goes through a significant amount of development as the trilogy goes on, which is largely due to his friendship with Shepard. Starting in Mass Effect 2, Garrus is also a romance option for female Shepard. He not only transforms from a morally grey vigilante to a loyal and dedicated leader, but he stays by Shepard's side throughout the entire series. By the end of Mass Effect 3, the strength of their bond is apparent, and the two share plenty of moments in the fan-favorite Citadel DLC.
Unfortunately, it seems improbable for the time being that Garrus will be a character who returns in Mass Effect 4. There has been speculation that the game will be set sometime during or after the events of Mass Effect: Andromeda, which takes place hundreds of years after the events of the trilogy. Thus far, the only clue to this is the destroyed Reaper featured in the background of the teaser trailer. As BioWare continues work on the future of the Mass Effect series, perhaps more details regarding Garrus and other fan-favorite characters from the trilogy will be provided.
Kaidan Is A Mass Effect Romance Worth Waiting For
Although Kaidan is a relatively controversial character, even ranking as one of the least popular crewmates in Mass Effect, he's also one of the few romance options available to both male and female Shepard. However, it's worth noting that a male Shepard can't romance Kaidan until Mass Effect 3, while a female Shepard has the option in ME1. He can only be recruited in ME1 and ME3, but he does make a brief appearance in ME2. Kaidan's bond with Shepard is perhaps most notable because of their confrontation in Mass Effect 2, in which Kaidan is overtly critical of Cerberus and suspicious of Shepard's intentions.
Fortunately, he does quite a bit to make up for his doubt in Mass Effect 3, and by the time the two reconcile, their connection feels genuinely earned. He makes for a loyal system, and his moral code and sense of justice stem from Kaidan's engaging backstory and arc in Mass Effect, something he and Shepard forge a bond over. Given the overall lack of same-gender romances for male Shepard - Steve Cortez, also in Mass Effect 3, is the only other option - Kaidan's relationship with a male Shepard is particularly important. Hopefully, Mass Effect 4 will make a point to allow for more varied romances for both male and female Shepard.
Romance Option Liara Could Return In Mass Effect 4
Perhaps the most notable example of a character that can be romanced by either male or female Shepard is Liara T'soni, one of the most prominent crewmates in the trilogy and thus far the only companion confirmed to be returning in Mass Effect 4. Although she can't be recruited as part of Shepard's Normandy crew in Mass Effect 2, she stars in the Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC, which gives her significantly more screentime. As a result, Shepard's romance with Liara is one of the only relationships that can be properly carried over across all three games. It's possible that it could even reappear in ME4, depending on how BioWare intends to handle player decisions from previous games.
Liara's character development is also one of the most extreme in the trilogy, as she changes from a wide-eyed and eager archeologist to the Shadow Broker, one of the most influential figures in the galaxy. She carries a deep interest in Shepard from the start to the ending of Mass Effect 1 regardless of whether a romance is pursued or not and is even the one to recover their body and present it to Cerberus for restoration. As Liara grows as an individual, so does her bond with Shepard. While the best Mass Effect romances really boil down to player preference, it's apparent that some got quite a bit more focus than others, and Liara is just one such example of this.