@gamingonlinux Freespace 1 and especially 2.

https://www.gog.com/en/game/freespace_2

@gamingonlinux not sure it counts as a space epic, but Arkane's Prey is phenomenal.

@gamingonlinux I personally really enjoyed the StarCraft 2 campaigns (1 is also great with less QoL).

Other than that I'd check out Into the Breach, Prey (new one), SOMA, Titanfall 2, Warframe, Borderlands (?), Jedi: Fallen Order, maybe Portal(s).

@gamingonlinux It's very different from Mass Effect but Outer Wilds (not to be confused with The Outer Worlds) is a first-person exploration/mystery game set in space. There is no combat, no inventory, and no levels - you progress the game purely by learning more about the world

It's a space epic in a more Star Trek existentialist manner and it's my favorite game of all time

If you decide to play it, don't look up anything about the game beforehand, the fun comes from discovery

@gamingonlinux there is nothing quite like it. That is the worst thing about it. You can never go back and play it the first time. The only thing left is to replay it or try to move on. It gets easier with time. Seriously though really love Mass Effect and also want something like it again :D

@gamingonlinux i don't know if this is ever close honestly, but i get a similar feel from consortium. the original from 2014 is delisted from steam while they're working on a remaster, but the vr edition is still up.

it's a two-ish hour international spy murder mystery sci-fi counter strike action puzzler... on a plane.
every NPC is on a script that lasts the full game, and you talk/eavesdrop/snoop until you have enough info to figure out the solution to the final confrontation.

@gamingonlinux I don't know if there's anything out there that combined a narrative, character-focused RPG in a space sci-fi setting like Mass Effect did. There are amazing story and choice focused RPGs like Fallout: New Vegas, or exploration-based space games like Outer Wilds or No Man's Sky. You kinda have to pick which aspect is more important for you. 2017 Prey ticks the boxes for a space based immersive sim RPG, but I don't think it has character interactions like ME.

@gamingonlinux freelancer is a good one

@gamingonlinux The Wing Commander games.

Wing Commander, Wing Commander 2: Vengeance of the Kilrathi, Wing Commander 3: Heart of the Tiger, Wing Commander 4: The Price of Freedom, Wing Commander: Prophecy

@gamingonlinux it depends what do you want? deep story and lore? or just deep story? look, my suggestion is the deus ex: human revolution, and of course the best dragon age game, dragon age 2 (i know, but the story is so rich). after then, try the larian rpg's or the outer world, but the end of the day you feel empty, because no one can built unique universe just like the mass effect trilogy is.

@gamingonlinux one more tip if you want to ventilate the happenings of the mass effect. civ 5-6 and the first part of shadow warrior can do wonders.

@gamingonlinux If you don't mind sharing the world with others, SWTOR is a pretty good RPG at its core

@gamingonlinux I love the Sci Fi genre, and I would like some good ones too, though I haven't played Mass Effect.

@gamingonlinux try Outriders, if you did not already, was wondering how rhat was not mentioned so far. Comes pretty cheap these days but has an entertaining campaign and works perfectly with Linux.

And of course Everspace 2, different gameplay, yes, but very, VERY good game!

Another great play for me was Jedi Survivors, flawless Linux experience, just finished it two Weeks ago.

A far stretch, Borderlands 2. explicitly this one. 3 was not my cup oft tea, the pre-quel was kinda ok, too