Citizen Sleeper 2 will pull a Mass Effect 2 and let you bring your favorite crewmates on missions purely for the plot, "most effective squad" be damned

GamesRPGCitizen Sleeper 2 will pull a Mass Effect 2 and let you bring your favorite crewmates on missions purely for the plot, “most effective squad” be damnedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesRPGCitizen Sleeper 2 will pull a Mass Effect 2 and let you bring your favorite crewmates on missions purely for the plot, “most effective squad” be damnedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: EA) Citizen Sleeper 2 will feature recruitable NPCs that can be enlisted to your squad as you take on various contracts, and much like in Mass Effect 2, different party combinations can result in rewarding character interactions. “I don’t know how you played Mass Effect 2, but I was always like, ‘I will take my friends on every mission.’ I’m not gonna choose the most effective combat squad. I just like those guys,” creator Gareth Damian Martin told GamesRadar+ hours before presenting an award at The Golden Joysticks 2024. “Or I might be like, ‘Oh, it will be interesting to take this person to this place, because I think they’d have an interesting reaction.’ And so trying to think about it like that.” Companions are key in so many of thebest RPGs, fromBaldur’s Gate 3to the Mass Effect trilogy Martin referenced. But this change to the established formula of Citizen Sleeper is just one way that Martin aims tohone in on the sequel’s TTRPG roots, styling, and ethos. “It gives the player a really interesting expressive space to be able to be like, ‘well, I like this person and this person, I’m going to take them on contracts with me,’ and that means I can then surface scenes with those characters in those moments that try to reward the player for making those choices.” We’ve known for some time thatCitizen Sleeper 2 will be implementing a party-based squad recruitment system, but that these moments feed into emergent storytelling in the vein of aBiowaregame is a huge draw for Martin – and also, most likely, for players. “In Citizen Sleeper 1, it’s like all the characters you meet, they’re part of a story, and that kind of means that I want you to keep going with that story,” they explained. “But because each crew member in Citizen Sleeper [2] does have their own story, you can also not like them, and you can say, like, ‘No, I don’t want you on my crew.’ Quite a few of them also have complications,” Martin hints, and players have the option to outright reject and remove crewmates if they cross a boundary. “I think that’s a really fun space to be able to open up, because it allows for actually more expression of the player character,” they finish up. It sounds like Martin is doubling down on the player choice elements, and I’m ready to find my new space sweetheart – aka Garrus 2.0 – in Citizen Sleeper 2 when the RPG launches on January 31, 2025. Check out all theupcoming PC gamesto look forward to, from Avowed to Assassin’s Creed Shadows Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more TOPICSBioware TOPICS CATEGORIESAdventureXbox Series XPS5Nintendo SwitchPlatformsXboxPlayStationNintendo CATEGORIES PRODUCTSCitizen SleeperMass Effect 2 PRODUCTS More about rpgPlanescape: Torment was a revolutionary RPG, but many of its devs had no experience with the D&D campaign it was based on: “What the f*ck is that?“Elder Scrolls modders have released a playable part of the ambitious Project Tamriel, which aims to recreate all of the beloved RPG’s regions in MorrowindLatestNosferatu ending explained: your biggest questions answeredSee more latest► More about rpgPlanescape: Torment was a revolutionary RPG, but many of its devs had no experience with the D&D campaign it was based on: “What the f*ck is that?“Elder Scrolls modders have released a playable part of the ambitious Project Tamriel, 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Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5 Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”