takes players to the far reaches of space in the not-so-distant future, where humanity has achieved the means to FTL travel, thanks to the Mass Relays. This, in turn, introduced them to the other denizens of the Milky Way, such as the turians, krogan, salarians, and asari, three of which make up the governing Citadel Council.

Though a member of the human military, Shepard recruits other species in their bid to stop the almost complete annihilation of the galaxy, as they know they can't do it alone. Deciding who to recruit and who they can trust is not an easy task, but one that is important if they are to stop the Reapers.

Warning! Spoilers Ahead!

One of the allies that works directly with Shepard throughout the trilogy, it is definitely not a stretch to say Tali is one of the most trustworthy characters in Mass Effect, as she proves her loyalty time and time again, answering the call to fight alongside Shepard.

Even with other obligations to her people and her fleet, Tali still never turns down an invitation aboard the Normandy, ready to prove herself as an ally once more. Her dedication is further evidenced during her loyalty mission, which is when the Admiral board bestows the title of "vas Normandy" upon her, as she has become such an invaluable part of the Normandy crew, and one of Shepard's most trusted companions.

A synthetic character in the Mass Effect universe seems like it ought to spell trouble, as history is awash with cautionary tales about the dangers of machines learning to self-actualize. And Mass Effect players could understandably be wary of EDI, especially when she is unshackled in a desperate attempt to save the Normandy, but their worries are assuaged when it turns out EDI is someone to be trusted.

Even when she takes over the body of a Cerberus agent in , she remains an integral and loyal member of the Normandy crew, maintaining her role as a skilled co-pilot to Joker. With her new body, players could also take her out to battle, as she was more than willing to fight alongside Shepard as they worked toward their mission to save the galaxy.

One might not expect to be able to put much trust in an assassin, but Thane is a man that players can trust not to put a dagger in their backs, at the very least. Despite being a gun for hire, he does pray for the targets he kills, which shows that he is not completely soulless. Suffering from a terminal illness that will cost him his life sooner or later, Thane decides to spend the sunset years of his life fighting alongside Shepard instead of just ticking off his bucket list.

Though his return in Mass Effect 3 is not that of a companion, he is still a man players can truly trust, as he joins the fight when Cerberus besieges the Citadel, and fights one-on-one with Kai Leng. Though this fight leads to his death, Thane doesn't seem to regret any of his actions, and he dies with one last prayer for Shepard. This is proof his loyalty ran deep, to the point of death.

A brilliant scientist, Mordin's sharp mind is what made him a sought-after companion in , joining Shepard's efforts in stopping the Collectors. His brilliant mind was lent to the Genophage, as krogans were starting to adapt to it after all these years, and so he modified it in order to work around this slowly building immunity.

It was truly an abhorrent action, but Mordin recognizes this and decides to right the wrong in Mass Effect 3, even though in the end it cost him his life. This willingness to know he has done wrong and make up for it no matter the cost means that in the end, Mordin is someone they can rely on. It is just tragic how high the cost was, as he would have made an invaluable addition to Shepard's team for the final fight.

Though not a recruitable companion, David Anderson is one of the key characters in the trilogy, as he is something of a mentor and even a father figure to Shepard, immediately making it known that he is a character players can rely on and truly trust. He remains as such throughout the whole trilogy, and it is hard to imagine where Shepard might be and what state the galaxy would be in without his guidance.

He takes some big risks to help Shepard on their mission, such as right-hooking Udina to let Shepard fly away from the Citadel to stop Sovereign before its plan bears fruit, and joins the frontlines of the war in Mass Effect 3. He lives and dies devotedly loyal to Shepard.

One of the core characters and the poster child for the trilogy, Liara T'Soni's loyalty runs extremely deep, making her one of the most trustworthy characters in the series, even after she assumes a second identity as the Shadow Broker. She took Shepard's demise hard and gave their corpse to Cerberus on the promise that they could revive them, as her loyalty went on beyond the grave.

While some saw this as a violation of trust, especially given what sort of organization Cerberus is, Liara's intentions were by no means bad, as she wanted her old friend or lover back, and Liara knows the best shot the galaxy has for survival is Shepard. And given that the Collectors might have decided to take Shepard's remains and do god only knows what, Liara did what she thought was best for her friend in a rather desperate situation.

One of the most steadfast and loyal companions one could hope for during wartime and peace is Garrus Vakarian. Starting as a disillusioned C-Sec officer at the start of the trilogy, Garrus realizes he could do more good with Shepard than he could at his current position due to all the red tape and regulations, so he leaps at the chance to join them aboard the Normandy.

In the following Mass Effect games, Garrus has a slightly more jaded outlook on the galaxy, yet he is still prepared to fight the good fight right at the player's side, as his loyalty cannot be shaken that easily. He even becomes something of a confidant for Shepard, as they can speak with him to reflect on the current situation, choices made, and lives lost. After all, Garrus is one of the most trustworthy companions, and there can be no Shepard without Vakarian.

One of the most skilled pilots in the human military, Joker is one of the characters who sticks with Shepard through thick and thin, whether it is with the Alliance or with Cerberus. Though his role in Mass Effect 2 is partially fueled by guilt, it is also proof of his trustworthy nature to those who truly know him.

After everything Shepard and Joker went through in the first game and the start of the second, it's obvious that they would have some sort of special bond, and it's clear that any who befriends Joker can truly see him to be a ride or die companion. Though factions might not be able to trust him as he will jump ship for an individual, people can know where they stand when it comes to Joker.