Big Unsolved Mysteries in Video Games
Shepard’s Indoctrination in Mass Effect
Spoiler Warning: We’re going to discuss the ending of Mass Effect 3 lightly here, don’t read if you haven’t played it and plan on doing so.
Mass Effect 3’s ending might be a little dated compared to the other gaming mysteries on this list, it is without a doubt, one of the most debated topics of the two most recent gaming generations.
The premise is easy to introduce. Was Shepard indoctrinated at the end of Mass Effect 3? And are the final scenes that include The Illusive Man and Captain Anderson really just a battle that is taking place inside Shepard’s mind?
It might seem ludicrous at first, but there is a mountain of evidence that points in that direction. In fact, you only need a loose understanding of how Reaper indoctrination works to understand how silly it would be if Shepard wasn’t indoctrinated.
Shepard was exposed to Reaper technology constantly throughout all three games. In Mass Effect 3, he has nightmares that are visual depictions of accounts of what indoctrination is like from the Rachni Queen, which manifested through Shepard’s own insecurities.
The Indoctrination Theory, as it is known, fits over the overall Mass Effect trilogy storyline like a glove, falling into many of the narrative’s major plot holes and provides an explanation for why the Destroy ending has that extra scene that the other major endings lack.
It’s easy to root for the Indoctrination Theory to be real because if you accept it as being true, it turns what was a sloppy effort at best at wrapping up a beloved trilogy into a masterpiece that makes Bioware look like geniuses instead.
There are a lot of videos about Indoctrination Theory out there, but the ACAVYO video is probably the best place to start, and then if you’re hooked go over to the Clever Noob documentary for the deep dive.
