Mass Effect and Social Problems

Why are we drawn to certain games over others? Why can we escape into these virtual worlds for so long and become so mesmerized by them? What can they teach us about ourselves? Mass Effect is a game series that masterfully tackles these questions and leaves players stunned.
What makes the world of Mass Effect so unique is it's humanization of alien characters. In a galaxy where humans are the outnumbered species, each race of alien has it's own unique set of beliefs, problems, and traits that set them apart and make them memorable.
The games have garnered much criticism and debate, even at the scholarly level, over its use of themes such as mental disorders, objectification, religion, and sexuality. Each of these "problems" brings life into each character as we watch their struggles and work to ease their suffering.
As players, we are often presented with story-changing choices throughout the series. For example, on my first play through, I found myself honestly arguing with myself as to whether or not I should reprogram a race of robots to follow me or spare them the shame and annihilate them to avoid the threat. We are able to reveal so much of our own personalities through our choices in an immersive virtual world, as some studies have suggested.
Is there a psychological or philosophical side to the Mass Effect Trilogy? Quite simply, yes. Any game that can merit this type of thought provoking analysis deserves to be studied right
alongside Shakespearean literature in the classroom.