Mass Effect an "empty sandbox"? Are you talking about the first game or the sequels? I never played the first (what seems like an action 3D shooter/adventure with RPG elements but somehow I miss shooting a big robot head in my cross hairs at point blank? Nah...) but the other two seemed linear. Yeah there was some wandering but it wasn't like you had to meander for hours.

My definition of "sandbox" is a game like "Amazing Frog?"- there's a big world with "toys" to play with (cars to drive, helicopters to fly, frog citizens to stick to buildings or moving vehicles with a grapple line) and with little things to do (pick up trash, find and blow up a megaladon, etc.). Like a virtual play area with action figures and models to virtually play with. Or Minecraft-build with Legos but your little action figure can be attacked. In games like GTA, I never saw the point of wandering. I just did missions

WoW-well, there IS grinding....