Obvious spoilers: 
 
 
 So... what with the last cutscene showing the amassed Reaper invasion force heading towards the Milky Way, anyone find themselves wondering how in the hell they will be able to reach our galaxy within the next million years? Mass Effect has been pretty good in it's adherence to science (or at least pseudo-science) and we all know the opening of the Citadel Relay was imperative for the Reaper's annihilation plan, so what exactly are these guys doing just flying towards us? Even at lightspeed it should take them well over 100,000 years. any takers? An unmentioned relay perhaps?

FTL drives...

They're playing Minecraft and watching Arrested Development

I could see their advanced technology allowing them to get within galactic reach in around five years. ME3 could open in 2190, I'd be into seeing what Bioware would do with a five year jump.

Maybe they've been travelling for thousands of years, and just happened to arrive at the end of ME2. I don't really know much about Mass Effect 2 :I

i assume they would use the omega-4 tech to get there

I'm confident that Bioware will come up with something . I don't write Mass Effect fiction, not much point in me trying to guess something that hasn't been addressed to the public yet. 
But for the hell of it, maybe there are gates closer to the outskirts of the universe that haven't been activated yet. It would make sense considering the Citadels law of not activating Mass Relay drives until the other drive it connects to is found.

Well hasn't it been 3 years after ME1 to ME2? And then in another 2 or 3 years it might be possible for the Reapers with their advanced technology to come fast. Sovereign's mission was to hit hard, fast, and without anyone knowing what it was. If Sovereign had succeeded in his mission it would have made it possible for the Reapers to harvest everything without anyone even really knowing what they were, but because he failed, many high up officials know of the threat and now the galaxy knows the Reapers are coming, especially after that whole ordeal with the Collector's being caught stealing bodies under Harbinger's control. This might be a situation in which the Reapers have never been in before.

if the reapers can travel at some significant fraction of the speed of light they could travel a thousand years and it feel like only a few 
physics

Magic. 

The shot of the reapers in front of the milky way was probs just put there for dramatic effect, so it's unlikely that it will get any real explanation

zombies

I'm speculating it will have something to do with Dark Energy that Tali and the Quarians keep talking about.

Public transport.

(or at least pseudo-science)

Jet packs.

By figuring out a way to make the next Mass Effect suck less.

" By figuring out a way to make the next Mass Effect suck less. "

After just finishing the Mass Effect series again recently, I was wondering the same thing. They made it pretty clear that the Reapers couldn't get through to us without using the Citadel as their entry point, which you thwarted in the first game, and then they were doing their work on this side using the Geth and the Protheans, both of which you punished in the first and second games. I'd guess there's something I'm missing from not reading up on the fiction from outside of the games (the books).

"zombies "

"Jet packs. "

Kicking ass and chewing eezo gum.

The Reapers made the Mass Relays. They will figure out a way.

" @LiquidPrince: It was a question! I was simply answering it by pointing out that the Reapers would probably be able to get to the Milky Way if they can make the next Mass Effect suck less. How is that bad? Jeez. "

They were only displayed like that for effect. (MASS EFFECT! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA)
 
But seriously, they'll just mass effect field themselves to the galaxy, I wouldnt be surprised if the next game starts off ten minutes after the second one ended. Unless they are waiting for something to give them the go, in which case, I smell plot device.
 
@rybrad said:

" Their leader will find a way. "

"My name is Bolo Santosi, i am the leader of the revolutionary army known as the Reapers,  our goal is for the people of Panau to break the chains of oppression. And rise up as one! You are the scorpio no? I hear you are very....... skilled."

Perhaps the Reapers transcend the restrictions of time and space as we know them.

" @RsistncE said:

" @LiquidPrince: It was a question! I was simply answering it by pointing out that the Reapers would probably be able to get to the Milky Way if they can make the next Mass Effect suck less. How is that bad? Jeez. "

... You expect me to believe that. Alrighty then. "

" @LiquidPrince said:

" @RsistncE said:

" @LiquidPrince: It was a question! I was simply answering it by pointing out that the Reapers would probably be able to get to the Milky Way if they can make the next Mass Effect suck less. How is that bad? Jeez. "

... You expect me to believe that. Alrighty then. "

Don't feed the lonely troll.  Perhaps the Reapers were traveling there after the death of Sovereign and their ship drives are faster, etc, etc, there is many explanations to go with since they are all powerful machines. "

Space magic.
 
Or video game logic.

"   

"

The random number drive in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy?
 
Or like wanting it REALLY REALLY hard?

" Well hasn't it been 3 years after ME1 to ME2? And then in another 2 or 3 years it might be possible for the Reapers with their advanced technology to come fast. Sovereign's mission was to hit hard, fast, and without anyone knowing what it was. If Sovereign had succeeded in his mission it would have made it possible for the Reapers to harvest everything without anyone even really knowing what they were, but because he failed, many high up officials know of the threat and now the galaxy knows the Reapers are coming, especially after that whole ordeal with the Collector's being caught stealing bodies under Harbinger's control. This might be a situation in which the Reapers have never been in before. "

Life of the Reaper-man is always intense.

Let's not forget that even the Asari don't know who the hell made the Mass Effect Conduits.
 
Considering too, that faster than light travel consists of travelling faster than light, and travelling for years at that speed. I'd say that's pretty fast if you ask me. It takes 8 minutes for light to travel the distance between the Sun and Earth.  Also these things probably don't eat or drink, or get bored. And probably were heading here a long time ago. Who knows if they've purged other galaxies or worlds before coming to our galaxy?

it is possible to travel faster than light using space time curvatures 
its a bit of a cop out though

Spaceships.

" Obvious spoilers:    So... what with the last cutscene showing the amassed Reaper invasion force heading towards the Milky Way, anyone find themselves wondering how in the hell they will be able to reach our galaxy within the next million years? Mass Effect has been pretty good in it's adherence to science (or at least pseudo-science) and we all know the opening of the Citadel Relay was imperative for the Reaper's annihilation plan, so what exactly are these guys doing just flying towards us? Even at lightspeed it should take them well over 100,000 years. any takers? An unmentioned relay perhaps? "

They could say, "The Reapers are so far advanced we can't even comprehend how they do the things they do." It's would be an easy cop out for Bioware. They wouldn't really have to explain anything.

" @LiquidPrince: It was a question! I was simply answering it by pointing out that the Reapers would probably be able to get to the Milky Way if they can make the next Mass Effect suck less. How is that bad? Jeez. "  

" @DonPixel: Hey I was honest, I think Mass Effect blows and that if the Reapers (SOME HOW) were to make Mass Effect suck less, they'd probably have no issues getting to the milky way. It's not my fault that you can't seem to understand this basic concept. "

" Let's not forget that even the Asari don't know who the hell made the Mass Effect Conduits.  Considering too, that faster than light travel consists of travelling faster than light, and travelling for years at that speed. I'd say that's pretty fast if you ask me. It takes 8 minutes for light to travel the distance between the Sun and Earth.  Also these things probably don't eat or drink, or get bored. And probably were heading here a long time ago. Who knows if they've purged other galaxies or worlds before coming to our galaxy? "

" @RsistncE said:

" @DonPixel: Hey I was honest, I think Mass Effect blows and that if the Reapers (SOME HOW) were to make Mass Effect suck less, they'd probably have no issues getting to the milky way. It's not my fault that you can't seem to understand this basic concept. "

still..  
 
picture this: We are in a 80´s  camaro convention in RL i mean..  talking about everything camaro because we fking love camaros 
 
and you for reasons not even the reapers can answer drive all the way to this convention from wherever you live.. 
  
and the first thing you said is Camaros blows.. that would be a RL trolling, unhappy jerky ppl like to do that see my point? why would you do that? why i mean what the fuck are you doing in the camaro convention if you dont like them i mean why!?! "