Mecha Breakwas released in early July, bringing a new and exciting experience for fans of the mech combat genre. It’s frenetic and full of cool robots, but for a true fan like me, no single game is enough. That’s why I’d recommend playing these other mecha games if you need even more robots in your life.
6Armored Core 6: The Fires of Rubicon
You just can’t talk about mecha games without bringing upArmored Core.For decades, it’s been one of the most noteworthy members of the genre, perhaps even the face of it in certain years. The series went through a bit of a slump in the 2010s, still putting out games but not really hitting with as much pop culture might as before. But it made a huge comeback in 2023 withArmored Core VI: The Fires of Rubicon.
Praised for its high-speed, high-impact combat, a wealth of customization and personalization options, and dozens of hours of gameplay with multiple story routes that allow formultiple playthroughs,Armored Core 6is arguably the most similar game toMecha Breakon this list, at least as far as the movement and combat mechanics are concerned. I’ve even seen a lot of gamers refer toMecha BreakasArmored Core Lite,and I can’t deny the similarities.
But that’s a good thing. Every type of mech inMecha Break,you can build inArmored Core VI.The speedy melee assassin, the behemoth tank with an entire nation’s arsenal, the stealthy sniper, the airborne menace—not only can you make all of these playstyles your own inAC6,but you have way more customization options, allowing you to pick almost any weapon for almost any build, even if it doesn’t make sense.
That said, the multiplayer scene inAC6is not the same asMecha Break.Multiplayer is 1v1 duels against other players, not big team fights with objectives. So if that’s your favorite part ofMecha Break,this one might not be for you. But if you want an amazing single-player experience with far more customization, epic battlegrounds, and characters you can somehow love even though you never see their face,Armored Core VIis for you.
5Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation 2
You can’t have a list of mecha games withoutMobile Suit Gundamcoming up somewhere.Gundam Battle Operation 2is somewhat similar toMecha Breakin the sense that it’s heavily multiplayer-focused, with teams of players fighting over a variety of objectives across different battlefields. That said, it’s a bit more on the tactical side; the time-to-kill is much lower thanMecha Break,the mobile suits don’t move as quickly and erratically, and positioning and manual aim are king.
I think that makes it a bit harder of a game to learn thanMecha Break,but it’s rewarding in its own way. Mobile Suits inGBO2move with a lot more weight and inertia. They really feel like giant building-sized robots that weigh multiple tons, stomping around battlefields where they dwarf things that were built for puny humans. Scoring kills feels incredibly good, because it’s usually a result of your superior tactics, aim, or teamplay.
Not to say thatMecha Breakdoesn’t have those things, but if you’re the type of person that prefers slightly slower, more tactical shooters to something like arcade shooters, you may findGBO2to be more your speed. It does have agacha mechanic familiar to mobile game playersfor acquiring new mobile suits, but there are plenty of ways to acquire dozens of suits, weapons, and gear without ever spending a dime, so you won’t be hurting for options.
That said, some players seem to have trouble with the netcode for this game. I personally didn’t encounter too many issues, but it’s something to be aware of.
4MechWarrior 5
Depending on how deep you are in the mech scene, you may be familiar with the terms “real” robots and “super” robots. Real robots are considered “somewhat” grounded and realistic, with designs and mechanics that at least seem plausible, while super robots are usually absurd, almost mythical machines whose abilities are more akin to superheroes than real technology.MechWarriorfalls completely into real robot territory.
This game is admittedly quite different fromMecha Break.Instead of nimble super machines with energy shields and a complete lack of care for inertia, you control lumbering bipedal robots who have to rely on actual armor to survive getting shot, and that armor takes damage or whittles away to nothing as it sustains hits. Limbs and parts can be blown clean off. If your ammo takes a direct hit, you could explode at the snap of a finger. Machines have real tonnage and are affected by terrain, turning time, ammo limitations, and much more.
In short, it’s a more “realistic” mecha game that focuses on machines at least somewhat grounded in real physics, machines that you can at least kind of see humans being capable of really building in the future. That does mean it’s a lot slower, more tactical, and somewhat more realistic compared toMecha Break,which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re the type of person that enjoys a more realistic take on huge battle robots,MechWarrior5is an excellent choice.
Right now, you have two options:MechWarrior 5 MercenariesandMechWarrior 5 Clans.Mercenaries is more ofa roguelike experiencewhere you lead a band of mercenaries across space and take on never-ending missions. It does have a story, butClansis an actual fixed single-player experience with unique characters and a fixed plot, so one of those may be more up your alley than the other.
3Gundam Breaker 4
There is no shortage ofMobile Suit Gundamvideo games and plenty of them are awesome.Gundam Breaker 4is in a bit of an odd place in that its value proposition is a little different from many other mech games. The main sell here is the downright absurd, completely ludicrous amount of customization options available to the player. It’s not an exaggeration to say that you can create the most unique, ridiculous-looking mobile suit known to man.
In the model building community, the phrase, “Gunpla is freedom” gets thrown around a lot. This game perfectly encapsulates that notion. The meat of this game is the customization. There are 11 individual parts to customize on your mobile suit, and over 250 base kits to take parts from. You are allowed to mix and match those thousands of parts in any way you please, even combining the absurd chibi SD Gundam kits with their regular counterparts.
You can change the color of each of those parts individually, and even alter their size, allowing you to make some mobile suit with giant arms and tiny legs, or an enormous head, and so on. In short, you can make the coolest mobile suit there never was orabsolute monstrosities, and most of the fun from this game comes from collecting parts and customizing your machine.
There is a basic story, as well as some fairly simple third-person hack-and-slash combat against giant enemies, NPCs, and the creations of other players, but the gameplay isn’t as deep as something likeArmored CoreorMechWarrior.That said, if the thing you love most about mech games is designing your own and showing them off to other people,Gundam Breaker 4might be the king of player freedom in customization in this genre.
2Battletech
Battletechis the name ofthe tabletop boardgame that inspired theMechWarriorseriesof games, and this video game version ofBattletechis pretty close to the original tabletop variant. That means it’s not a fast-paced action game likeMecha Break;it’s a strategic turn-based tactics game, closer to something likeFront MissionorXCOM.You control a mercenary company and command a group of ‘Mechs in turn-based battles.
For those who enjoy more RPG-like experiences,Battletechis a good pick. Your pilots grow and develop new skills as they gain experience. Successful missions help you secure money and parts to upgrade your ship or customize the mechs you bring into battle. The battles are deep, requiring complex tactics and strategies (it is based on a tabletop game, after all!) to succeed. Terrain, positioning, timing, weapon range, countermeasures, your load-outs and pilot skills, and much more all contribute to a win in both single and multiplayer.
Really,Battletechchecks off so many boxes. If you love tabletop games, it has the complexity you want. If you like managing companies or organizations, steadily watching them improve under your guidance as you play, it has that too. If you love giant robots that you may customize, there’s plenty of that to go around inBattletech.And if you just enjoy tactics-based gameplay that challenges your strategic ability, look no further.
1ZONE OF THE ENDERS THE 2nd RUNNER : M∀RS
An oldie but a goldie,Zone of the Enders The 2nd Runneris a Konami classic third-person shooter/hack-n’-slash that debuted all the way back in 2003, where it gained a cult following for its excellent music, compelling narrative, interesting mecha designs, and rewarding gameplay.Zone of the Endershas always been a mech IP that flew under the radar and deserved more appreciation, butThe 2nd Runnerwas the title that made a big enough impact to get a 4K remaster and VR version in 2018.
The game feels likeMobile Suit GundamandArmored Coregot together to make a hybrid experience. You’ve got the third-person, 3D, fast-paced action thatArmored Coreis known for, similar toMecha Break.But you’ve also got the grim, kind of depressing narrative of human hatred, war, and conflicts between people from Earth and people living in outer space, though not without that glimmer of hope that always shines through.
This is a Hideo Kojima game, so you know it’s going to bea game with incredibly dense lorethat makes your head spin. If you’re good at the game and playing on a normal difficulty, this game is a tad short, definitely coming in at under 10 hours, but at the same time, it’s such a gripping experience—especially in the totally immersive VR—that it’s still worth it. It’s definitely worth experiencing this major part of mech gaming history for just $30.
Ultimately, even though the mech genre isn’t the titan of pop culture it used to be, there are still a ton of amazing games that fall under its purview. It’s easy to find the biggest, most popular modern titles, but don’t forget to take a look around and hunt for some lesser-known games too. There are lots of hidden gems you’ll never get the chance to play if you only go for the games that get advertised.
