Just this month, Mecha BREAK officially left Early Access and launched in full for the world to play. At its core, it’s a mecha game where players pilot customizable machines known as Strikers to live out their Mobile Suit Gundam fantasies. It’s a solid pick for fans of the mecha genre across games, anime, and film.
Despite reaching an impressive all-time peak of 84,000 players at launch, it hasn’t been without controversy. The game has drawn criticism for its aggressive microtransactions and its blatantly provocative "gooner-bait" cosmetic designs. Currently, it holds a “Mixed” overall review rating on Steam, based on over 12,000 user reviews.
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+ 4But if you’re itching for more games like Mecha BREAK, FromSoftware’s Armored Core should be next on your list. This piece isn’t about comparing the two to determine which is better. Instead, it’s a celebration of two games that share a love for high-speed mecha combat and appeal to fans of the genre. They’re apples and oranges, but Mecha BREAK’s inspirations are too obvious not to acknowledge.
It’s clear that Mecha BREAK’s inspirations are from the acclaimed Armored Core franchise, especially the latest entry, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon. The gameplay shares notable similarities, from high-speed aerial maneuvers and familiar UI elements to a story centered around a mysterious alien resource, akin to a MacGuffin.
READ: Where Is My Armored Core VI DLC, FromSoftware?
click to enlarge + 4While Mecha BREAK leans into its free-to-play PvP experience, Armored Core is renowned for its stylistic single-player campaigns, which focus on corrupt corporations and heavy dystopian themes. These stories rarely have happy endings, often set on worlds devastated by the consequences of humanity’s hubris. (If you'd like one example, check out Amazon Prime's Secret Level episode of Armored Core.)
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon was one of 2023’s best games and marked the triumphant return of a long-dormant franchise. It’s also the most accessible game in the series, with quality-of-life improvements that help ease new players into its systems. While it still features a learning curve in terms of movement and customization, it’s far more manageable than the older entries from the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 era.
click to enlarge + 4Though the two games differ in structure, both Mecha BREAK and Armored Core VI embrace fast-paced PvP combat. The key difference is that PvP in Armored Core VI takes a backseat since it isn’t built as a live-service title. Mecha BREAK, on the other hand, is an attempt at a live-service Armored Core-like experience, which is promising for those who enjoy frequent balance updates and a steady stream of content.
Of course, Mecha BREAK may be more balanced than Armored Core VI unless someone figures out how to abuse dual Zimmermans, and that’s a different discussion entirely.
click to enlarge + 4Overall, if you crave a single-player campaign, which isn't present in Mecha BREAK, then Armored Core VI is built for you.
If you’re enjoying Mecha BREAK, you’re also playing a fantastic game that only needs to tone down its monetization. But if you’re looking to dive deeper into the mecha genre, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a great next step.
For more Armored Core and Mecha BREAK, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com, the best website for Mecha games.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Features and Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon page.