27 Best Mech Games, Ranked

Summary

• Mech games offer varied styles, from fast-paced action to tactical RPGs, satisfying any player's tastes.
• Mech games like Hard Reset and MechAssault make fighting mechs as enemies just as fun as controlling them.
• From side-scrolling combat in Assault Suit Leynos to managing mech fighters in Wolfstride, mech games offer diverse gameplay options.

Sometimes it feels like Mech games don’t get a fair shake in the gaming community. They’re often viewed as a little too niche and a tad too slow, but that is an extremely limited view of the genre. There is something unbelievably satisfying about stomping around in a 30-storey robot of doom, but those aren't the only types of mech games on offer.

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Over the years, there have been a plethora of great mech games to suit a myriad of styles. The amount of innovation in mech games shouldn’t be overlooked. Whether you’re looking for a fast-paced action title, a turn-based tactical RPG, or a more methodical, weighty shooter, these games have got you covered.

Updated on August 23, 2024, by Alfredo Robelo: Riding a giant mech continues to be more fun than it has any right to, hence why there are so many games, both old and new, that let us fulfill that fantasy. No matter if you're looking to ride, fight, or simply be a mech, we have you covered. We’ve updated this article to include even more gems of the genre, so you never run out of robot mayhem goodness.

27 Hard Reset

Save What's Left Of Humanity From Invading Mechs

Mechs can be pretty fun to control, but did you know they can be just as fun to fight? Plenty of titles present mechs and robots as enemies trying to destroy humanity or serving some kind of evil mastermind with a grudge against you, and thus, we get adventures like Hard Reset, which is available on devices without a traditional reset button.

Welcome to the future where everything is horrible, much has been destroyed, and a large chunk of humanity has holed up in a large city surrounded by a big wall to keep out nasty elements like murderous machines. Unfortunately, some jerk has made a way for the machines to get into the city, and now you've got to grab your broom and sweep them all out. Just remember to replace "broom" with "arsenal of flashy cyberpunk weapons made for spectacular destruction" and "them" with "a varied cast of ferocious killer mechs."

26 Side Arms

Fly Your Mech And Shoot Everything In Your Way

The world of bullet hell shooters is pretty varied. There are many iconic releases in the genre that belong on this list, but for us, one of the best is Side Arms. This late-80s arcade classic features a transforming mech. Despite being a pretty early game in the genre, Side Arms still feels deeply satisfying to play to this day.

While Side Arms does everything you would want a great shmup to do, including intense actions, satisfying power-ups, and a killer soundtrack, it also features something unique. When played in co-op, two players can fight through the levels alongside each other. What makes this a little more interesting is that if both players acquire a certain power-up, they can combine into one giant mech! Eat your heart out, Voltron.

25 Assault Suit Leynos

Side-Scrolling Mech Platforming And Fighting

There aren't many games like Assault Suit Leynos. It is a side-scrolling action title, but this isn't Contra. Instead, there is a palpable weight to the combat. Initially, the Assault Suit Leyos titles can feel a little clunky, as your mech isn't particularly dexterous. However, once you get a handle on maneuvering your Assault Suit and start to make good use of your jet boosters, the game opens up in a big way.

You also get an impressive armory to play around with. Utilizing your weapons optimally and managing your ammunition is a big part of the experience. Oh, and it is gorgeous! That goes for the original title but also applies to the modern remake.

24 Chained Echoes

An Epic Pixel Journey Centered Around Mechas

We won't lie, Chained Echoes took us by surprise. It wasn't on our radar at all, then it landed on Game Pass, and we were stunned to find a fantastic JRPG experience that felt like it had learned all the best lessons from the best era of JRPGs. The influences here aren't hard to see.

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There are elements of Chrono Trigger and elements of Xenogears, but the combat engine feels extremely fresh, and it doesn't feel like it is rehashing either of those titles. Chained Echoes came out of nowhere and has instantly earned itself a place in the best mecha-focused RPG conversation. It is that good!

23 Wolfstride

Manage A Team To Upgrade And Control Your Mech Fighter

Mechs and other robots of the giant variety were first created for one thing: fighting. These machines are commonly called into action to fight other equally large entities, but it would be cool to see them fight each other in some sort of organized competition. Well, that's why you've got to buy tickets to Wolfstride.

Starting this game takes you to a monochromatic manga-style universe set at some point in the future. It's a world where people can save up enough money to buy a clunker and turn it into a large fighting machine to fight others and win money. You control the leader of an unorthodox but talented team as they work together to raise money to fix and upgrade their very own giant mech. You can then enter it in fights where you need to manage every one of its parts for different attacks and abilities as you target your opponent with destructive gusto.

22 Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness

Beat Up Giant Robots With Your Own Robot

If there is one area where mech-themed games are somewhat underrepresented, it would be in the sprite-based fighting game genre. Thankfully, due to the existence of Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness, this isn't a total blindspot. Acting as a companion game to Capcom's Armored Warriors, an excellent beat-'em-up title in its own right, Cyberbots delivers a unique take on the classic Street Fighter formula.

The big twist here is that, as with many of the best mech games, you can swap out parts and customize your rig. It is an untold level of customization in a classic 2D fighting game. Criminally underrated and largely overlooked, Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness is a certified hidden gem!

21 Super Robot Wars 30

Choose Your Hero, Get In A Robot, And Jump Into The Wackiness

The Super Robot Wars series has run for an impressive 30 years, spanning nearly 60 games. It’s even more incredible when you realize the franchise is a collaboration of several mech anime and games. Super Robot Wars 30 is the latest entry in the series; it features mechs and characters from some of the more notable anime, such as Gundam and Code Geass, as well as a few from somewhat more obscure properties, like The Brave Police J-Decker and Mazinkaiser Infinitism.

Like other games in the series, Super Robot Wars 30 is a tactical RPG where the gameplay (quite frankly) comes second to the over-the-top, zany story. You can even choose which character you want to take into the campaign, with the story changing accordingly. It is a giant mech-based fanfic that you get to play. Pretty cool!

20 Daemon X Machina

Exaggerated Mech Action And Narrative Structure

Daemon X Machina is an action-filled third-person shooter reminiscent of Armored Core but with a heavier emphasis on mobility. Its art style and story embrace its anime forebearers with zany visuals and over-the-top melodrama.

What makes Daemon X Machina special is its gameplay. This fast, fluid shooter/hack-n-slash hybrid delivers quick combat. The game shines in its customization, allowing for an incredible level of detail when designing their pilots and mechs. Anything you can think about building is available to you, and you’re encouraged to think outside the box about how your mech looks and operates.

19 Pizza Titan Ultra

Use A Mech To Ensure That People Get Their Pizza

Of all the silly games on this list, none can top Pizza Titan Ultra. Here, you’re not saving the world from Kaiju or stopping an invading army of mechs. Instead, you use your mech to deliver pizza. Cheezborg, the owner of a rival pizza chain, wants revenge on you for making such a delicious pie and has built an army of robots to stop your deliveries.

You have to fight through these robots and make your deliveries on time. Think Crazy Taxi with mech combat wedged in between each stop. The gameplay is fast-paced and breezy, with simple combat that’s more about providing a roadblock to your time than a serious challenge on its own. But with hilarious dialog and a ton of customization, there’s a lot to keep you coming back for more.

18 Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3

Cut A Path To Victory With Mech Laser Swords

Speaking of fast-paced action, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 is the pinnacle of the Dynasty Warriors: Gundam subseries. It combines the mindless action combat of Dynasty Warriors with the story and world of Gundam. And, of course, the giant and stylish mechs and their iconic weapons and pilots.

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Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 is a fantastic game for Gundam fans, but it's also another great example of a high-octane mech game. This is the fastest game in the series, as you mow through waves of enemies with tons of new moves and weapons and a plethora of different mission types.