7 Best Games For Mecha Customization

In the world of video games, action is king for many avid gamers who enjoy the thrill of dropping into a warzone or chaotic realm and testing their mettle against the opposition. Few game genres deliver quite as much action as Mecha, which delivers explosive robot-on-robot action where gamers get behind the wheel of their iron god killers and turn enemies into scrap metal. With missiles, energy swords, and endless rounds of ballistic arsenals, Mecha offers a high-octane experience that elevates warfare to a new level.

However, it’s not only important to be awesome on a robotic battlefield; players should also be able to look cool while they pilot a walking tank and level entire battlefields with nuclear arms. When stepping into a personalized mech, players should be able to fully connect to their machine and clearly express themselves through unique parts, paint jobs, and design. Here are some of the best mech games with the best customization.

7 Custom Mech Wars

Easy To Learn And Fun To Master

• Release Date: December 14, 2023
• Developer: D3 Publisher
• Publisher: D3 Publisher
• Platform(s): PlayStation 5, PC

Fans of the Earth Defense Force series and games similar to the franchise may already be aware of this entry; if not, they will surely enjoy Custom Mech Wars. Dropping into a chaotic world where military might reigns supreme, players step into the cockpit of massive machines outfitted with the most advanced weaponry of the age to take on droves of mechanical enemies however they see fit.

Custom Mech Wars is a bunch of fun that allows players to outfit and customize their mechs with a fair amount of freedom, hitting all the right marks and checking all the right boxes. The game focuses less on difficulty and more on enjoyment, providing a loose power fantasy for newcomers to the franchise.

6 M.A.V.

Realism Paired With High Destructive Potential

• Release Date: April 3, 2014
• Developer: Bombdog Studios
• Producer: Bombdog Studios
• Platform: PC

M.A.V. (Modular Assault Vehicle) is a game that focuses more on realistic machinery rather than hyper-advanced technology when it comes to the mechs in the game. Instead of humanoid cosmic entities, the mechs in M.A.V. are more down to Earth, leaning more toward walking tanks and weapons of mass destruction.

What M.A.V lacks in over-the-top design, they make up for in sheer attention to detail. M.A.V. may be one of the most realistic mech games on the market, with numerous factors that affect how a player’s machine operates down to the most minute detail. M.A.V. arguably has some of the most freedom when it comes to customizations, as players can design their machine from the ground up in any style they see fit, from eight-wheeled mobile armor to a two-legged assault tank.

5 Battletech

Heavy Detail In Outfitting The Perfect Design

Battletech is a realistic toned turn-based tactical experience that fans of XCom or Marvel’s Midnight Suns will enjoy. Rather than just a hail of bullets and explosives, Battletech immerses players in a fight to control the battlefield and set up units for specific roles when combating enemy units.

When it comes to customization, Battletech may leave a bit to be desired when considering cosmetic or visual upgrades. However, when it comes to mechanical customization, Battletech does an excellent job of providing a way of crafting a mech for any number of particular situations that are as unique as possible.

4 Daemon X Machina

High Octane Action With Spirited Customization

Daemon X Machina ramps up the futuristic fantasy aspect of the mecha genre and turns heavily constructed machinery into marvels of science able to travel at blinding speeds while dishing out waves of calamity-level destruction. Players drop into a ravaged world where humanity has learned to travel the stars and are currently embroiled in a conflict against artificial intelligence and the horrors it creates.

Players can completely design their mechs with their most desired look, feel, and arsenal and even attach special abilities unique to that machine. Daemon X Machina is a fast-paced Action RPG and absolutely nails the feeling of the pilot and the mech being of one mind. Combat might feel a bit sluggish compared to other faster entries on this list, but this pacing just gives you a bit more time to appreciate your customization options in the field, right?

3 M.A.S.S. Builder

High Level Of Detail And Over The Top Building

Stepping into the more anime-centered games, M.A.S.S. Builder dives face-first into the fantasy aspect of Mecha and takes much of its inspiration from the Gundam franchise and anime like Break Blade. The game is set in a semi-utopian future where humanity has realized its full potential but has been attacked by beasts from the void.

To survive, human beings put their minds to work in order to create weapons capable of pushing the beast’s invasion back and reclaiming the world. M.A.S.S. Builder‘s customization is the cream of the crop, allowing near-endless possibilities for players to focus on their creativity.

2 Gundam Breaker 3

Endless Fun And Creativity

• Release Date: March 3, 2016
• Developer: Crafts And Meister
• Producer: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
• Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita

The Gundam franchise is king when it comes to Mecha, having multiple levels to its universe and numerous timelines across anime, films, and even real-life model kits that allow fans to utilize the unique designs that show up in the world of Gundam. One of the franchise’s most successful installments is the Gundam Breaker series, which allows players to hop into a JRPG-styled world where they can build their custom machine fitted with parts from any of the Mobile Suit Gundam anime and combine them into one unstoppable creation.

The combat in Gundam Breaker 3 provides a hands-on experience and gives a sense of accomplishment as players progress to unlock new and more powerful parts for their Gunpla. Fans and newcomers to the franchise should keep their eyes open for the latest installment of Gundam Breaker, releasing later this year.

1 Armored Core 6: Fires Of Rubicon

A Perfect Balance Of Realism And Science Fiction

FormSoftware is a juggernaut in the gaming community, known for its unrelenting Dark Souls franchise that features grueling challenges for hardcore players to take on. However, FormSoftware is also known for the Armored Core franchise, which has brought unrelenting mecha combat to console over six games.

The most recent installment in the series, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, completely revolutionizes aspects of the game’s core model and upgrades the details for a completely new experience. Players can custom-build their AC to their desired playstyle and create anything from a high-speed close-range unit to a down-range sniper build. The customization options — both mechanical and aesthetic — feel nearly limitless, offering countless hours of fun outside the grueling combat the game delivers.