Summary
There are a lot of great mech games out there likeTitanfall 2. Fans are still waiting for a sequel to that game to enjoy more first-person mech action. Then there are slower experiences like theFront Missionseries which are turn-based tactical RPGs. They may be slower-paced, but the customization options are deep and they can be intense too.
Those two examples are great, but they don’t offer full campaign co-op. Multiplayer is the only thing that makes mech games better, as players can pretend they are part of a large squadron just like in their favorite anime. The following examples do indeed feature co-op across a wide array of consoles.
Most of the games in this series, includingArmored Core 5, have co-op. It’s sad then that the latest game,Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, did not, especially considering its high-difficulty level. It is also strange given FromSoftware’s stance on multiplayer with their Soulsborne series in the past decade, but there are mods on PC to add co-op to the game for those curious.
Armored Core 5was challenging as well, but not so much when a second player was added into the campaign. There were other co-op modes too, but the story mode only allowed two players to join up. The game utilized typical mech game mechanics, including various weapons to unlock and deep customization options for upgrading.
Capcom was one of the top developersin the arcade days of the brawler scene. They had a lot of licensed games likeDungeons & Dragons: Shadow Over MystaraandCadillacs and Dinosaurs,but they also had original titles likeArmored Warriors. In this game, players could choose a mech and team up with two other players for the campaign.
Like many arcade games, this title was lost for quite a while until Capcom released theCapcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundlefor consoles. It’s the best way to experienceArmored Warriorsnow, along with a handful of other great Capcom brawlers likeCaptain CommandoandFinal Fight. The only downside is that it can be completed in about thirty minutes, but that’s how long a lot of arcade classics are.
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3is one of the best spinoffs in theDynasty Warriorsfranchise, and it was also based on an anime. It’s certainly the bestGundamgame Omega Force put out, as it had a style unlike any of the others thanks to the use of cel-shading. Players could choose from a variety of Gundam units and other mechs from over a dozen entries in the series.
Gundam Seed,Gundam Wing,G Gundam, and so many other series were featured in the game. Different pilots could be chosen too, and fans could create their dream team scenarios with up to three other friends for a massive hack-and-slash brawl. When it comes to fan service, there is no better game than this forGundamfans.
Iron Brigadeisa one-off from Double Finewhich started as a title calledTrenched. It was eventually changed to avoid name controversies though, but nothing else was altered about the experience. The game took place in an alternate version of World War 1 wherein trenches were no longer solitary placements on giant battlefields.
There were mechs that soldiers could ride around on. Also, this wasn’t a war between humans, but rather a war against aliens. It was a tower-defense game wherein players could take out enemies with just their mech if they wanted, but it was more efficient to place traps on the battlefield. It was also a wise decision to team up with others for a more manageable combat experience, as it was easy to get overwhelmed.
Roboquestis technically a roguelikewhere players control a robot and not a mech. However, this robot is huge, and it is technically being guided by a human, so let’s count it in this grand list. It’s also quite new, releasing in 2023, and it’s a first-person shooter with slight platformer elements. It follows typical roguelike loops wherein players will go through rooms, clear out enemies, and get bonuses upon completion.
They can find guns to equip with random stats or gain currency to then use to unlock new weapons and gear at checkpoints. When a player dies, everything will disappear except for permanent upgrades that can be acquired at HQ before a run begins. The inventive weapons are the highlight, from freeze rays to guns that shoot out waves of rockets. The co-op inclusion is a close second, as most roguelikes don’t have multiplayer and it is always appreciated to see.
Much likeArmored Warriors,Rohga: Armor Forceis an oldie but a goodie that began inthe arcade scene. It eventually found its way to consoles, although these ports were exclusive to Japan for quite some time until it eventually made its way to digital stores like PSN. The co-op option is drop-in, drop-out once players begin a level, like most arcade games.
Gameplay is similar to run-and-gun action platformers likeContraexcept that players control giant mechs. They could customize their mech’s look before setting out, along with their weapon loadout. It’s a simple game with tight controls, good music, and even better pixel art.
Shoulders of Giantsis another 2023 roguelike that offers co-op. However, unlikeRoboquest,this game unequivocally features mechs. The main character, Frog, is a silent explorer who is aided by other animal companions like Panda. The goal is to research as many planets as possible while fighting off rebel alien scum, which sounds like a great 90s sci-fi plot.
Players come equipped with a melee weapon on their mech, and then Frog can shoot a gun as well. Upgrades in the field or at a home base will give both this mech and Frog more weapons and tools to work with. It can be enjoyed with three other friends as well to create an unstoppable interplanetary mech army.
