7 Best Armored Core Games

Fully immersive, advanced mecha combat and sci-fi environments – this is what Armored Core games are all about. Read on and you’ll find a list of arguably the best titles in the franchise.

Armored Core is a series of third-person shooters available primarily on consoles and focused on dynamic, fast-paced action with the use of massive mechs.

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The series is being developed by the studio responsible for the famous Dark Souls series, FromSoftware, but don’t panic – AC games are not nearly as difficult and even if you’re not an experienced player, you can still find quite a lot of fun here.

Become a mercenary, pilot a mecha, and customize it using hundreds of parts to carry out a variety of tasks and figure out the best strategy to overcome the challenges that await you.

If you’ve never played AC before or you only had an opportunity to play a select few titles, check out the list of the best Armored Core games down below to see which games you should try next.

A little heads-up: the list contains only 7 games, but the franchise is twice as big. If a specific game doesn’t appear on the list, it means we thought there are better alternatives you should give a try first.

Armored Core 4

Release date:	2007-03-20
Genre:	Action
Developer:	FromSoftware

Starting off with AC4, a game that brought a variety of gameplay changes, for which it received some critique as it didn’t feel like Armored Core anymore. Still worth trying if you can get through that bias.

Armored Core 4 went heavily into more dynamic gameplay, greatly favoring speed-oriented builds and leaving slow and heavy ones at a disadvantage. More casual and arcade in nature than a regular sim but worth giving a shot anyway for the novelty factor alone. It’s just that it’s not necessarily the best introductory title to the series, so you may want to return to it later for some alternative AC experience because the majority of AC games play much slower; playing AC4 first would give you a wrong idea of what Armored Core is all about.

Key features
Frantic gameplay that relies on speed more than any other Armored Core game Fast-paced combat that requires better reflex and reaction time Lots of unlockable parts that can be further fine-tuned to fully customize your mecha’s performance Split-screen multiplayer and the introduction of online multiplayer outside Japan

Armored Core: For Answer

Release date:	2008-09-16
Genre:	Action
Developer:	FromSoftware

If you ended up liking Armored Core 4, For Answer is a natural next choice as it’s a direct continuation that builds on a foundation established by AC4.

For Answer, also known as 4A, further improves what AC4 started and fixes certain aspects that some people didn’t like in the previous game. However, it doesn’t back down from its fast-paced gameplay. In fact, it doubles down on it, giving you the option to become even faster as the game progresses, basically turning your mecha into some kind of machine superhero, completely outpacing the smaller enemies and trivializing the fights. Having this kind of power feels fun, though!

Key features
Even faster gameplay Many more available parts to customize mecha’s abilities Arms Forts – epic fights against city-size enemies for an extra challenge May be difficult due to the fact that some missions take place in less open environments

Armored Core: Formula Front

Release date:	2004-12-12
Genre:	Action
Developer:	FromSoftware

Formula Front is another example of how to make gameplay more novel. Instead of letting people control mecha, give them fully automated units that can be programmed and fight on their own.

Formula Front is an Armored Core spin-off that takes gameplay into yet another place, this time turning players not into pilots but architects responsible for assembling their mecha from hundreds of available parts and teaching the AI how to fight. All parts are unlocked from the start, which means the only limit here is your creativity; you have total freedom in how you approach each challenge, so let your brain juice flow and come up with effective strategies to defeat the opponents.

Key features
Gameplay focused on fully automated AI arena battles All robot parts are available from the very beginning Rewards strategy and creative thinking Optional manual control that was added in the North American version of the game

Armored Core 2

Release date:	2000-08-03
Genre:	Action
Developer:	FromSoftware

Now onto the classics. Let’s see what the spirit of the original Armored Core games looks like.

Armored Core 2 marks the beginning of the second generation of AC games and is a massive improvement over its predecessors, not only in the form of vastly better visuals and animations but also gameplay that feels smoother and more polished. Mechs are more responsive, controls are intuitive, and each fight feels different than the other. Truly a treat for any mecha combat fan. The Arena mode from the previous game also makes a return.

Key features
Fully customizable mechs Responsive controls and smooth gameplay Resource management – earn credits and spend them wisely to buy new parts The Arena – optional mode, where you defeat increasingly difficult opponents to climb the ladder

Silent Line: Armored Core

Release date:	2003-01-23
Genre:	Action
Developer:	FromSoftware

After the events from Armored Core 3, it’s now time for mankind to reclaim what’s rightfully theirs.

Silent Line works under similar rules and mechanics as AC3. It is a slight improvement over it, but due to the lack of significant changes and leaving a lot of the issues people experienced with AC3 unaddressed, Silent Line is ranked slightly lower compared to its direct predecessor. If you enjoyed AC3, this one is largely the same and you can import your mecha from there, too! In fact, it’s advisable; otherwise, you may find the difficulty level of Silent Line too steep.

Key features
Highly customizable mechs First-person mode for enhanced immersion Programmable AI machines Arena mode that serves both as an extra challenge and a source of additional income

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon

Release date:	2023-08-25
Genre:	Action
Developer:	FromSoftware Inc.

Armored Core marks a surprising return after a decade of silence, but it was so worth the wait.

Image credit: FromSoftware

Usually, it’s difficult for sequels, especially so distant ones, to score highly and steal the show but Armored Core VI did an excellent job at respecting the original games’ legacy, making it a perfect title to start the AC journey. It’s also the very first game to be officially released on PC, so now you can give the series a try even if you don’t intend to purchase a console.

Key features
A modern take on the classic gameplay formula Stunning visuals Fully customizable mechs for a variety of playstyles Can be relatively difficult if you don’t have a clear strategy in mind

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon

Release date:	2002-04-04
Genre:	Action
Developer:	FromSoftware

For the final game, we’ve got Armored Core 3, which is not only often considered the best in the series, but also serves as an absolutely fantastic first choice to dive into AC.

The game uses a classic AC gameplay loop: complete missions to earn credits, then spend them to get new parts for your mecha. The customization options allow you to change and fine-tune your creation to meet your personal needs and playstyle down to the slightest detail. Make a tanky behemoth or a swift sniper; explore the possibilities – the sky is the limit.

Key features
Phenomenal customization options Improved controls over the predecessors Computer-controlled allies Addictive arena mode

Conclusion

Good games focused on piloting a mecha are few and far between, but Armored Core comes to the rescue, allowing players to experience the thrills of mecha combat since 1997.