Summary
Given the popularity ofDark Souls, it’s incredibly easy to associateFromSoftwarewithDark Soulsand other Souls-like games. However, it’s interesting to note thatFromSoftwareisn’t always about their “git gud” hit franchise, as mecha fans love the devs for itsArmored Coreseries. UnlikeDark Souls, theArmored Corefranchise focuses heavily on simulation - both in terms of constructing mecha and using them in combat.
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Contrary toGundam, eachArmored Coretitle carries a particular level of intensity with regard to mecha customization and gameplay, to the point where it can become quite enjoyably overwhelming for gamers. However, for newcomers to the franchise, just how would they rankArmored Coregames?
Updated on June 30, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam:With Armored Core 6 primed for an June 23, 2025 release, fans of the acclaimed FromSoftware franchise may be excited to secure their perfect mecha and duke it out against AI and player opponents. However, Armored Core 6 boasts improved graphics and challenging gameplay FromSoftware fans would be familiar with, giving a mechanized flair to thrilling fights. And with the game significantly emphasizing meticulous mecha construction and AI planning, Armored Core 6 is a much-needed breather for mecha fans. In turn, enthusiasts may also be interested in how previous entries in the series fared in terms of specific mechanics and the way they improved upon the franchise over the year.
16Armored Core: Project Phantasma (1997)
Players who want a more straightforwardArmored Coreexperience will appreciateArmored Core: Project Phantasma, the second game in the series and set two years before the first game. In the story, players take missions, earn money, and meticulously upgrade their ACs as they explore the research site of what’s only known as Project Phantasma.
Unlike the first game,Project Phantasmaonly has 17 missions, a far cry from the first title which has 50. However, whileProject Phantasmaoffers a neat cross-save option from the first game, the more linear approach does make it a fast and loose experience.
Claim To Fame: Armored Core: Project Phantasma
Despite the lack of a number of missions inProject Phantasma, the sheer depth and weight they add to the story were a welcome addition in the early stages of the franchise. Unfortunately, graphics do need work and the core gameplay wasn’t that improved compared to its predecessors, leaving a lot to be desired for the entry.
15Armored Core: Nine Breaker (2004)
Players who want to skip the rather convoluted plot of theArmored Coreseries can simply enjoy fighting robots inArmored Core: Nine Breaker. The game skips a story mode and instead only has two modes, a Training Mode that challenges players with various gameplay mechanics, and an Arena Mode where players pit their AC against AI. The Training Mode reveals that the Arena Mode is currently training individuals for a potential war as everything is currently at peace.
Unfortunately, the game doesn’t offer anything else that can have players stick for the long haul. Unlike other games, a majority of AC parts are already unlocked for tinkering. Moreover, there’s no multiplayer mode that allows players to challenge friends online.
Claim To Fame: Armored Core: Nine Breaker
Players who want more focus on the building aspect of an Armored Core could rely onNine Breakerfor a decent, more straightforward experience. Unfortunately, those who found appeal in the post-apocalyptic premise of the mecha series might not find much here in terms of story.
14Armored Core: Master Of Arena (1999)
Fans of theArmored Corefranchise will likely remember thatArmored Core: Master Of Arenawas the franchise’s last entry for the PlayStation before consoles transitioned to another generation. Unfortunately, it didn’t celebrate with a bang as much as fans would have liked. Graphics-wise,Master Of Arenadidn’t change much given the system’s graphical limitations.
In terms of gameplay,Master Of Arenadefinitely retains most of the franchise’s known features but didn’t add quite a lot to set it apart from its contemporaries. New toMaster of Arenais the Ex Arena Mode, which isan arena-type brawlerthat categorizes into mecha types, and the Ranker Mk Mode which adds customization options to the AI of ACs.
Claim To Fame: Armored Core: Master Of Arena
Considered one of the most iconic games in the franchise,Master Arenais the source of the iconic “power” dialogue from Hustler One of the AC Nine Ball, which eventually appears as a recurring character throughout the series. Although gameplay could use some work, its take on its riveting story and the feature of a compelling villain has by far made this into one of the more memorable games in the series.
13Armored Core 4 (2006)
Serving as a reboot of the first few games,Armored Core 4spices things up with faster missions and a new storyline. Set after a devastating war in the future, corporations now rule the world and begin to employ ACs to wage war against each other.
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While the game retains its strong customization mechanic,Armored Core 4’s fast-paced combat doesn’t complement its rather lackluster overall performance. Environments are a bit dull and cramped compared to the game’s crisper visuals, which doesn’t help its rather straightforward 30 missions.
Claim To Fame: Armored Core 4
The game has players take control of a next-generation Armored Core as an intervening third party in a full-blown war across nation-spanning corporations - an atmosphere that definitely made the game much heavier compared to other titles. Unfortunately, the game relied too heavily on its atmosphere that its storytelling and overall gameplay loop could use more work.
12Armored Core 5 (2012)
At its core,Armored Core 5was a return to tradition for the modernArmored Coreseries, focusing more on tactical gameplay compared to the more fast-paced gameplay of its younger predecessors. While its story still features resistance against an oppressive power, more focus this time is given to thekeen customizationof the Armored Core to accommodate complicated battle situations.
When played online,Armored Core 5easily becomes a wild ride as five-versus-five matches will have team Operators oversee and issue commands. Unfortunately, its solo experience remains quite dull considering its skill ceiling and rather repetitive combat.
Claim To Fame: Armored Core 5
Due to being one of the more recent titles,Armored Core 5remains one of the prettiest entries in the franchise due to its approach to aesthetics. However, the game does take a hit in terms of overall storytelling on top of having a lot of missions centered around grinding which, with the absence of the Mail and Arena modes, made the game a rather more mundane title to work with.
11Armored Core 2: Another Age (2001)
A few years after protagonist Leos Klein attempts a coup, the Earth once again faces a power struggle between three large corporations and a revolutionary group attempting to establish a new government. It’s this tense premise that letsArmored Core 2: Another Agemark the end of the original timeline ofArmored Coreand it definitely tries to go all out. While there’s no presence of Arena Mode, the game has more than 100 missions to keep players entertained for quite a long time.
Moreover, the improved visuals and the mecha aesthetics just complement the stellar AC AI that kept players on their toes. Of course, players who preferArmored Coregameplay that’s much faster won’t necessarily enjoyAnother Age.
Claim To Fame: Armored Core 2: Another Age
The removal of the much-beloved Arena Mode made fans feelAnother Agelacked the same “dimensionality” that allowedArmored Core 2and other games to be more dynamic in terms of gameplay. Not to mention, the difficulty of the AI consistently remained a point of contention to accessibility to newcomers, although some do claim this is one of the things that made the franchise appealing in the first place.
10Armored Core (1997)
When it comes to the best games in a franchise, people just reserve a spot for the classics - and such is the case ofArmored Core, the game that started it all. After the cataclysmic Great Destruction wiped out a vast majority of Earth, its survivors went underground and began living under the control of corporations. As these corporations clash, mercenaries called Ravens have begun profiting from the situation as they conduct their missions using ACs.
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In a genre ordinarily dominated by the classicMechWarrior, the originalArmored Corecertainlyproved itself a worthy contenderwith its in-depth customization and choice of missions. This level of creativity was unprecedented, evidently makingArmored Corea standout in the genre.
Claim To Fame: Armored Core
Despite its rather mundane nature in terms of graphics, the gameplay loop introduced by the originalArmored Coremade a mark in the mecha franchise at the time. The sheer customizability of the Armored Cores at a time as well as the multitude of usable weapons allowed players to truly personalize their experience.
9Armored Core: Formula Front (2004)
Unlike other games in theArmored Corefranchise,Armored Core: Formula Frontis a spinoff that served as the series’ launch title for the PlayStation Portable. As an Architect, players are tasked to build and program ACs that can fight independently of their control.
Unlike the other warlike settings ofArmored Core,Formula Frontinstead focuses on a worldwide competition of the same name that transformed ACcombat into a sport. This more lax approach to the concept, combined with the PSP’s improved graphics and amazing AI, makesFormula Fronta worthwhile feel-good game to challenge the minds of series fans.
Claim To Fame: Armored Core: Formula Front
The lack of story can definitely turn most people off fromFormula Front, and the game massively compensates for a more competitive “sports-like” atmosphere for its matches. The options that allow players to create or import their own logos and the sheer customizability of the mechs enabled the game to remain entertaining despite the lack of story. Not to mention, the portability offered by the PSP release made the straightforward, mech-on-mech action ofFormula Frontmore exciting.
8Armored Core: Nexus (2004)
Compared to other games in the series,Armored Core: Nexusbegins with a rather interesting twist - a new corporation named Navis has been investigating ancient technology, putting other corporations in high tensions that lead to all-out war. Players, as part of the Raven’s Ark, work with ACs to earn money.
As with other games,Nexusboasts the game’s extremely modular premise, but this time around putting more focus on things such as energy consumption, lock-on capabilities, and heat dissipation. Players who want an extremely realistic - albeit sometimes frustrating - experience piloting a mecha will definitely feel awesome playingNexus.
Claim To Fame: Armored Core: Nexus
As with most games, the main gripe players had withNexushad to be the apparent difficulty that may make it a bit difficult for newcomers - especially with new mechanics such as the seemingly deliberately-annoying targeting system, and even the Heat property. However, praise-worthy in the series entry would be the addition of dual analog stick support, as well as a plot that took note of the player’s wins and losses.
7Armored Core 2 (2000)
Serving as the sequel to the firstArmored Coregame,Armored Core 2does take things up a notch - to Mars, in fact. In the story, a colonized Mars will face chaos courtesy of the Frighteners and the mysterious Leos Klein. The player is tasked to lead a team to defeat the Frighteners, but not without following the usualArmored Coreformula of doing missions and earning money with their ACs in the process.
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Aside from impressive customization, players haveaccess to improved graphicsat a time and a UI reminiscent of a cool mecha cockpit. Of course,Armored Core 2carries the franchise’s brand of extremely tactical-oriented gameplay, which in turn can pose some degree of difficulty for fans.
Claim To Fame: Armored Core 2
Although other future installments would be trumpingArmored Core 2in terms of performance across the board,Armored Core 2remains a memorable entry for mech fans of its time. It’s by far the most sophisticated mecha builder and fighter for the PS2 as of its release, with the graphics and gameplay loop being rather developed for its time.
