The best Armored Core games will take you to action-fueled mecha battles in the far future. Let’s dive into the finest entries in FromSoftware’s long-running action series.
FromSoftware’s long-running mecha series perfectly blends strategic depth with action battles. That’s why, more than a decade after the last entry, Armored Core 6 bagged an award at The Game Awards show. It was crowned the Best Action Game of the year as well.
Both the newbies and the veterans of the series expected that outcome. That’s because the best Armored Core games are unmatched when it comes to detailed customisation, solid combat, and bulletproof gameplay loop. In this list, we will be focusing on the best instalment in the series that successfully provided that formula.
5. Armored Core: Last Raven
Armored Core: Last Raven is one of the most challenging entries in the series. Even the staunchest fans of the series would agree with the sudden difficulty spike in Last Raven.
But despite this increase in difficulty, Last Raven remains among the best Armored Core games ever. Because, in its essence, It still offers all the things we love about Armored Core.
From creative mission design to choice-based narrative, Last Raven keeps you on the edge throughout its gameplay. It’s also worth mentioning that the game takes place in a 24-hour setting and resets once you fail a mission. Of course, you’re also allowed to retry the mission or start the game from the beginning.
4. Armored Core: Nexus
Armored Core: Nexus sets the bar high and comes with brand-new mechanics. These mechanics include but are not limited to the long-awaited dual analogue stick support.
Before Nexus, every entry in the series lacked the support for the second analogue. Thanks to this incredible addition, Armored Core: Nexus expands upon new gameplay dimensions that just keep on giving at every stage. Similar to its acclaimed predecessors, Nexus also feature highly modular AC units that support in-depth customisation.
Armored Core: Nexus also offered online components along with a split-screen mod that supports head-to-head combat. Although its story isn’t among the best video game stories, all these features and more rendered Nexus as one of the best Armored Core games in the series.
3. Armored Core 2
As one of the best Armored Core games in the series, Armored Core 2 laid the foundation for the series and its core tenets. It was such a leap forward after the original Armored Core game on the first PlayStation.
Its brilliant introduction of the missions system and detailed customisation also made us fans. Moreover, the bleak and gripping story of Armored Core 2 was also impressive. All these reasons and more made Armored Core 2 one of the most underrated PS2 games of all time.
Furthermore, the game’s “Customise and take missions” formula worked so well that FromSoftware developed a sequel, Another Age.
2. Armored Core 3
This 2002 mecha action game of FromSoftware was brilliant in pretty much every aspect. Its engaging missions, intuitive control layout, and impressive story rendered Armored Core 3 one of the best Armored Core games to date.
The combat in Armored Core 3 was always intense, and it required the player to strategise against their enemies. For instance, players must always be mindful of their ammunition and mech’s integrity. While that was a bit difficult in other titles, Armored Core 3 refined that difficulty level with finesse. That’s why it’s one of the best Armored Core games in the entire series.
Those who would like to start playing Armored Core for some nostalgic gaming experience can easily start with Armored Core 3.
1. Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon
The latest instalment in the series is also the ultimate Armored Core game ever. It’s the epitome of FromSoftware’s brilliant game design and offers a solid blend of the old and the new.
The game puts you in the shoes of augment human C4-621 and tasks you with completing quests from different factions. While that’s similar to the previous titles, Armored Core 6 also features an incredibly detailed customisation system that will keep you in the game for hours.
Piloting an AC unit, beating arena challenges, and completing missions are all you do in Fires of Rubicon. But the game offers these mechanics so well that you’ll never get enough of it. For these reasons and more, Armored Core 6 is at the top among the best Armored Core games ever. It’s also one of the best titles of FromSoftware, for sure. That’s why it bagged the Best Action Game award at The Game Awards.
Final Thoughts
Indeed, Armored Core games are not as famous as their distant cousins like the Dark Souls trilogy or the studio’s magnum opus, Elden Ring. They also haven’t made household names, probably due to their niche genre.
But despite that, these games offer one-of-a-kind experiences in the mecha formula. That’s why even the players who don’t enjoy the genre and its core mechanics found something to love in the recent instalment.
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