Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is on the horizon, but what about the rest of the Armored Core franchise? This guide highlights the best Armored Core games to play before diving into the newest installment.
The Armored Core Legacy
FromSoftware, renowned for its Souls-like games, boasts a rich history with the Armored Core series, a long-running mecha action franchise spanning decades. These games typically unfold on a post-apocalyptic Earth, where you play a mercenary, completing contracts for the highest bidder.
Your role as a mercenary is simple: satisfy your clients. Missions range from eliminating rebel forces and scouting enemy positions to pursuing high-value targets like trains. Successful missions translate to earnings, essential for maintaining your mech and acquiring upgrades. Performance directly impacts your arsenal and survivability – excel, and you'll dominate; falter, and it's game over.
By 2013, the series comprised five main entries, plus numerous spin-offs, totaling sixteen games. Armored Core 1 and 2 share a continuity, distinct from the separate timelines of Armored Core 3, 4, and 5. Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, launching August 25, 2023, will likely establish a new continuity. To prepare for this latest entry, Game8 presents a curated selection of the best Armored Core games to play beforehand.