Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is on the horizon, but which Armored Core titles should you play beforehand? This guide highlights the best entries to prepare you for the upcoming release.
The Armored Core Franchise: A Quick Overview
FromSoftware, renowned for its Souls-like games, boasts another celebrated franchise: Armored Core. This long-running series, spanning decades and culminating in multiple titles up to the early 2010s, centers on mech combat. Players take on the role of mercenaries piloting powerful Armored Cores in a post-apocalyptic world, completing missions for various clients. Success earns you funds for upgrades and maintenance, failure means mission failure. The gameplay emphasizes strategic mech customization and intense combat.
The series comprises 5 main numbered entries, plus numerous spin-offs, totaling 16 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 (releasing August 25, 2023) likely establishes a new continuity. To familiarize yourself with the series before the launch, Game8 presents a curated list of the top Armored Core games to play.