Mech RPGs That’ll Squish Your Game Table Under Giant Robot Feet
While we wait for the next big robot show to start, these battle mech RPGs will let you battle kaiju and other mechs yourself.
GQuuuuuuX just wrapped up, and oh man did I enjoy this show. In the last few years Gundam specifically has really turned me around on being “not really a mech person” to watching so many of the titles in rapid succession. And despite having to double and triple check how many Us to include, the latest series has had me hooked since the beginning. But now that it’s over, and while we wait for the next big mech show to appear, let’s play some mech RPGs.
Lancer
When I think of big-mech RPGs, Lancer is one of the first ones to come to mind. It’s 15,000 into the future and humankind is doing its best to survive a near collapse. So of course, people are expanding out into space with the goal of setting up a new human utopia. In Lancer, you’re a mech pilot training to either protect this supposed utopia or resist their ideals by any means necessary. It’s a game of storytelling, an engaging world, a cinematic system. And of course, big robots.
Starfinder: Mechageddon!
If you tend to be a little more comfortable with the big-name games, Pathfinder/Starfinder has a mech campaign book for you! On a far-off planet, kaiju demolish cities and generally create a terrifying situation. But you can get in a big mech and fist-fight those monsters. Is this basically the concept of Pacific Rim? Yeah. But that’s the opposite of a problem for me because it was and remains to be a very fun concept.
Jovian Chronicles
Inspired by classic sci-fi stories and giant-robot anime, Jovian Chronicles is a complete sci-fi universe for the Silhouette CORE RPG system. Players will explore a solar system on the brink of war, interact with unique characters, explore imaginative locations, and help determine the future of the human race. This is a game and system perfect for anime-inspired adventures and battles.
Battle Century G
Fast-paced battles is one of the defining features of Battle Century G, where players jump into a mech videogame. Players can either pilot a mech, command a battleship, or ride on kaiju as they make dramatic plays, unleash their secret weapons, and put together flashy combos.
Beam Saber
In Beam Saber, mech pilots are doing their best throughout a war that dominates every aspect of life. But some days it’s a lot to get out unscathed, both physically and mentally. On the goofy to brutal scale of mech battle games, this may be a bit closer to Evangelion than G Gundam. But in your completely custom battle mech, maybe you’ll be able to get out of it (more or less) okay.
BoLS might make a few bucks on anything you buy from these links. But, be honest, you don’t enjoy randomly browsing online stores. So let us do the annoying part for you. Help us help you.
