THE BEST MECH GAMES ON PC

From anime mecha to rusty 100-ton war machines, the best mech games for giant robot lovers

- Sean Murray, Evan Lahti, Ian Evenden

Whether you like hardcore simulation and strategy or the explosive thrill of mecha anime, games about big stompy robots have always had a home on PC. With the upcoming Armored Core 6 and MechWarrior 5: Clans on the horizon, it's definitely a good time to be a fan of games about 100-ton death machines.

While mech games span genres, they are bound together by the simple truth that piloting suits of mechanised armour into combat is a fantasy that never gets old. It's an aesthetic that dates back decades to the very first MechWarrior in 1989 and now lives on in newer games like Titanfall 2 and Brigador. That's why we've rounded up a diverse selection of our favourite mech games spanning multiple genres - from the traditional sim to button-mashing character action.

Iron Brigade

RELEASED 2012 DEVELOPER Double Fine

Double Fine's not-quitea-tower-defence-game spin on mechs is one of the most unique thanks largely to its campy B-movie vibe and WWI-era aesthetic. Don't make the mistake of thinking Iron Brigade is yet another tower defence game where you place rows of static defences that usher waves of stupid enemies into killboxes, however. Yes, each level has you fighting off waves of aliens, and yes there are towers, but your primary defence is your hulking mech that you stomp around in as aliens rush your defences - and it's simply a ton of fun. There's a good deal of variety to play around with too. Your mech can equip a variety of different weapons that each bring a distinctive kind of destruction to the battlefield, and there's always an upgrade to work towards in between each mission. There's a balance that you'll want to maintain as more powerful mechs mean weaker stationary tower defences. New enemy types are readily introduced as well.

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries