The Best Armored Core Games to Play Before Fires of Rubicon Comes Out

Prepare for Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon with a deep dive into the series' best entries! This guide highlights the top Armored Core games to play before the August 25, 2023 release, offering a taste of the mech-combat action to come.

The Armored Core Legacy

FromSoftware, renowned for its Souls-like games, boasts a rich history with the Armored Core franchise. Spanning decades and encompassing 16 titles (including spin-offs), this series features intense mech battles in a post-apocalyptic world. Players assume the role of mercenaries, completing contracts to earn funds for mech maintenance and upgrades. Success hinges on mission completion, rewarding players with new parts and enhanced combat capabilities. Failure, however, means the end of the mission.

The Armored Core Timeline

The series' narrative unfolds across distinct continuities. Armored Core 1 and 2 share a timeline, separate from the timelines of Armored Core 3, 4, and 5. Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon will likely initiate a new continuity.

With five main numbered entries and numerous spin-offs, choosing a starting point can be daunting. This guide provides a curated selection of the best Armored Core games to experience before jumping into the latest installment. (A detailed list of recommended titles will follow here, tailored to the player's preference and experience with the genre).