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

Prepare for Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon with these essential entries! While the upcoming title marks a likely new continuity, exploring previous Armored Core games offers a taste of the series' core mechanics and compelling narrative structure.

FromSoftware, renowned for its Souls-like games, boasts a rich history with the Armored Core franchise, spanning decades and numerous titles until the early 2010s. These action-packed games place you in the role of a mercenary pilot controlling powerful mechs, known as Armored Cores. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, your objective is simple: complete missions for various clients, earning credits to maintain and upgrade your mech. Success hinges on skillful combat and strategic part selection. Failure means mission failure, and potentially, the end of your mercenary career.

The series includes five main numbered entries, each with its own spin-offs, resulting in a total of sixteen games. Armored Core 1 and 2 share a continuity, distinct from the separate continuities of Armored Core 3, 4, and 5. Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, launching August 25, 2023, will likely establish a new timeline. To get a head start, Game8 recommends exploring the best Armored Core titles before diving into the latest installment. (Note: A curated list of recommended titles would follow here, but the original input lacks such a list.)