The Armored Core franchise started in 1997 and is the longest-running video game franchise by FromSoftware. Although the Armored Core games definitely aren’t as popular as FromSoftware’s other series, like Bloodborne or Dark Souls, Armored Core still has a massive fanbase dedicated to playing and replaying its games!
The Armored Core games usually receive very positive reviews (after all, who doesn’t like games with robots and guns?), but they can’t all be winners. This is a comprehensive list ranking the very best Armored Core games, so you know which ones are worth playing!
Best Armored Core Games, Ranked
There are 15 games in the Armored Core series, though this list will only be covering and ranking the most popular games of the series: Armored Core, Armored Core 3, Armored Core: Last Raven, Armored Core: For Answer, Silent Line: Armored Core, and Armored Core: Verdict Day.
This list will feature these games in order from worst to best, so the least popular (objectively) Armored Core game will be featured first, and the best Armored Core game will be featured last.
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Silent Line: Armored Core
Silent Line: Armored Core was released in 2003 and was met with mixed, but overall positive reviews. Not only did Silent Line: Armored Core change up the iconic Armored Core title pattern, but it also picks up right where Armored Core 3 left off.
Silent Line: Armored Core would make very little sense to anyone who hadn’t played Armored Core 3 or wasn’t familiar with the Armored Core franchise, though it does feature a first-person camera mode that made the game a lot more interesting to play than previous Armored Core games. Although Silent Line was one of the most popular Armored Core games, it does feature pretty clunky controls and subpar graphics (even by 2003’s standards).
Armored Core: Last Raven
Armored Core: Last Raven came out in 2005 and is the eleventh game in the series. Armored Core: Last Raven is arguably one of the most plot-driven games in the series, so if you love the deep lore of the Armored Core franchise, you should definitely consider picking up Armored Core: Last Raven. This game even has multiple endings!
Armored Core: Last Raven is dripping with plot, but many fans were disappointed in the game’s combat. Last Raven may be rich in story and lore, but it lacks the intensely fast-paced, brutal robot-fighting action that many fans enjoy in other Armored Core games. This Armored Core game does feature a decent combat system, it just isn’t as challenging as the combat in other Armored Core games; if you don’t care much for plot and love games with challenging combat, you may want to skip Last Raven in the Armored Core series.
Armored Core: For Answer
Armored Core: For Answer came out in the beginning of 2008 and is the thirteenth game in the series. Despite it bearing the title of unlucky number thirteen, Armored Core: For Answer was met with extremely positive reviews when it was released. Similar to Last Raven, For Answer is very plot-driven and even features multiple endings!
Unlike Armored Core: Last Raven, Armored Core: For Answer features incredible combat and an intense plotline. In addition to heavily contributing to canon Armored Core lore, For Answer really went above and beyond with new gameplay features, especially with the combat. It may not feature the brightest color palette, but that’s to be expected of a game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic, war-torn world. If you want to start anywhere in the Armored Core series, let it be with Armored Core: Last Raven!
Armored Core
Armored Core came out in 1997 and was the first game in the entire series. There weren’t very many popular first person shooter games in 1997, and there were even fewer that featured giant robots, so this game was an instant hit with kids, teens, and adults alike! The first game in any series is almost always the most popular, and Armored Core is definitely no exception.
Despite its popularity at the time of its release, Armored Core does have its issues. Its graphics and controls are pretty substandard, though that’s to be expected of a game that was released in the 90s. In addition to this, there isn’t nearly as much customization as there is in other Armored Core games, but, again, that’s to be expected of a game that came out over three decades ago. Overall, it’s an incredibly good game that remains many Armored Core fans’ favorite, despite its minor setbacks.
Armored Core: Verdict Day
Out of all of the Armored Core games on this list, Armored Core: Verdict Day definitely features the best graphics. This game came out in 2013 and is the fifteenth game in the series, making it the latest Armored Core game to come out. This game also features some of the most in-depth customization of any of the Armored Core games, so if you love the customization feature in these games, you should definitely consider getting Verdict Day.
Armored Core: Verdict Day also has a multiplayer feature, because shooting giant robots is always more fun with a friend! Although this game features great graphics, in-depth customization, brutal combat, and a multiplayer feature, it does have a really bland storyline. If you’re very easily impressed or are just not interested in plot/lore, then Armored Core: Verdict Day is the game for you, but you’ll still have to trudge through hours of subpar storyline just to get to the good parts of this game.
Armored Core 3
Armored Core 3 came out in 2002 and is, obviously, the third installment of the series. This game is surprisingly one of the most popular Armored Core games of all time, and it’s easy to understand why. Despite being two decades old, Armored Core 3 has really good graphics; not many games made in 2002 looked nearly as good as Armored Core 3 does. In addition to this, Armored Core 3 offers a lot more missions than previous games, meaning there’s a lot more content to keep you entertained while playing.
Armored Core 3 has all of the unique features and in-depth dystopian storyline that fans loved from the first Armored Core game. Instead of rehashing the same old post-apocalyptic robot nonsense over and over again, Armored Core 3 really adds a lot to the franchise without making the premise of the games feel overdone. This game was honestly way ahead of its time, it’s hard to believe that it really came out over two decades ago.
If you love playing the Armored Core games and have been starving for new content since 2013, then you’ll be extremely excited to know that FromSoftware is releasing a brand new Armored Core game in 2023! This new Armored Core game will be called Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon; be sure to stick with Gamer Journalist to learn everything you possibly can about this brand new Armored Core game and when it will release!
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