While I go stir-crazy waiting for another FromSoft game, I'm counting on these 4 indie Armored Core-likes to satisfy my mecha cravings when they hit Steam

A mecha in flight in Omega Phenex Commenced Project Six.

I have a weakness for mecha games—a vulnerability so dire that I was recently driven to risk my professional credibility by defending the merits of Gundam Battle Operation 2. As you might imagine, the release of Armored Core 6 made 2023 a very good year for me, but it's meant I've spent the following years in twitchy anticipation, hoping for a sign that FromSoft has been back in the mecha kitchen. Given the studio's history, however, it could be busy cooking for a decade.

Luckily, indie devs seem eager to serve. If you browse the Mechs tag on Steam, you'll find a mountain of in-development Armored Core-likes from small teams and solo devs. In a recent post on Bluesky, PC Gamer contributor and curator of overlooked indie gems Dominic Tarason counted at least eight alt-ACs currently in the works.