Mobile Suit Gundamwas the first entry in the series and it began in 1979. It is now one of the longest-running anime franchises and there’s a good reason why it has stayed so popular. One, while there are seasons that continue the stories, many of them are spinoffs taking place in new scenarios. It’s liketheFinal Fantasyeffect.
Secondly, mostGundamentries show that both sides of the conflict have good and evil characters in them. War is a bloody business with many gray areas. Also, people just like mechs in their anime and they like them in video games too. That’s why there has been a bazillion of them, and some of the best have been on portables.
6Great Battle Fullblast
A Crossover Brawler
Great Battle Fullblastis a crossover game for the PSP in a long line ofGreat Battletitles. The main theme of these games, dating back to the Game Boy withTekkyu Fight: The Great Battle Gaidenfor portable entries, is combining Gundam, Kamen Rider, and Ultraman characters typically inside-scrolling action platformers. Gundams take on a sentient form like the Freedom Gundam fromGundam SEEDas depicted inGreat Battle Fullblast.
Players can swap between characters on the fly, with each having a distinct function from higher jumps to shooting attacks over melee ones. While there is no official English release or major English fan patch for this one, it’s an easy import to get into. It’s a fun novelty if little else even if it isn’t a fullGundamgame.
5Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn
A Musou For Mech Fans
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Rebornwas released on the PS3 and PS Vita in 2013 in Japan. When it was released in North America in 2014, only the PS3 version came over. It’s a shame but the PS Vita version is still highly playable through imports. This is the fourth and finalGundam-basedspinoff in theDynasty Warriorsfranchise.
It’s a great fan letter featuring tons of pilots and mechs from over two decades of anime. Some examples includeGundam SEEDandG Gundam. This action RPG may lack the cel-shading ofDynasty Warriors: Gundam 3to make it look more like the anime, but it still plays well.
4SD Gundam Battle Alliance
A Short Burst Of Multiplayer Goodness
SD Gundam Battle Allianceis one of the newerGundamgames that has hit most platforms including the Switch. Players begin withsimple Mobile Suitsbut they can soon unlock cooler ones to pilot from Burning Gundam fromG Gundamto the Epyon fromGundam Wing. The game is kind of like a bite-sized version ofDestinyor aMonster Huntergame as multiplayer is the focus.
Players can go on missions, aim for high scores, get funds to unlock new content, and so on. Gameplay comes before the story in this action shooter. Fun and goofiness are emphasized too because all models are adorable in the chibi anime style. It’s fun alone or in friendly squads for co-op.
3Super Robot Wars 30
A Crossover Tactical Mech RPG
Super Robot Wars 30is the first game in a long while to be released outside of Japan. This long-running series began in 1991 on the Game Boy and it has virtually touched every platform under the sun.Super Robot Wars 30was released to celebrate its 30th anniversary on Steam. The Switch version can still be acquired with proper English subtitles via Play-Asia or other import websites.
Super Robot Wars 30is not purely a Gundam game but more so a celebration of mecha anime although. It’sa strategy RPGand some exampleGundamseasons includeMobile Suit Gundam,Mobile Suit Gundam Zeta, andMobile Suit Victory Gundam. Other mech-based franchises includeCode Geass,Gun Sword, andGaoGaiGar.
2Another Century’s Episode Portable
A Crossover Action Mech Shooter
Another Century’s Episode Portableis another crossover game not solely aboutGundamanime. It does include mechs from the series like Gundam 00 along with other shows likeEureka Seven. UnlikeSuper Robot Wars 30, this game is action-based. The missions are perfectly formatted for the PSP to be done in quick bouts.
The variety of the mechs is nice, with each one feeling distinct and powerful.Armored Corefans should dig this asFromSoftware worked on italong with the four previous titles.Another Century’s Episode Portablewas never released in English but there is a partial fan patch out there to get through the menus at least.
1Kidou Senshi Gundam AGE: Universe Accel/Cosmic Drive
The Pokemon Effect Of Gundam Games
Kidou Senshi Gundam AGE: Universe AccelandKidou Senshi Gundam AGE: Cosmic Drivewere released on the same day. It waslike Level-5’s takeon how Nintendo and Game Freak releasePokemongames. They have slightly different campaigns and take advantage of what makes theGundamanime seasons good: showcasing different oppositions.
Gameplay is similar between the two games though as they are both action RPGs. Customize your Gundam with new parts and weapons, go through the campaign, do little quests, and so on. They have never been released outside of Japan, which is rare for Level-5. There are partial English patches though, but nothing is 100% complete.
