Mecha BREAK has taken the Steam charts by storm in its second Open Beta, boasting over 300,000 concurrent players and temporarily surpassing Marvel Rivals’ massive run—a feat not to be overlooked. This mecha-based hero shooter, featuring a 60-mecha battle mode, seems to have firmly gripped the player count. Unfortunately, the Xbox-exclusive version faced a few hiccups before launch, resulting in delays. After these setbacks, many players are now getting their first taste of this action-packed 2023 preview. Amazing Seasun Games didn’t hold back, providing both Steam and Xbox pilots with distinct missions within the mythos, adding to the excitement of the previous portions.
For a brief explanation, Mecha BREAK is part Overwatch, part Virtual On, and nearly part Gundam Evolution, and more. From a high-level view, the original number of mobile suits (called “Strikers” in this world) remains unchanged. Personally, I’ve stuck with Falcon, Skyraider, and Tricera so far. The playstyles vary significantly across all 13 Strikers, and both the Strikers and pilots can be customized with decals. I’ve been particularly excited about the sky-based mechs Skyraider and Falcon. Transforming into airplanes and attacking from above feels uniquely satisfying in Mecha BREAK. This almost made me wish for a similar mechanic in a Transformers game—a seamless, on-the-fly transformation that adds a layer of excitement when you’re reversing for kills. Because of the maintenance issues, nearly every Striker could have been unlocked through paid and unpaid currencies. Some of the former were given out by Amazing Seasun as a patience reward.
Getting familiar with the Strikers can be done in the Training mode, which offers insights into each Striker’s offensive, defensive, and hybrid capabilities through CPU-controlled pilots, challenges, and NPC opponents. You can try them out even if you did not buy them yet. For example, Tricera has always been my go-to for defense, with its ability to plant its feet and boost its stance when the shields activate. On the other hand, Hurricane’s decoy drones and laser show move are always the trump card to get out of a pinch. Further Striker-specific challenges can be accessed, too.
The Best Mode Is Hard To Say
Mashmak is where Mecha BREAK shines brightest in this latest test. Last year, we were introduced to Mecha BREAK’s 6v6 modes, including point capturing, escort missions, and all-out mech-on-mech combat. Mashmak, however, takes things to another level, incorporating additional elements that make it stand out. Luckily, the action doesn’t happen as quickly as it does in other modes when your camouflage comes off.
In Mashmak, your team is reduced to three Strikers, and you’ll face overwhelming odds from both the Theia Vanguard and the opposing teams. As teams progress through the 200-square-kilometer area, they unlock extraction zones on the map while avoiding Corsite Storms. While reaching these points allows you to complete the mission early, sticking it out until the end rewards players with rare modifications and valuable blueprints to research. Seven other teams won’t be having it, but crossing more than one team at a time was very rare.
Players can live out their Gundam Wing “us against the world” fantasies as they face waves of enemies, ranging from small to incredibly massive, at command posts and drill spots. Troop ships will drop Fetty reinforcements, and powerful foes like the Constantine warships will arrive, ready to decimate anyone in their path. Guns, lasers, and explosions aplenty. The Corsite Storms also play a role, reducing shields to dangerous levels while limiting visibility with a purple, veiled haze.
Mashmak is similar to the Eye of Misra’s effect but with a functional UI. Staying in these storms is deadly, however, and adds another layer of tension to the sortie. Navigating while keeping your teammates close, avoiding these, and fighting off enemies was what I’d expect from an extraction shooter and then some. Some structures are vulnerable to gunfire and will collapse under heavy fire.
The map is littered with installations, massive bosses, battle cruisers, snipers, and turrets, bombarding your Striker team with Vanquish-level firefights. Even if your team is locked in battle with a high-level threat, enemy players can swoop in and make things worse, leading to intense 1v1 duels as everyone scrambles to survive. Some fights that I’ve had were with other Striker player foes who disregarded a huge boss just to try to pick us off with weapons like Murakami’s sniper lasers and Skyraider’s attacks. Luckily for us, we were able to chase them both down, but not without taking damage from the NPCs who were nearly ignored by both teams.
Fortunately, research allows players to bring modular weapons into Mashmak, and even tank-like Strikers such as Tricera can equip gliders to increase their mobility. Shields, jamming equipment, and other weapons can be crafted and brought into the fray. Salvaging these from defeated enemies is also an option. Communication in-game is straightforward, negating the need to start a party on Xbox Home. If a teammate is destroyed, they can be summoned back into the fight before a cooldown takes effect.
Out Of The Cockpit Experience
The Pilot Exploration mode has also been added for this Open Beta. Visiting your quarters in Mecha BREAK has a Mass Effect vibe, complete with awkward gun-toting guards who adjust themselves when approached too closely. It allows for a “man-to-mecha” experience as your pit crew tends to your Striker. There are also futuristic fold-out toilets for your character’s “business.” While there’s room for improvement, it feels like the beginning of something larger. Achievement Levels can unlock additional parts as you progress, such as a gun range for your pilot.
Where Mecha BREAK Misses The Mark
However, not everything glimmers in Mecha BREAK. Some framerate issues arise, particularly in multiplayer modes. Mashmak seems to suffer the most in different areas, though the problem is inconsistent and difficult to pinpoint. While these slowdowns don’t completely ruin the overall experience, they are noticeable and could potentially freeze the game on a rare occasion. Solo queueing for Mashmak seemed to have varying waiting times that ranged from four to seven minutes.
Additionally, the text mode on Xbox still uses a cumbersome comment-style interface, which feels awkward, even with the Xbox One chatpad. Outside of this, the original modes returned, such as Escort, three-point fights, and capture-the-point, on the same maps as before for Steam users. Variety could have been done here to mix things up. I didn’t get to see Arena mode since it requires an achievement level of 16, and I was three levels shy. Leveling up the achievement rank can be pretty tough even if you are flexing with three Strikers. Missions, per Striker, can help, but the refresh is weekly. This means that if there are tasks done, they just stay there in your queue until the week is over. Refreshing the missions doesn’t make them go away.
In Conclusion
From what I’ve played so far and the number of times I’ve shouted in shock and awe, I’ve found Mecha BREAK hard to fault and even harder to put down. Mashmak’s focus on team-based combat and NPC non-cannon-fodder adds a layer of depth that many anime-inspired mecha games lack, keeping me fully engaged and watching my back a lot. As the beta concluded, I’m eagerly anticipating the full release, hoping to become just as excited as an accidental protagonist destined to find a bipedal weapon of heroic beauty and mass destruction.
Mecha BREAK will be coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam this Spring 2025.
