MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries

Expansive game, not only lots to do but if you're into fiddling around with the tiny details, the mech lab is fantastic.

Hook I've been missing a mech game for a while before I played this (this was when Titanfall 2 was unplayable). This has quickly become one of my favorite games and the experience is improved with mods. If you like big stompy robots with gigantic guns, the feeling of crushing vehicles or light mechs by jumping on them, and or killing an enemy pilot directly by shooting them in the cockpit because you're a deadeye, then this may be the game for you. Differences While this is no Titanfall 2, it's quite unique from it. Mech are more like tanks than giant people with giant guns. Mech hp is separate into armor and structure and are located in 8 sections (head, center torso, left torso left arm, left leg, right torso, right arm, right leg. Each having their own armor and structure pool). Weapons can be destroyed before you go down and losing a section can either do nothing or destroy your mech depending on what section was destroyed. As for outside of gameplay, you'll need to manage your mercenary company by hiring pilots, buying mechs, managing mechs, taking contracts, and paying your bills (If you don't pay your bills you'll be visited personally by a member of the telecom company by the name of Comstar. They are very serious about you paying your bills on time). Pros/Cons Before getting into the pros and cons of this, you'll have to remember that this game is still receiving updates to this day. It may not be a live service game, but it's still being improved by the devs every so often (They typically update and fix the game around when new dlcs release). Special rules: (M) stands for a con that can be either alleviated or removed by mods. (DLC) means that it's a dlc related issue. Last thing to keep in mind as despite my hours there are some things (like bugs) that I haven't encountered, but others may have encountered. Pros: -The dictation of loadouts that AI can use during a battle whether it be in instant action or career/campaign. -Decent customization of mechs (Not too complicated, but not incredibly simple). -After a mission you can choose mechs, weapons and equipment from the salvage list. -You can kinda do what you want in the star map. (You can do or ignore the campaign/dlc campaigns) -You can make a new save game and import your save data from another save (You'll be able to keep your mechs, weapons and equipment). -There is a decent variety of missions (I personally don't like defense missions in most games, but to each their own). -You can go over the tonnage limit for a mission (You do lose out on shares and c-bills depending on how much over the tonnage limit you go). -Some campaigns are great. -This game has a great modding scene (It may not be Skyrim or Fallout 4, but it's still pretty good). Cons: -(M) Ai like to focus fire and tend to stay arggo'ed to one entity despite getting shot at by something else(You). -(M) (DLC) There are only T6 clan weapons and (IMO) they're a little too strong (I'm not saying they should be better than IS tech, I don't think they should start at T6). -(M) Missions can be hit or miss (You may not like Raids due to how large the map tends to be at endgame). -There's quite a bit of dlc (I think the older ones should either become cheaper or be on sale more frequently). -(M) If you're an older mech warrior fan or you come from MWO (Mech Warrior Online), You might be disappointed by the simplified mechlab. -(M) End game missions heavily discourage the use of lights and sometimes mediums. -(M) There is no reward for going under the tonnage limit. -Some campaigns are lack luster. -With each update mods Will break (some mods update very quickly like YAML). There is more but they can be alleviated by mods. Summary Overall without mods I say this game is about a 6/7 (I know what you're thinking) out of 10. With mods, 9/10. Though I will say that I'm biased and this game may not be for you. (GIANT ENEMY CRAB goes *AC20sfx).