DAEMON X MACHINA

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,063 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
DAEMON X MACHINA Game Cover
Daemon X Machina is a playable mecha anime that sucks you into its world
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In Daemon X Machina, play as an Outer, a new humanoid fighting for humanity's survival against corrupt AIs, the Immortals. Piloting a customizable mech called Arsenal, join missions, and be wary of shifting alliances in this high-speed mech action game from the creators of Armored Core. Engage in frenetic combat, tailor your Arsenal with different weapons and parts to suit your playstyle.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,063 reviews
gameplay199 positive mentions
story250 negative mentions
  • Fun fast-paced mech combat that is reminiscent of the Armored Core series.
  • Extensive customization options for both mechs and characters, allowing for a variety of playstyles.
  • Great soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
  • Weak and convoluted story with poorly developed characters and cringe-worthy dialogue.
  • Repetitive mission structure that lacks variety and can become tedious over time.
  • Limited multiplayer experience with a dead player base, making co-op missions difficult to engage in.
  • story1,991 mentions

    The story of "Daemon X Machina" has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many reviewers describing it as shallow, convoluted, and filled with clichéd anime tropes. While some players found the gameplay engaging and the mech customization enjoyable, they often felt the narrative was poorly executed, lacking depth and coherence, and frequently interrupted by lengthy cutscenes and dialogue that detracted from the action. Overall, the consensus is that while the game offers fun mechanics and customization, the story is a significant weak point that many players chose to skip or ignore.

    • “The story is a bit on the short side, but the gameplay makes up for it.”
    • “The story is pretty dumb though and hasn't held my interest but luckily you can skip cutscenes.”
    • “The story is maximum anime with fun mech tropes that you'll probably really enjoy if you're a fan of stompy robots.”
    • “The story is a convoluted mess trying to mimic the good ol' from magic, but falls short in execution.”
    • “The story is absolute garbage and the dialogue is downright awful.”
    • “The story is poorly written babble, and I mean that, nothing anybody says or does really makes any sense.”
  • gameplay557 mentions

    The gameplay of "Daemon X Machina" is generally praised for its fast-paced, fluid mechanics and extensive mech customization options, reminiscent of the Armored Core series. While many players find the core combat engaging and enjoyable, criticisms arise regarding repetitive mission structures, intrusive storytelling, and a lack of depth in some gameplay elements. Overall, the game is recommended for fans of mecha action, despite its narrative shortcomings.

    • “The gameplay is fast, fluid, and very action heavy.”
    • “Gameplay is tight and fun, feels like you are playing as a knightmare from Code Geass.”
    • “The gameplay is where this game really shines.”
    • “Pithy weapons, stilted mobility, and awkward game mechanics that are equal parts unappealing and frustrating.”
    • “Gameplay is shallow, and I mean shallow.”
    • “The gameplay is a tedious mess across all fronts, all the way between the core loop of starting and finishing a mission to simply examining equipment to think of a build.”
  • graphics197 mentions

    The graphics of "Daemon X Machina" are a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting that while the cel-shaded art style is visually appealing and suits the mecha theme, the overall quality is hampered by its origins as a Nintendo Switch title, resulting in lower polygon counts and occasional graphical glitches. Some players appreciate the unique aesthetic and customization options for mechs, but others criticize the visuals as outdated and lacking detail, especially during intense combat scenarios. Overall, the game's graphics are considered decent but not groundbreaking, with a charm that may appeal to fans of anime-inspired designs.

    • “The graphics are beautiful with a nice cell-shaded effect, the music is absolutely to die for with memorable tunes while you’re waiting around in the hangar or intense hard rock blaring as you’re battling it out alone in single player or online with some friends.”
    • “The graphics are great, the gameplay is awesome, and the soundtrack rocks!”
    • “The art style is phenomenal, the arsenal themselves designed by the renowned Shoji Kawamori, the man responsible for classics such as Macross, Armored Core, several Universal Century Gundams, and even the original Optimus Prime himself.”
    • “The visuals for the weapons and their attacks are some of the worst I've seen since the 80's.”
    • “Graphics are predictably basic for a game that first came out on the Switch, and unfortunately it extends to the character creation screen as well.”
    • “The graphics are surprisingly disappointing for the era in which it was released, and the voice acting is cringy.”
  • music164 mentions

    The music in "Daemon x Machina" is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its energetic and engaging soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. While some tracks are described as outstanding and fitting for the game's atmosphere, others note a lack of variety and repetitiveness over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, often described as a "banger" that complements the fast-paced mech combat.

    • “The soundtrack is phenomenal, with the composers having worked on the likes of Soulcalibur, Tekken, Ace Combat, and Armored Core.”
    • “The music is absolutely to die for with memorable tunes while you’re waiting around in the hangar or intense hard rock blaring as you’re battling it out alone in single player or online with some friends.”
    • “The soundtrack is kickass, since it was composed by the same person who did Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, so you can expect a lot of music from Rio Hamamoto to get you pumping.”
    • “The music feels extremely generic and doesn't match the tone of the game.”
    • “The music stood out at first, but was soon forgettable.”
    • “The amount of times you will listen to a particular song over and over will make you want to rip your ears out.”
  • grinding93 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players noting that obtaining parts, weapons, and upgrades often feels like a chore rather than an engaging experience. While some enjoy the fast-paced combat and customization options, the post-game content heavily relies on grinding for better gear, which can lead to frustration and a lack of motivation to continue playing. Overall, the game is seen as excessively grindy, particularly in the later stages, detracting from its otherwise enjoyable gameplay.

    • “Collecting mech parts is grindy as hell.”
    • “The missions themselves are grindy and repetitive with little of interest going on in most of them; some are outright terrible.”
    • “The game is especially grindy, and it drags the gameplay a little.”
  • optimization66 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received positive feedback, particularly on PC, where players report smooth performance even on mid-range systems, achieving high frame rates without significant issues. In contrast, the Switch version is criticized for its slower and clunkier performance, leading to a less enjoyable experience. While some players noted minor performance hiccups, the general consensus is that the game is well-optimized, especially in its PC port, offering a solid gameplay experience with extensive customization options for mechs.

    • “Highly optimized, running at 144fps smoothly on an old machine with a Nvidia 760 GTX.”
    • “The game runs smoothly, the keyboard and mouse controls work well, and can be remapped if you prefer something else.”
    • “Performance wise it is fantastic; Xseed went above and beyond with this port.”
    • “Having played this on the Switch, all I can say is that the game feels much better on PC, even though it is quite clearly a not-so-optimized port.”
    • “The game itself is grindy in the sense of obtaining better performance parts.”
    • “I played the demo on Switch and genuinely enjoyed it, but terrible performance issues plagued my experience and I never ended up buying the game.”
  • replayability21 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the extensive multiplayer missions, side quests, and the ability to experiment with different builds and loot, others find the campaign's narrative lacking and the overall replay value limited. Many reviews highlight that the enjoyment largely stems from grinding for parts and engaging in co-op play, but the short and repetitive story missions detract from the experience for those seeking a deeper narrative. Overall, the game offers significant replayability for those focused on gameplay mechanics and customization, but may disappoint players looking for a compelling story.

    • “Don't review bomb this game because it's a solid title with a ton of replayability and great co-op with friends.”
    • “It has high replayability for grinding for the parts you want or just to try the story again or a specific mission with a new build you came up with.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and exciting; it has a lot of replayability (including co-op, open exploration, and PvP) and a ton of things to try out.”
    • “The replay value is nonexistent, however.”
    • “The story mode is short, redundant, and mediocre in plot and storytelling, with little replay value in missions.”
    • “That might be enough for some people, but when your game's campaign is this short, there has to be some replayability.”
  • character development19 mentions

    Character development in the game is widely criticized for being shallow and poorly executed, with many reviewers noting a lack of meaningful growth or depth among the characters. The writing is described as juvenile and low-effort, leading to a nonsensical plot that fails to engage players. While a few characters show some potential for development, most are seen as stereotypical and forgettable, resulting in an overall disappointing experience.

    • “The character development I personally thought was fun but nothing to write home to mom about.”
    • “If you like mechs and guns, lasers, robots, and a great story with character development, then this is the game you need to play.”
    • “A lot of forced character development, some of them out of nowhere, and a lot was thrown at me; while there were some interesting side plots, it was never expanded upon.”
    • “Beyond that, the writing is juvenile and low effort (lots of naval-gazing word salad), the character designs are tacky, the mechs all look exactly the same, every level feels barely different from the last, and there is no difficulty to speak of aside from not flying into the OHKO walls that you can't see...”
    • “From the ridiculous character designs to the nonsensical plot, it was by far one of the worst video game stories with some of the worst video game characters of all time!”
    • “Plots or characters are picked up then abandoned, characters have dialogue that goes nowhere, you can't speak with or connect with any of the mercenaries like in an RPG, so there is zero character development.”
  • humor14 mentions

    The humor in the game is polarizing, with some players finding it genuinely funny and reminiscent of classic anime tropes, while others criticize it as bloated and cringe-worthy. Many appreciate the over-the-top, tongue-in-cheek writing style, which can elicit laughter, especially in combat scenarios, but some feel it detracts from more serious moments. Overall, the humor is seen as hit-or-miss, appealing to those who enjoy absurdity but potentially alienating others.

    • “The combat is 10/10, the dialogue is anime af but it's made me laugh out loud more than once, and the world/set up is good enough to have me fully invested.”
    • “It's always funny to kill something by swinging a signpost at them.”
    • “Game's got a hilariously anime campaign that I appreciate.”
  • stability13 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many players reporting smooth performance and high frame rates, particularly on platforms like the Steam Deck. However, some users have encountered bugs, freezing, and occasional crashes, indicating that while the game runs well for most, there are notable stability issues for others.

    • “Honestly a great game; it runs great, and the combat is fast and fluid.”
    • “Game runs great, up to 200 fps and 4k support.”
    • “Runs great for me, probably the best fast mech action game you can get on Steam right now.”
    • “This game is too buggy and keeps freezing or crashing.”
    • “Well, since it is in the sky, you fight it in the sky, but it has a move it uses often (like every 10-15 seconds it felt like - might be buggy AI, as other times it didn't do it as often) and it flies above the arena to shoot lasers everywhere.”
    • “Although the game offers some nice graphics and a really beautiful aesthetic, there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the game's emotional moments often fall flat due to underdeveloped characters and rushed plot points, leading to a lack of genuine connection with the narrative. While some players find humor in this disconnect, it ultimately detracts from the intended emotional impact, making scenes feel cringeworthy rather than poignant.

    • “I loved Armored Core; I wasn't the best, but it made me feel smarter and more strategic.”
    • “It's kind of funny, but it doesn't really work when the game tries to introduce emotional plot points involving them.”
    • “Mainly, it needed more time to develop and rushed for emotional payouts without building the framework.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is heavily influenced by its diverse soundtrack, ranging from heavy riffs to funk metal, which complements its design and vision. While it captures some essence of the Armored Core series, it lacks the depth and soul of earlier titles, leading to a mixed reception among older players. The characters contribute to a unique atmosphere with their exaggerated personalities, despite the story being somewhat nonsensical.

    • “The music, from heavy riffs ripped straight out of a Fear Factory album to funk metal rap rock, fits well with the game's atmosphere and vision.”
    • “The atmosphere, design, and the thinking behind Armored Core create a unique soul that makes it a great series.”
    • “The soundtrack suits the atmosphere well, enhancing the overall experience of the game.”
    • “Not even close to the soul and atmosphere that Armored Core 4 and For Answer have been able to capture.”
    • “It fits with the atmosphere but if you're older than 15, you'll probably be over it quick.”
    • “Game mechanics are very reminiscent of Armored Core, although the characters created a somewhat different game atmosphere with their rather embellished personalities, animations, and remarkable stubbornness towards calling me a rookie even as I'm continuously hammering them into the ground.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, which is a positive aspect for players. However, some users feel that it has become a cash grab due to limited content and infrequent updates.

    • “First of all, I want to commend this game for having no microtransactions.”
    • “The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend money.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of content without requiring additional purchases.”
    • “This game seems to just be a cash grab with not a lot of content and hardly any updates.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

Buy DAEMON X MACHINA

Play time

17hMedian play time
23hAverage play time
16hMain story
36hCompletionist
11-32hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs

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