Mech Builder

About

"Mech Builder" is a relaxing puzzle game inspired by model building, where you can cut out, assemble, paint, and customize 50+ model kits with complete freedom. Unlock kitbash mode to create your own models and time trial to challenge yourself against the clock. With carefully crafted models and pieces, building takes around 7-9 hours, while time trial takes 2-3 hours. This game offers endless repeatability and creativity in building mechs, waifus, armors, figures, and more.

Genres & Tags

Indie

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 258 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game provides a relaxing and satisfying experience, perfect for unwinding after a long day.
Building models is enjoyable, with satisfying click sounds and a variety of models to assemble.
It's a great alternative for those who love Gunpla but lack the space, time, or budget for physical kits.

A significant number of models feature low-resolution textures, making assembly frustrating.
The use of AI-generated assets has disappointed many players, leading to concerns about the game's authenticity and quality.
The painting and decal mechanics are limited and do not save customizations, detracting from the overall experience.

gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
53%
20%
The gameplay is generally described as relaxing and suitable for casual play, often serving as a background activity. However, it suffers from repetitive mechanics, a lack of depth, and numerous bugs, which detract from the overall experience. While the core mechanics of constructing kits are satisfying, issues with design choices and developer transparency have left some players frustrated.
- “Relaxing gameplay, a cheaper way to fuel my Gunpla habits; what more can a guy ask for?”
- “Very relaxed gameplay, perfect to wind down after a hectic day.”
- “Kitbash is where about 3 hours of my gameplay time went, trying to design a mech with the pieces available.”
- “The gameplay loop itself was pretty mindless, something to do in the background while listening to a video or podcast.”
- “Assets generated by AI, one single boring audio track, assembly mechanics that feel empty and weightless compared to last call BBS, a combative and dishonest developer, and many, many bugs made this an annoying slog.”
- “The difficulty doesn't ramp up, new mechanics are not introduced, new concepts are not explored.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The graphics of the game feature detailed artwork, but the inconsistency in design—particularly due to the use of AI-generated elements—has led to disappointment among players. While the mechs are visually appealing, the lack of cohesive art style and limitations in customization options hinder the overall aesthetic experience. Many users express a desire for more original designs and better integration of kit-bashing features.
- “The artwork is nicely detailed, and while you can only paint the parts a single color, you can still achieve a decent overall look.”
- “Honestly, I don't care that it's AI artwork; it's still a fun and relaxing game, and it's the best purchase I've made in a while.”
- “Considering how much effort goes into real mecha artwork, the designs could benefit from more consistency and creativity.”
- “Some of the mechs are drawn differently from others; for example, the armored core mechs have much heavier anti-aliasing, which makes it difficult to aesthetically kitbash them with other lines.”
- “The game's mechs certainly aren't designed with kit-bashing in mind, which would make more sense if they were indeed traced-over AI-generated artworks.”
- “I started building a few models but felt something was off about the designs and artwork; a quick look at reviews confirmed my suspicion about AI involvement.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The music in the game is generally described as calm, relaxing, and fitting for the overall theme, enhancing the gameplay experience. However, some users noted the limitation of a single soundtrack playing throughout, which may not suit everyone. Overall, it serves as a pleasant backdrop, allowing players to enjoy their own music or podcasts while engaging in the game.
- “Calm and relaxing, good music.”
- “Incredible sound effects and great nostalgic music, really great game that delivers on everything it needs to be!”
- “The music is relaxing, the sounds are satisfying.”
- “My only gripe would be the single soundtrack that plays through the whole thing.”
- “The background music is muted, and I ended up playing my own music, which took me back to a simpler time with the Gundam kits as a kid.”
- “The music is relaxed and fits the theme, making for an enjoyable experience.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be time-consuming and tedious, particularly when needing to rebuild models from scratch for minor changes. The process of snipping and assembling pieces for each level can feel laborious, though some still enjoy the overall experience despite these frustrations.
- “Instead, if you change your mind or find you made a mistake, you have to rebuild the model from scratch. This is both time-consuming and tedious, especially if all you want to do is change the color on a few bits or don't like the decals.”
- “Basically, in each 'level' you tediously snip all of the pieces off of a section, affix them to each other using the included guide, and then do the same thing with each next section until you have a completed mech.”
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck... a bit tedious with the snips and a few things, but I really enjoyed myself.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional response to the game, feeling disappointment and heartbreak after investing significant time only to encounter issues that diminish their enjoyment. The sentiment reflects a sense of loss and frustration, particularly regarding the inability to seek a refund after realizing their dissatisfaction.
- “It was heartbreaking to find out after completing over 50% of the game and just going past the time limit Steam allows for refunds.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story has been criticized for its inconsistency, with users noting that it does not align with previous statements made by the creator on social media.
- “This story still does not match what he said on Twitter.”
- “His story is not consistent.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization of the game has been criticized as feeling like a cash grab, which contrasts with expectations for a title that seems to stem from a genuine passion for gunpla kits.
- “It really surprised me because you'd think a game like this would be a passion project for someone who really adores Gunpla kits, but unfortunately, it very much feels like a cash grab.”
- “The monetization in this game is excessive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “I feel like the game is designed more to extract money from players than to provide a fun and engaging experience.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users generally find humor in the reviews themselves, suggesting that the community's commentary adds an entertaining layer to the overall experience. However, there is no specific mention of humor within the game itself.
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, the game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, though some users find certain elements, like the snips, to be a bit tedious. Despite this, players report enjoying their experience.
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck, providing a stable experience overall.”
- “The game maintains a solid frame rate, ensuring smooth gameplay throughout.”
- “I experienced minimal bugs, which contributed to a stable and enjoyable gaming experience.”