Mech brawler Daemon X Machina is free to keep next week

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The Epic Games Store doles out some giant robot violence.

Daemon X Machina
(Image credit: Xseed games, Marvelous Inc.)

Daemon X Machina hit PC in early 2020, following roughly six months spent as a Nintendo Switch exclusive. It's a third-person mech combat game developed by Marvellous, and while it's definitely worth a shot if you're into anime and mechs, it does get quite repetitive, according to our review. 

Soon you'll be able to try it in a stakes-free environment, because it's next week's freebie on the Epic Games Store. It'll be available between January 27 and February 3, and will follow the current Epic Games Store free game, Relicta.

As repetitive as it may be, Daemon X Machina has a lot going for it. For those who miss From Software's Armored Core series, this is probably the closest you'll get for a while. It was produced by Armored Core veteran Kenichiro Tsukuda, and while it's decidedly more colourful than From's old mech series, Daemon X Machina definitely inherits some of its feel.

"Daemon X Machina is approachable enough to appeal to those with no previous experience with mech games," Chris Scullion wrote in his review. "Controlling your mech takes one or two missions to get used to, but it soon clicks: flying is toggled on and off with taps of the jump button, the triggers handle your various weapons, the D-pad allows you to swap out different firearms on the fly."

Speaking of robot-on-robot violence, it looks like From Software's Armored Core may be making a comeback, with Hidetaka Miyazaki at the helm. According to Mollie's report, the boss battles will be "Soulsy" and the architecture will be vast, while still retaining the old (read: extremely gray) Armored Core art style.

Shaun Prescott
Shaun Prescott
Australian Editor

Shaun Prescott is the Australian editor of PC Gamer. With over ten years experience covering the games industry, his work has appeared on GamesRadar+, TechRadar, The Guardian, PLAY Magazine, the Sydney Morning Herald, and more. Specific interests include indie games, obscure Metroidvanias, speedrunning, experimental games and FPSs. He thinks Lulu by Metallica and Lou Reed is an all-time classic that will receive its due critical reappraisal one day.