MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries - Buyer's Guide

Immerse yourself in the world of BattleTech in MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries. Manage your mercenary outfit, pilot over 50 unique BattleMechs, and engage in epic battles across star systems. Experience nostalgic charm and engaging mechanics, despite some DLC and AI criticisms.
Fan-art of MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries immerses players in the year 3015, during an era when humanity is divided among factions struggling for supremacy within a vast region known as the Inner Sphere. As inheritors of renowned mercenary companies, gamers will embark on a journey to become elite MechWarriors and formidable mercenaries, managing their outfits while engaging in epic battles across thousands of star systems. With over 50 unique BattleMech chassis, hundreds of sub-variants, and the ability to salvage from wreckage or acquire rare equipment, players will navigate intricate relationships with various factions and Great Houses as they fulfill contracts and seek revenge in this action-packed universe.

Should I play MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries in 2024?

The good

  • Immersive Setting: The game offers a grounded, human-centric storyline set in the 30th century with no aliens or magic, which many players appreciate for its historical and realistic feel.
  • Deep Customization: Players love the extensive options for customizing their mechs, leading to a near-limitless variety of loadouts that are mission-specific and financially strategic.
  • Variety and Mod Support: There are numerous mods available that significantly enhance the game, adding new mechs, weapons, and improving the game’s performance and content.
  • Dynamic Gameplay: Completing missions, managing resources, and customizing mechs provide a satisfying loop of strategy and action.
  • Customization Options: The ability to tailor game difficulty and other settings to personal preferences offers a highly customizable gameplay experience.

The bad

  • Performance Issues: Several players noted significant optimization issues, including stuttering and poor frame rates, especially post-patch.
  • AI Problems: There are complaints about the AI being buggy, making single-player missions frustrating due to pathfinding problems.
  • Co-op Issues: Multiplayer and co-op modes are described as unstable, requiring cumbersome workarounds to function properly.
  • DLC and Content: The base game can feel repetitive and lacking in content without DLCs or mods. Some players feel the developers focus too much on DLCs rather than fixing core issues.

Verdict

💥 Should you launch into MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries in 2024? Given the very positive overall sentiment from the community, the verdict is a resounding yes, albeit with some caveats. This game excels in mech customization, strategic gameplay, and immersive storytelling. However, be prepared to deal with some performance hiccups and potentially buggy AI.

For the best experience, consider leveraging the modding community, which provides crucial fixes and adds enriching content. If you’re a fan of tactical, mech-based warfare and can tolerate a bit of tinkering for optimal performance, MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries promises many hours of mechanized mayhem and strategic satisfaction. 🚀👾



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In-game Screenshot

Screenshot of MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries

Top image is not real in-game screenshots. Fan-art made by Gamer.se. Some game metadata is coming from RAWG