Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 58 | 11 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 43% | 47 | 298 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 84% | 78 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 2 reviews sampled · 2 total reviews in window · weighted 1 up / 0.2 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (11)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 30
“If all you want is mindless mecha fun where you can drop into a mission and destroy waves of enemies without a second thought, Custom Mech Wars is the game for you. If you're really looking for a meaty mecha game with lots of worthwhile content, please for the love of all things mecha, just get Armored Core 6 Fires Of Rubicon instead.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“I really wanted to love Custom Mech Builder. Earth Defense Force and customizable giant robots is everything I should want. Alas, Custom Mech Builder doesn't have much going for it. If you like creating giant anime robots to smash enemies, there are better choices. If you like over-the-top explosion-fests, there are better options. Pretty much the only thing Custom Mech Builder has going for it is how easy it is to make a bullet train with drill arms, but that amusement quickly wears out its welcome. As a budget $20 title, Custom Mech Wars might be worth the cost for the amusing builder, but mech fans can find better games that cost less.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Custom Mech Wars is an underwhelming mech game that's plagued by issues like repetitive mission design, a boring story, and an underwhelming visual presentation. There's a glimmer of hope within its customization options and certain gameplay sections, but those aren't nearly enough to redeem this game.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“I’m in a bit of a tricky spot reaching a verdict on Custom Mech Wars. I like the concept, I like the tone, and the customization is a lot of fun. All of that is attached to a dull gameplay loop though. Truly dull, just thinking about it I’m getting tired. Am I going to continue playing Custom Mech Wars once this review is done? No, at least not alone. Maybe with some friends I could see myself diving back in. I’d certainly be interested in future games with the ‘Omega Customization’ idea attached. Should you buy Custom Mech Wars? Possibly, at some point. I think that this could fill the role of a light time-waster, if you go in with appropriate expectations. If you’re really into customization and creative tools in games, then it might be worth a look just for that. If you’re a fan of EDF, then there is some potential for enjoyment here. It’s better than EDF: Iron Rain, if that counts for anything.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Custom Mech Wars isn’t really a bad game, but it gets wrong the one thing that makes it really shine by not letting players have access to the parts fast enough. It’s really fun to create some crazy mech and just go out there and blast all your foes to bits during the missions, but when you have to use the same ones for most of the game because you don’t have enough parts to make what you really want, it gets a little frustrating. I’d have a hard time recommending this one at the full $49.99 price tag, but if you catch it on sale, there is some fun to be had here. It took me around 13 hours to beat all of the missions on normal mode, and you could put a ton more in if you wanted to grind out all the parts to make the really cool mechs. Hopefully, they continue to patch the game a bit more and allow players access to more fun stuff to build their crazy creations with faster.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Custom Mech Wars is a fun game if you like to create and test mechs and repeat this cycle over and over again. It is a title aimed at this niche player and, in addition, it lacks important options such as publishing your mechs online or a wider variety of scenarios in the campaign. I hope D3Publisher sticks with the idea, as it has the potential to be something special.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“With the promise of a Multiplayer component upon final release, the title may offer something for a particular subset of players to enjoy. But, as a single-player experience, Custom Mech Wars lacks the overall polish and gameplay elements to justify the time required by players who wish to experience the full breadth of its titular concept.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Custom Mech Wars clearly shares some DNA with the EDF games but it fails to deliver on the promise. If you see it a lot cheaper, there's some fun in seeing what sort of mechs you can make but taking them into combat is such a flat, empty experience that in the end you'll wish they took the combat out and just made this a mech-designing sim.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“At the current price, there simply isn’t enough bang for the buck to recommend Custom Mech Wars to anyone but the most ardent giant robot lovers. It’s entertaining for a little while, but getting more out of it demands far more of one’s time than is justified.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Custom Mech Wars is all about construction and experimentation. There’s a dense system for putting mechs together, and all of it feels friendly and approachable. You have a ton of options, a lot of freedom, and multiple ways to test things out. But that’s sort of where the good times dry up. The campaign is crazy boring otherwise, and the multiplayer options are equally threadbare. If you can get a good group together for playing online, you might find more fun than I did. But on your own, Custom Mech Wars has limited appeal. If you’ve got a lot of mechs in your heart begging to be built, you’re in for a good time. Otherwise I can’t really recommend this game.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Overall, Custom Mech Wars is a mediocre mecha game that gets the customization somewhat right but fails on dealing with how the combat should work. While the Earth Defense Force games have their low budget infused charm, they are at least fun to play. Custom Mech Wars sadly lacks this redeeming feature and is just an arduous chore.”
read full review ↗
Kakuchopurei
Worth Playing
GamingBolt
NookGaming
oprainfall
PSX Brasil
Game Rant
COGconnected
ForbesPatch history
- Update Information Feb 2, 2024Feb 2, 2024
- Update Information Jan 26, 2024Jan 26, 2024
- Update Information Jan 19, 2024Jan 19, 2024
- Update Information Jan 11, 2024Jan 12, 2024
- Update Information Dec 27, 2023Dec 27, 2023
- Update Information Dec 25, 2023Dec 25, 2023
- Update Information Dec 22, 2023Dec 22, 2023
- Update Information Dec 20, 2023Dec 20, 2023
- Update Information Dec 18, 2023Dec 19, 2023
- Update Information Dec 17, 2023Dec 18, 2023
- Update Information Dec 14, 2023Dec 15, 2023
- Plans for Bug Fix UpdateDec 15, 2023