DAEMON X MACHINA key art
DAEMON X MACHINA cover art

DAEMON X MACHINA

September 12, 2019ShooterESRB TMetacritic 70

The Verdict

Best if you want high-speed mecha combat with deep customization, an anime aesthetic dripping with style, and the satisfaction of building your perfect giant robot from salvaged enemy parts.

Portrait of Henk-Jan Uijterlinde
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Software architect and father of two based in the Netherlands. Been gaming since MS-DOS Mario. Writes honest recommendations for people with limited evenings and too many games left to play.

What It's Like to Play

DAEMON X MACHINA puts you in the cockpit of a fully customizable Arsenal mech and throws you into fast, chaotic battles where loadout decisions matter as much as reflexes. The core loop is immediately satisfying: complete missions, strip defeated enemy machines for parts mid-battle, return to your Hangar, and rebuild your Arsenal to tackle the next challenge. That scavenging mechanic keeps every fight feeling purposeful—you're not just surviving, you're shopping. The customization runs surprisingly deep. Weapons, armor pieces, limbs, and back units can all be swapped, and different combinations open up wildly different playstyles. Want a close-range brawler that dashes into melee range? A long-range sniper that hovers above the chaos? A tank that absorbs punishment? The build variety is genuine and rewarding to experiment with. Your pilot character adds another layer, with upgradeable abilities that complement your mech's loadout. Missions are bite-sized by design—most run between 5 and 15 minutes—making this well-suited for session play. You can drop in for a quick mission or chain several together while iterating on your build. The structure is hub-based and mission-driven, so there's no open world to navigate between objectives. The difficulty starts accessible but ramps meaningfully, especially in later missions where enemy aggression and complexity increase. Veterans of action games will find early missions breezy, while newcomers have room to learn the aerial mobility and weapon-switching mechanics without being immediately punished. The anime visual identity is fully committed—cell-shaded art, high-contrast color work, and a heavy metal soundtrack that keeps the energy high throughout. If you grew up with mecha anime and always wanted to pilot one yourself, this delivers that fantasy with genuine mechanical depth behind it. Multiplayer co-op for up to four players extends the longevity considerably, and tackling harder missions with coordinated builds adds a fun layer of team composition thinking. Solo players aren't left out—AI companions fill squad roles adequately, even if human partners are more reliable.

Best For

  • Mecha and anime fans who want deep build customization paired with fast action
  • Players who enjoy short, repeatable mission loops with meaningful progression between runs
  • Co-op action players looking for something with variety in playstyle and loadout experimentation

Not For

  • Players expecting a grounded, realistic mech simulation—this leans heavily anime-stylized and arcade-action
  • Those who prefer open-world or narrative-driven experiences over structured mission hubs
  • Gamers put off by menu-heavy customization systems between action segments
Overview

About DAEMON X MACHINA

Daemon X Machina is a third-person action-shooter game in which players; represented by their avatars called Outers, pilot highly customizable mechs known as Arsenals on missions to suppress various mechanized foes. Choose and equip your Arsenal with a multitude of weapons, obtain more from downed enemy Arsenals, and swap them on the fly to suit your strategy in the face of ever-changing threats.
Story setup
After a moon collided with the Planet, it radiated a special energy that turned artificial intelligence against humanity. The Outers, a group of pilots who command mechs, gained special abilities after being afflicted by the mysterious energy. They act as humanity's protectors and guardians as the war with the Arms of Immortals (AIs) rages on.[1]
Reference

At a glance

Released
September 12, 2019
Platforms
PC, Nintendo Switch
Genres
Shooter, Action, Adventure
Play modes
Single Player, Multiplayer, Co-op, PvP, Online Multiplayer
Age rating
ESRB T
Metacritic
70
Player rating
3.5
Media

Screenshots

Click any screenshot to view it full size.

Playing together

Multiplayer & game modes

DAEMON X MACHINA does not support crossplay, supports up to 4 players online.

4 online

Features

Crossplay(No Crossplay)
Online Multiplayer

Play Modes

Single PlayerMultiplayerCo-opPvPOnline Multiplayer

Player Count

0
Online
1-4
0
Team Sizes
Co-op up to 4; PvP 2-4

Additional Details

Supports solo play plus online multiplayer on supported platforms. Online co-op missions allow up to 4 players. Online competitive modes are listed on PCGamingWiki/Co-Optimus as 2-4 players. No local/couch co-op, split-screen, hotseat, or LAN support found. Steam lists Online PvP and Online Co-op. Nintendo eShop description states up to 4 players. No current official evidence of cross-platform play between Switch and PC; treat as no cross-play.

Content

Age ratings

How rating boards around the world have classified DAEMON X MACHINA. Open a board for its content descriptors.

CEROB
  • Violence
ESRBT
  • Mild Blood
  • Mild Language
  • Fantasy Violence
GRAC12+
  • Violence
PEGI12
Buying it

Edition and platform notes

Which version to buy, and what differs between platforms.

Platform Recommendations

Originally a Nintendo Switch exclusive, DAEMON X MACHINA later released on PC via Steam. The PC version includes performance improvements and supports higher frame rates, making it the preferred version for those with the option. Switch version remains a solid portable experience.

Accessibility Features

No widely documented accessibility suite. The fast-paced aerial combat and busy screen effects may pose challenges for players sensitive to motion or visual clutter. No known colorblind mode or control remapping options documented at launch.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about this game, answered by our team.

How hard is DAEMON X MACHINA?

Moderate overall. Early missions ease you in, but later content demands good build knowledge and aerial combat fluency. Difficulty spikes are manageable if you invest time in customizing your Arsenal between missions.

How long does it take to beat?

The main mission set takes roughly 15–20 hours. Completionists pursuing all missions, upgrades, and multiplayer content can push 30–40 hours. Mission-based structure means you can progress in short sessions easily.

Is it good for players new to mecha games?

Yes, reasonably so. The mechanics are action-game familiar—shoot, dodge, boost—and the early curve is gentle. The depth of customization can feel overwhelming at first, but experimentation is encouraged and low-stakes.

How important is multiplayer? Can I enjoy it solo?

Solo is fully viable—AI companions cover squad roles adequately. Multiplayer adds fun co-op challenge but isn't required. PvP is present but not a major focus of the experience.

Does the game have good replayability?

Decent. Build variety encourages replaying missions with different Arsenal configurations. Co-op and optional mission objectives add replay hooks, though the mission pool is finite and content may feel thin for long-term play.

Game data and imagery provided by IGDB.com