Keepers is a weekly segment in which I discuss games I’ve played that I’ve seen fit to keep after playing. I generally sell a game that I’ve finished, so the only reason I keep one is because I plan to replay the game some day. Classifying a game as a “keeper” is generally a badge of merit.

The Mechwarrior series had some great games. This particular compilation includes Mechwarrior 4: Vengeance, Mechwarrior 4: Black Knight, and Mechwarrior Mercenaries.

Although slightly slower-paced than some other mech games like Armored Core and Chromehounds, Mechwarrior is the king of the mech games. It lets you customize better than any other game I’ve seen since the Commodore 64’s Autoduel. You can add missiles, particle projection cannons, machine guns, flamethrowers, and tons of other weapons. You can add weapons into any part of the mech, and weight and heat are serious considerations that you need to balance out. Creating the perfect mech is as much a part of the game as piloting it.

Based on the original FASA rules for Battletech, the Mechwarrior series had some good stuff to draw on. I’ll admit to having played tabletop Battletech on more than one occasion, as I did Car Wars. Good stuff.

Mechwarrior 4 was a fantastic game, and the Mechwarrior series is one of the game franchises that I’m hoping will make a comeback.