2002’s Gundam Seed served as my first introduction to Gundam. Set in the Cosmic Era, it introduced the fan-favourite characters such as Kira Yamato and Athrun Zala, and the immensely popular Strike and Freedom Gundams. I remember crowding around the computer lab in college just to watch some of the episodes with my classmates. It was only after that series that I gotten a hold of material set in the mainline Universal Century including Char’s Counterattack.
Despite being a Gundam fan, I never really had the time or patience for Gunpla. These are Gundam model kits that you need to assemble (with the help of cutters and glue) and paint. In the case of another favourite mecha franchise Macross, I collect ready-built, high-end figurines from the DX Chogokin line. The equivalent for Gundam would be the Metal Build-series, for which my sole action figure is the Freedom Gundam standing proudly on my office desk.
The idea of kit-bashing (combining several Gunpla model kits) to see what you can come up it has always been a curiosity of mine despite not having time for Gunpla. The 2024 release of Gundam Breaker 4 was a chance to scratch that itch. It also so happens to be the first game that I’ve completed for 2025, unlocking slightly more than half of the achievements on offer.
Come for the Fights, Stay for the Kit Bashing
The game’s premise is simple, participate in team-based fights with A.I controlled allies in single-player mode. Gain parts, upgrade said parts, assemble the mech of your dreams (it can be a Gundam, a Zaku or something else…), rinse and repeat. The plot is a bit non-sensical where you are trying to save the game from a rogue player, but don’t let that cloud you from the real objective: build an awesome mech!
The amount of customization you can get is crazy, from selecting parts, manipulating size, choosing paint and even adding add-ons. My own Gundam combines parts from the Woundwort, Barbatos Lupus Rex, S Gundam and Strike Freedom’s backpack. In short, if you love Gundam kit-bashing, this is one game for you.
After you finish the single-story mode there are other game modes including Survival that will earn you more points and parts to further upgrade your build. There are also multi-player matches and clans to participate in if you are ever so inclined; I’ve not tried multi-player as it’s not really my cup of tea to play with other players.
My primary go-to device for Gundam Breaker 4 would be my Steam Deck. The game does drain the battery rather quickly and the fan goes up quickly as the console gets all heated up with all the mech-breaking going on in the game. I must say that the experience on the Steam Deck is really awesome and Gundam Breaker 4’s “verified” status on the Deck is well deserved. Aside from the PC, Gundam Breaker 4 is also available on the PS5 and the Nintendo Switch. We rate Gundam Breaker 4 at a 4/5!
