As mecha fans, Gundam has always been one of the series we look forward to. But to be honest, no Gundam game has really gotten us excited in the last 10 years, even though the franchise continues to release new titles year after year.
That’s why our expectations for *Gundam Rogue Orbit* weren’t actually very high when we first heard the announcement. But after playing the demo at the Tokyo Game Show 2026, our opinion began to change. The game turned out to be quite good and has great potential to redeem itself after that poor track record.
A promising new Gundam game
As soon as we started playing this game, we knew right away that it was a Gundam game. The details felt very much like classic Gundam—from the mech designs and spaceship designs to the Haro unit that accompanies the player throughout the game.
Since this is a Gundam game, we naturally hoped the mechs would come equipped with signature weapons like funnels. And sure enough, funnels are featured in this game. It’s little details like these that make Gundam Rogue Orbit feel authentic from the very first minute.
Haro’s presence also feels like more than just a decorative element. This little unit accompanies the player throughout the demo, and to us, details like this show that the developers truly understand what makes a Gundam game feel like a Gundam game.
Choosing a Lance-type Gundam
In the demo, there were three types of Gundam to choose from, and we chose the lance-type Gundam. The Lance Gundam feels more like a tank, with a frontal shield as one of its abilities.
Each Gundam type has its own abilities, such as deploying a shield or attacking with funnels. In addition to these abilities, each type also has a signature move that consumes energy when used. We didn’t get a chance to try the other two Gundam types during this demo session, but the presence of three types with distinct fighting styles was enough to convince us. At the very least, this indicates that Gundam Rogue Orbit doesn’t want to limit players to just one playstyle.
The gameplay itself is fairly simple and beginner-friendly. You just need to defeat enemies using a combination of attacks and movement, and the enemies you face in Gundam Rogue Orbit are alien monsters.
A dungeon run… with mechs…
Based on what we saw in the demo, Gundam Rogue Orbit isn’t an open-world game. Its format is actually more like a dungeon run, reminding us of Phantasy Star Online 2. At least that’s what we saw in the demo version at TGS 2026.
The dungeon we played in the demo was set in a space colony and had a fairly straightforward layout. At the end of the dungeon, we encountered a giant golem-type boss that was quite challenging to defeat. This boss battle left the biggest impression on us. Its massive size forced us to rethink our positioning and attack timing, rather than just repeatedly pressing the attack button.
In addition to combat, you’ll also need to keep an eye on your energy bar throughout the game. Boosting consumes energy, and you’ll be a sitting duck if your energy runs out. Your energy will recharge on its own, but you’ll have to wait and won’t be able to boost until the recharge process is complete. This mechanic reminds us of the boost mechanic in Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon.
On the bright side, Gundam Rogue Orbit is actually pretty fun to play. With solid gameplay mechanics and all the signature weapons like funnels, we’re eager to play this game with friends. From its Steam page, we also know that the game will feature online co-op. This feature makes us even more convinced that Gundam Rogue Orbit is truly designed to be enjoyed together.
Our two concerns
To be honest, we were quite surprised that Gundam Rogue Orbit exceeded our expectations. After so many underwhelming releases, we feel this new game could be a breath of fresh air for the Gundam series. That said, we still have two main concerns.
The first concern is about customization. This game absolutely must have solid customization features, because as Gundam pilots, we want our Gundams to feel uniquely ours. It’s not just about the visuals—we also hope for in-depth customization, from choosing weapons to selecting parts for our Gundams. This customization system is what we didn’t find when playing the demo version.
The second concern is about the grinding mechanics. Based on our experience playing the demo, we feel this game will force players to grind through repetitive dungeons to obtain resources for upgrades. To keep this repetitive grinding from feeling tedious, the game should include more features that genuinely impact the combat mechanics.
For example, adding more custom weapons or abilities so players can explore all the available options. Another option is to add unique mechanics to each dungeon, so players will always look forward to what’s in the next one.
Looking Forward to Gundam Rogue Orbit
Once again, this game has exceeded our expectations ever since the demo session at the Tokyo Game Show 2026. We hope Gundam Rogue Orbit continues to improve leading up to its release, especially in terms of customization and dungeon variety.
If both of these aspects are handled well, we’re confident that Gundam Rogue Orbit has a great chance of becoming the best Gundam game of the past decade. At the very least, for the first time in quite a while, we’re genuinely looking forward to the next installment in the Gundam series.
Don't miss our exclusive report on TGS 2026
The TOKYO GAME SHOW is one of the world’s largest video game exhibitions, organized by the Computer Entertainment Suppliers Association (CESA) in collaboration with Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. and DENTSU INC. TGS has become the premier platform for video game industry professionals to showcase their latest innovations and technologies.
Asia’s largest gaming festival is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary and promises an exhibition on a scale unlike any in previous years. With the theme “The Longest Five Days of Nonstop Play,” this year’s event will make history. For the first time, the exhibition will run for a full five days.
The offline exhibition will be held at Makuhari Messe, Chiba, from September 17 to September 21, 2026. The format of the event remains a hybrid system, combining on-site exhibitions with online initiatives to reach a global audience.
Stay tuned for the latest and exclusive coverage of TGS 2026, only at PlayEatSleep.Fun.
