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The issue with 13 Sentinels, though, is that there are so few games like it. When the credits roll, where should players who want more go? Thankfully, despite the title’s originality, there are still some other games similar to 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim.
Updated April 12, 2022 by Mark Sammut: 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim has just been released on the Nintendo Switch, hopefully bringing more eyes to this singular gaming experience. Vanillaware might not often bless the world with a new release, but whenever the studio produces something, it tends to be quite unlike anything else on the market. The developer’s most recent project blends real-time strategy with story-driven side-scrolling adventure sections, crafting an ambitious story that requires patience to fully appreciate. There are not many games like 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim out there, but fans should try out the upcoming titles.
11 Odin Sphere
Given that Vanillware developed 13 Sentinels, it’s only natural that Odin Sphere would be worth mentioning. Released in 2007 for the PlayStation 2, the game was a seminal moment for the studio. Gameplay-wise, Odin Sphere has little to no overlap with 13 Sentinels. However, its aesthetics scratch the same itch, and both games share a similar feel thanks to Vanillaware’s distinct art style.
For players who dug 13 Sentinels for its visuals but want something more immediate and action-based, Odin Sphere fits that mold. Plus, it has a remaster on PlayStation 4, so it’s pretty easy to get a hold of.
10 Dragon’s Crown
Dragon’s Crown is Vanillaware’s best-known game. Following a similar line of logic as Odin Sphere, those who love 13 Sentinels for its art style and game feel will feel at home with Dragon’s Crown. The game is a refinement of the gameplay offered in Odin Sphere, albeit with a stronger Western fantasy influence.
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As a class-based action game, Dragon’s Crown ticks all the boxes. The game may be vastly different from 13 Sentinels, but slick gameplay, unique direction, and timeless aesthetic are hallmarks of a Vanillaware game.
9 Front Mission 3
Fans of 13 Sentinels probably like mechs. They probably like strategy-based gameplay, too, and maybe also Yoshitaka Amano. If so, then Front Mission 3 is a match made in mech heaven. The stories of both games are vastly different, but there is a lot of overlap in gameplay and, of course, mech action.
However, the similarities don’t end there. In both games, players grow attached to their mech pilots, leading to some intense, story-defining moments. For those who loved 13 Sentinels for its gameplay or story and are hungering for more, the Front Mission series can offer serious sustenance.
8 Sakura Wars
Sakura Wars mixes anime aesthetics with mechs – an ideal concoction for fans of 13 Sentinels. As the sixth entry in the Sakura Wars series, the 2019 version refined the series’ penchant for silly, anime-inspired goofiness and JRPG tropes with old-fashioned mech fun.
There isn’t much gameplay overlap with 13 Sentinels, but it has a splash of personality, too. Players can roam the world, talk to its inhabitants, build relationships with their mechs, and get to know the zany, likable cast of characters. It looks as though this reboot is set to continue, too.
7 Romancing SaGa
Romancing SaGa is celebrated for its in-depth combat system and unique take on the JRPG genre, and that goes for all the numbered entries. Fans of 13 Sentinels will resonate with the franchise’s determination to try for something different in a popular, established genre.
Super Famicom Wonderswan Color PlayStation 2 (Minstrel Song)
Super Famicom PlayStation 4 Xbox One Nintendo Switch Microsoft Windows PlayStation Vita Mobile
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Romancing SaGa is appreciated for its commitment to freedom; even for a JRPG, the games give the player plenty of room to do things their own way. For those who liked 13 Sentinels for its relative uniqueness, all the Romancing SaGa titles should be on their radar. The original Romancing SaGa was not released outside of Japan, although a remake called Minstrel Saga did make its way to North America via the PS2. However, Romancing SaGa 2 and 3 are available on modern consoles, so they are the best places to start for newcomers to the series.
6 AI: The Somnium Files
Although 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is not a traditional visual novel, Vanillaware’s game shares a fair few similarities with the genre. There are a number of great sci-fi VNs out there, but most do not have much in the way of interactivity; however, AI: The Somnium Files is a bit of an exception. Directed and written by Kotaro Uchikoshi of Zero Escape fame, a series that is also a decent recommendation for 13 Sentinels fans, AI envisions a future where technology has advanced to the point that people’s memories can be accessed.
The game follows a detective as they investigate a serial killer, and the story goes to some weird and awesome places before the credits roll. The visual novel passages are intercut with gameplay sections that incorporate investigatory and puzzle elements, the latter of which are particularly enjoyable.
5 Persona 3
Persona, especially 3, is the closest players can get to 13 Sentinel’s delicate balance of high-school politics and relationships. Sure, any Persona game could be here, but the sense of impending doom in 13 Sentinels is best mirrored in the series’ third installment.
What can be written about Persona 3 that hasn’t been addressed already? The game is a lightning-in-the-bottle representation of Japanese culture and high school, all captured in a gloriously detailed JRPG combat system. Play it.
4 Gunparade March
Ardent anime and manga fans may recognize Gunparade March. The series was popular for blending mech battles with high school drama, and it started as a game. Released in 2000, Gunparade March blended tactical mech battles with Persona-like meditations on high school life. Despite the 20-year gap, Gunparade March and 13 Sentinels share very similar breaks between “school gameplay” and “action gameplay.”
The game is a little difficult to look at now (and to get a hold of), but its unique balance of Japanese school life and robot badassery may just scratch that 13 Sentinels itch. Gunparade March was only released in Japan and no fan translations exist.
3 Nier: Automata
OK, admittedly, Nier: Automata is mostly on here because of the robots. However, for those who haven’t had its existential dread settle in the creases of their brains yet, this game has a lot to offer. The gameplay couldn’t be further from 13 Sentinels, but the meditations on identity, consciousness, and purpose will have some resonance with fans of the game.
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Nier: Automata is amazingly pretty to look at, too, and Yoko Taro’s commitment to his own distinct style is certain to appeal to fans of Vanillaware.
2 Armored Core
Armored Core may not be as popular as it was back in the day, but it’s still the go-to action property for mech lovers. The series contains a ridiculous amount of customization, plus the stories it tells aren’t too bad. What the series is known for, though, are its intense mech-based battles.
PlayStation 1
PlayStation 2 PlayStation Portable (Armored Core 3)
PlayStation 3 Xbox 360
The series is perhaps eclipsed by Metal Gear Solid and other Konami licenses, but Armored Core still has its appeal. For fans of 13 Sentinels who love it for its mech-based gameplay, this FromSoftware property may be ideal to get that fix.
1 Tokyo Mirage Session FE
Tokyo Mirage Session FE is mostly recommended for one reason: creativity. 13 Sentinels, at its core, is a creative game; in a market flooded with similar projects, 13 Sentinels stands out as a unique AAA title. Tokyo Mirage Session FE is similar, taking the JRPG genre and spinning it on its head.
Tokyo Mirage Session FE’s modern Tokyo setting and commitment to a unique battle system should resonate with fans of 13 Sentinels. The game also received a Switch port this year, so it is accessible.
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