In 2019, Daemon X Machina released on Nintendo Switch to fairly positive reviews, only to improve over time with post-launch content and updates. Any developer that hits and misses elements of their first entry in a series can only hope to get another shot to elevate the experience, and Marvelous has done just that with the follow-up, Daemon X Machina: 

Revealed in 2023 and released in September 2025, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion was one of the games I named as my 3 releases last year, I regretted not making time for. Well, with some more free time over the holidays, I made time for it, and I’m glad I did.  This follow up to the 2019 game features many shades that worked for the first entry. You customize a character who controls a mech that fights other mechs, robots, and assorted enemies. This time, the things Marvelous adds, similar to post-game content in the first game, really make this one special.

I think the most noticeable difference this time around is how open it feels. Open-world maps allow players to find their way to new unlockables, challenging enemies, hidden tasks, and other fun discoverable areas. There’s enough of a uniqueness to the story that you don’t have to have played the first game to try this one, and I’d recommend newcomers start here. Long story short, you are going to pilot a mech and work through combat encounters, finding loot and other upgradable elements for your Arsenal along the way.

Two things harm this game, and neither are strictly gameplay-related. Firstly, the story is not anything that locks you in narratively. It helps to move along the levels and gives you some stakes to consider while playing. That said, I couldn’t tell you a single beat of the campaign that stuck with me, let alone made me feel something for these characters. With a created character, I usually have an easier time immersing myself, but it just wasn’t happening with the story.

Secondly, mech combat can offer you different ways to experience an onslaught of enemies, but it’s still mech combat. I am not saying this is a fault of the game, but what you can experience in a game where you are fighting from inside a robot is fairly limited. That leads to a repetitiveness that some might tire of if they’re not understanding what they’re getting. Some action games excel in giving you things to do due to their variety. Titanic Scion excels in its mastery of how it feels to be in these mechs.

There are tons of ways to customize how you build your mech. If you favor speed, you’re going to be looking at less firepower. Inversely, a powerhouse mech won’t traverse the battlefield quickly, resulting in a slower experience. Playing with these options, including the variety of ways you can upgrade your defenses and weapons, allows you to play this game how you want to play it. I love that in an action game, rather than an experience that tells you to meet you where it is, regardless of play style.

With a less-than-stellar story and loop of combat that feels familiar within about 8 hours of playing the game, where does Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion stand in terms of being worth your play time? Well, I think you know if these games are for you or not based on what you’re looking for. I don’t ever tell people who want to feel locked in to a strategic experience to pick up a game like Dynasty Warriors: Origins, even though I loved that game. I would tell someone who likes a bit of strategy, however, to grab this game.

There’s not necessarily any encounter you’ll take on in Titanic Scion that will leave you dumbfounded as to how to best your opponent. That said, if you simply show up to a fight without considering what loadout will be best for the enemy at hand, you’re going to have a bad time. It’s akin to Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition in that sense. There’s the right balance between robots shooting guns and a bit of strategy to make you feel active in the gameplay.

If you liked the first game, I think every enjoyable element is improved here. If you didn’t play the first game, but you know you’re down for some action and blowing things up, you’ll probably enjoy this as well. The Switch 2 definitely has its hitches in terms of framerate drops, but it overall did not greatly impact my experience. It was also fun, similarly to the first game, to have this as a handheld experience. Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion brings the best of the series’ first entry to an expanded experience and fine-tunes elements that needed attention. While its narrative isn’t necessarily going to stick with you, the moment-to-moment gameplay is solid, and allows you to scratch that itch I’m assuming we all get to just jump in a robot and blow stuff up.

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Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion

69.99

7.5

Score

7.5/10

Pros

• Scratches the mech combat itch in a satisfying way
• Upgradable items and variety make the mech combat feel highly customizable
• Definite step up from the first game

Cons

• Mech combat can get repetitive
• Nothing standout from the game storywise
• Some performance issues on Switch 2, but nothing detrimental