Why do mech games rarely let you leave the cockpit? Brigador Killers devs joke that the feature ‘added five years of development time’
The article discusses why mech games rarely feature the ability to exit the cockpit and explore as a pilot character. Developers of the upcoming Brigador Killers humorously noted that implementing this feature “added five years of development time,” highlighting the significant engineering challenge. The fundamental difficulty stems from the dramatic size difference between mech suits and human characters, which creates complex balancing and gameplay design problems. Players must interact with vastly different mechanical systems, durability levels, and firepower capabilities when switching between piloting a mech and running around as a vulnerable human. Despite these challenges, a handful of games have successfully implemented this feature, including Titanfall, the early access title Psycho Patrol R, and the forthcoming Brigador Killers. The feature appeals to players because it enhances immersion by breaking the “gamey” feel of traditional mech gameplay and effectively demonstrates the massive scale of mech suits when contrasted with the vulnerable perspective of a human pilot on foot. This contrast helps sell the sense of power and scale that defines the mech gaming experience. The rarity of this feature in the genre underscores how demanding it is to implement mechanically and narratively, making games that achieve it particularly noteworthy.