MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries asks players to run a mercenary company across the Battletech universe, buying and upgrading mechs while fighting for contracts and resources. The game launched on PC, PS4 and Xbox One in 2019, and later came to PS5 and Series X|S. Critics gave it a mixed response, landing at 7.3 out of 10.
Trailer, via MechWarrior 5 Mercenaries.
Building A Company
The core loop is simple. Players manage a small company of mech pilots, hire new recruits, and bid on contracts from planetary governments and private corporations. Each contract pays in cash, salvage or rare parts needed to upgrade the player’s mechs. The system rewards patience: holding back on spending lets players build a stronger force over time.
Contracts vary widely in scale. Some ask for a single mech to scout a battlefield, while others call for a full lance to hold a ridge against enemy forces. The variety keeps missions from feeling alike, though the pacing can drift during stretches where contracts are scarce.
Combat On The Battlefield
Battles unfold in real time, with each mech’s weight and balance forcing players to move carefully. Dodging attacks, managing heat and choosing the right weapon for the situation are constant demands. The controls respond well, and the mech models carry enough detail to make each hit land with weight.
“The combat holds up as the strongest part of the package.”
That strength comes at a cost. Missions can drag when they rely too heavily on scripted events rather than player initiative. Some fights feel less like a battle and more like a guided tour of a battlefield, with enemies placed to push the player along a fixed path.
Graphics And Performance
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries runs on a solid engine, with mech designs that read clearly even at long range. Planetside locations vary in quality, from detailed urban ruins to flat, uninteresting fields. The lighting and particle effects are serviceable but not striking.
Performance holds steady across most sessions, though the game shows some frame drops during busy battles on consoles. Load times are long on console versions, which can frustrate players moving between missions.
Weaknesses Across The Board
The campaign’s story is thin, mostly serving as a device to hand out contracts rather than building a compelling arc around the player’s company. Character dialogue is brief, and few missions offer much beyond a mission objective and a payment screen. Players looking for a deep narrative will find the campaign wanting.
The management systems outside combat are also weaker. Upgrading a mech takes time and resources, but the menus for tracking those upgrades are confusing. Players who want to plan ahead often find themselves lost in a maze of stats and costs.
Playing MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries on Series X|S improves the experience in a few ways. Load times are shorter than on PS5, and the frame rate stays steadier during chaotic battles. The improved visuals sharpen the already detailed mech models without changing the underlying game.
That said, the Series X|S version still carries the same weaknesses found elsewhere: a thin campaign, a confusing management interface, and occasional pacing issues during quieter stretches. The hardware upgrade helps, but it doesn’t fix the game’s flaws.
Final Score
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is a solid, if uneven, entry in the Battletech series. The combat stands out as the best part of the package, while the campaign and management systems struggle to keep pace. Players who enjoy building a company and commanding mechs in battle will find plenty to like. Those seeking a deeper story or tighter planning will find the game wanting in those areas.
The game earns a score of 7.3 out of 10.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
