13 Sentinels: Aegis Rimhas rightfully made a splash. The game’s balance of jaw-droppingly beautiful aesthetics, high school drama, mech-based combat, andthe compact storyhas cemented Vanillaware as one of the most exciting Japanese studios around.
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The issue with13 Sentinels, though, is that there are so few games like it. When the credits roll, where should players who want more go? Thankfully, despitethe title’s originality, there are still some othergames similar to13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim.
Updated August 04, 2025 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 manygames like 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rimout there, but fans should try out the upcoming titles.
Platforms
Given that Vanillware developed13 Sentinels, it’s only natural thatOdin Spherewould be worth mentioning. Released in 2007 for the PlayStation 2, the game was a seminal moment for the studio. Gameplay-wise,Odin Spherehas little to no overlap with13 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 dug13 Sentinelsfor its visuals but want something more immediate and action-based,Odin Spherefits that mold. Plus, it has aremaster on PlayStation 4, so it’s pretty easy to get a hold of.
Dragon’s Crownis Vanillaware’s best-known game. Following a similar line of logic asOdin Sphere, those who love13 Sentinelsfor its art style and game feel will feel at home withDragon’s Crown. The game is a refinement of the gameplay offered inOdin Sphere, albeit with a stronger Western fantasy influence.
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As a class-based action game,Dragon’s Crownticks all the boxes. The game may be vastly different from13 Sentinels, but slick gameplay, unique direction, and timeless aesthetic are hallmarks of a Vanillaware game.
PlayStation 1
Fans of13 Sentinelsprobably like mechs. They probably like strategy-based gameplay, too, and maybe also Yoshitaka Amano. If so, thenFront Mission 3is 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 loved13 Sentinelsfor its gameplay or story and are hungering for more, theFront Missionseries can offer serious sustenance.
PlayStation 4
Sakura Warsmixes anime aesthetics with mechs – an ideal concoction for fans of13 Sentinels. As the sixth entry in theSakura Warsseries, 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 with13 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 isset to continue, too.
Romancing SaGa 2 & 3
Romancing SaGais celebrated for its in-depth combat system and unique take on the JRPG genre, and that goes for all the numbered entries. Fans of13 Sentinelswill resonate with the franchise’s determination to try for something different in a popular, established genre.
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Romancing SaGais 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 liked13 Sentinelsfor its relative uniqueness, all theRomancing SaGatitles should be on their radar. The originalRomancing SaGawas not released outside of Japan, although a remake calledMinstrel Sagadid make its way to North America via the PS2. However,Romancing SaGa 2and3are available on modern consoles, so they are the best places to start for newcomers to the series.
Although13 Sentinels: Aegis Rimis 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 Filesis a bit of an exception. Directed and written by Kotaro Uchikoshi ofZero Escapefame, a series that is also a decent recommendation for13 Sentinelsfans,AIenvisions 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.
Persona, especially3, is the closest players can get to13 Sentinel’s delicate balance of high-school politics and relationships. Sure,anyPersonagame could be here, but the sense of impending doom in13 Sentinelsis best mirrored in the series' third installment.
What can be written aboutPersona 3that 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.
Ardent anime and manga fans may recognizeGunparade March. The series was popular for blending mech battles with high school drama, and it started as a game. Released in 2000,Gunparade Marchblended tactical mech battles withPersona-like meditations on high school life. Despite the 20-year gap,Gunparade Marchand13 Sentinelsshare 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 that13 Sentinelsitch.Gunparade Marchwas only released in Japan and no fan translations exist.
OK, admittedly,Nier: Automatais 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 from13 Sentinels, but the meditations on identity, consciousness, and purpose will have some resonance with fans of the game.
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Nier: Automatais amazingly pretty to look at, too, and Yoko Taro’s commitment to his own distinct style is certain to appeal to fans of Vanillaware.
Armored Core 4 & 5
Armored Coremay 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.
The series is perhaps eclipsed byMetal Gear Solidand other Konami licenses, butArmored Corestill has its appeal. For fans of13 Sentinelswho love it for its mech-based gameplay, this FromSoftware property may be ideal to get that fix.
