Autobots and Decepticons made their return to cinemas worldwide this summer time with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, so the Transformers IP is getting a much-needed increase of energon. Thoughts you, the franchise’s diehard fanatics have by no means let it go to sleep, however mainstream reputation has been a completely totally different story through the years.
With the discharge of Rise of the Beasts and the hanging triple-A title Transformers: Reactivate coming within the close to future, followers and informal gamers alike is perhaps searching for some video games to revisit or uncover for the primary time. The total repertoire is sort of as huge because the property’s many animated and comedian e book iterations, so we thought it might be good to place collectively a complete record of the very best Transformers video games of all time, ranked worst to finest.
(Picture credit score: Splash Harm)
In case you want extra to be ready to remodel and roll out when Transformers: Rise of the Beasts arrives, make sure to take a look at our massive record of the Transformers films ranked, worst to finest in addition to the Transformers films so as (there are fairly a number of). Likewise, we have got loads of different sci-fi gaming strategies with our ranked lists of the best Alien, Warhammer 40K, Marvel, and DC video games of all time.
10. Transformers: Cast to Battle
(Picture credit score: Kabam)
Platforms: iOS, Android, Netflix
iOS, Android, Netflix Developer: Kabam
Cast to Battle is a wierd beast, half preventing recreation and half story-driven position enjoying recreation (RPG). Regardless of its cellular recreation construction, filled with in-app purchases, the precise core expertise was surprisingly stable and crammed to the brim with content material from G1, Beast Wars, and even the live-action films.
The unique recreation was shut down in January 2023, but it surely returned in Might, solely as a part of Netflix’s recreation choices. Whereas in-app purchases and adverts have been fully eliminated and new characters have been added, the live-action iterations of our favourite Autobots and Decepticons are not current, so hold that in thoughts.
9. Transformers Animated: The Sport
(Picture credit score: Activision)
Platforms: Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS Developer: Synthetic Thoughts and Motion
Everyone knows loads of massive IP tie-in video games are dangerous, and Transformers isn’t any stranger to stinkers, so we won’t blame you should you’re skeptical about this one. It is a bit Nintendo DS tie-in for the off-beat and extremely stylized Transformers Animated cartoon. However this one was a fairly stable 2D platformer with a robust deal with puzzle-solving and far much less thrilling driving sections.
Whereas Transformers Animated: The Sport is perhaps laborious to suggest for extra grownup gamers and followers searching for the very best the franchise has, we consider it is an above-average launch which the youngest followers might totally take pleasure in earlier than diving deeper into the lore.
8. Transformers: The Sport
(Picture credit score: Activision)
Platforms: PC, PS2/3, Xbox 360, Wii
PC, PS2/3, Xbox 360, Wii Developer: Traveller’s Tales
The primary of many tie-ins constructed round Michael Bay’s films, Transformers: The Sport coated the fundamentals of a satisfying trendy Transformers online game fairly nicely. Nobody raved about it again when it was launched, and few avid gamers bear in mind it, however amidst many late-2000s tie-in video games which weren’t even making an attempt anymore, Traveller’s Tales’ first go was completely gratifying.
Every space has an open construction and incorporates secondary missions. Furthermore, gamers can management each Autobots and Decepticons, so the general bundle was meatier than anybody had anticipated. The Nintendo DS and PSP variations of the sport understandably aren’t as thrilling and have been dealt with by totally different studios, a practice that might be maintained transferring ahead.
7. Transformers: Darkish of the Moon
(Picture credit score: Activision)
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360
PS3, Xbox 360 Developer: Excessive Moon Studios
The third of the Bay-era Transformers video games is barely higher than the primary installment. Growth was as soon as once more break up throughout three totally different studios relying on the goal platforms, and the primary model by Excessive Moon Studios – who developed the beautiful Struggle and Fall of Cybertron titles – felt completely ample and even shocking in some regards.
Not like its predecessors, Darkish of the Moon had a single unified marketing campaign whereas nonetheless retaining the swapping between the 2 Transformers factions. It total felt like a extra refined model of the 2 earlier video games, however a disappointing multiplayer and pointless cutbacks prevented it from topping Revenge of the Fallen (see under).
6. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
(Picture credit score: Activision)
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
PC, PS3, Xbox 360 Developer: Luxoflux, Beenox
The second Transformers film tie-in is arguably probably the most stable one which Activision put out again within the Michael Bay days. On condition that the second film is mostly thought to be the worst of the bunch and that the studio (and recreation engine) scenario for this recreation was a nightmare, the ultimate consequence – at the least for the primary model – was greater than first rate.
Graphics and missionobjectives have been a bit on the tasteless aspect, however the two separate campaigns delivered squarely on the core premise of the live-action renditions of the Autobots and Decepticons duking it out everywhere in the globe. Furthermore, the sudden on-line multiplayer mode was praised and had a good following.
5. Transformers: Prime – The Sport
(Picture credit score: Activision)
Platforms: Wii, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS
Wii, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS Developer: Now Manufacturing
The Transformers: Prime tie-in recreation is one other bizarre one to categorise, primarily due to how a lot it tried to do regardless of a really restricted length. Nonetheless, its ambitions largely paid off, making it a fast experience that followers of the Prime animated present ought to have the ability to take pleasure in.
Half brawler and half mild driving recreation, Transformers: Prime has a quite packed story mode and each co-op and aggressive multiplayer modes. Plus, there is a handful of extras to unlock, giving it some replay worth for the most important followers of the present.
4. Transformers Armada: Prelude to Energon
(Picture credit score: Atari)
Platforms: PS2
PS2 Developer: Atari Melbourne Home
From this fourth place onwards, the Transformers video games we’re presenting are actually notable and nicely price chasing down even should you’re not a giant Transformers fanatic.
The primary of the franchise’s “prime tier” is Transformers Armada: Prelude to Energon, commonly known as simply Transformers. Very like the Armada animated sequence, this launch was a winner that reignited the mainstream following of the IP within the early 2000s.
Though non-canon to the sequence, the third-person shooter’s primary premise is much like that of the present. And whereas gamers might solely assume the roles of Optimus Prime, Pink Alert, or Scorching Shot, the sport made up for that and different weak factors with stellar fight choices, spectacular situations (for the time), and punchy visible results.
3. Transformers: Struggle for Cybertron
(Picture credit score: Activision)
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
PC, PS3, Xbox 360 Developer: Excessive Moon Studios
Earlier than Excessive Moon Studios was tasked with adapting Transformers: Darkish of the Moon, they made a splash with Struggle for Cybertron, a third-person shooter set on Cybertron, previous to the Transformers’ arrival on Earth. By making nice use of a recent continuity and a trustworthy but distinctive and darker artwork path, the studio delivered a Transformers recreation that felt actually real.
Multiplayer was additionally an choice, however a lot of the reward went to a memorable story marketing campaign filled with dramatic beats and big-scale battles between the Autobots and Decepticons as their residence world crumbles.
2. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
(Picture credit score: Activision)
Platforms: PC, PS3/4, Xbox 360/One
PC, PS3/4, Xbox 360/One Developer: Excessive Moon Studios
The direct sequel to Struggle for Cybertron was larger and higher, not messing round and increasing on the spectacular set items, boss battles, and honest drama that made its predecessor a success.
On the draw back, the co-op mode for the marketing campaign was eliminated, although aggressive multiplayer was nonetheless a factor. Apart from that low level and a few sections within the story that slowed down a bit an excessive amount of, Fall of Cybertron has just about all the pieces a Transformers fan would need and might be thought of one of many largest love-letters this universe has ever obtained.
1. Transformers: Devastation
(Picture credit score: Activision)
Platforms: PC, PS3/4, Xbox 360/One
PC, PS3/4, Xbox 360/One Developer: PlatinumGames
Giving the keys to the Transformers IP to PlatinumGames, who’re broadly identified for his or her knack for slick beat ’em up fight and hanging audiovisual displays, resulted in the very best Transformers recreation that has graced consoles and PC thus far. This one nonetheless appears to be like beautiful to at the present time.
Devastation is brief however candy and hyper-focused on delivering the right homage to the G1 sequence. Extra importantly, it is a blast to play until you hate beat ’em ups for some cause. You should use each ranged and melee weapons, however all of the motion appears to be like remarkably clear and rewards gamers that attempt to enhance their methods. Amongst these is the flexibility to drive into your opponents’ faces as a part of combos. Rad.
