The Transformers IP is getting a much-needed energon boost as Autobots and Decepticons made their return to theatres worldwide this summer with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Although diehard fans have never let the franchise slumber, mainstream appeal has been a different story over the years.
With the upcoming release of Rise of the Beasts and the eye-catching triple-A title Transformers: Reactivate, fans and casual players alike may be looking for some games to revisit or discover for the first time. The whole catalog is nearly as extensive as the property’s numerous animated and comic book adaptations, so we thought it’d be a good idea to compile a thorough list of the top Transformers games of all time, rated worst to best.
If you need anything else to get ready for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, make sure to check out our comprehensive list of Transformers movies sorted from worst to best, as well as the Transformers movies in sequence (there are quite a few). Similarly, with our rated lists of the best Alien, Warhammer 40K, Marvel, and DC games of all time, we have plenty of other sci-fi gaming choices.
1. TRANSFORMERS: DEVASTATION
Platforms: PC, PS3/4, Xbox 360/One
Developer: PlatinumGames
Giving Platinum Games the keys to the Transformers IP resulted in the best Transformers game to grace consoles and PC so far. PlatinumGames is generally known for their talent for slick beat ’em up combat and spectacular audiovisual presentations. This one is remains stunning to this day.
Devastation is a short but delightful game that is laser-focused on paying respect to the G1 series. More importantly, unless you despise beat ’em ups for some reason, it’s a lot of fun to play. You can use both distant and melee weapons, yet the action is incredibly clear and rewards gamers who seek to develop their skills. Among these is the ability to drive into the faces of your opponents as part of combinations. Rad.
2. TRANSFORMERS: FALL OF CYBERTRON
Platforms: PC, PS3/4, Xbox 360/One
Developer: High Moon Studios
The direct sequel to War for Cybertron was bigger and better, doubling down on the magnificent set pieces, boss battles, and genuine drama that made its predecessor a blockbuster.
On the downside, the campaign co-op mode was deleted, but competitive multiplayer remained. Aside from that low moment and a couple of sections in the tale that dragged down a little too much, Fall of Cybertron offers pretty much everything a Transformers fan could want and could be called one of the biggest love-letters to this universe.
3. TRANSFORMERS: WAR FOR CYBERTRON
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Developer: High Moon Studios
Before being charged with translating Transformers: Dark of the Moon, High Moon Studios built a name for themselves with War for Cybertron, a third-person shooter set on Cybertron prior to the Transformers’ arrival on Earth. The studio developed a Transformers game that felt absolutely authentic by utilizing a fresh storyline and a faithful yet unique and darker art approach.
Multiplayer was available, but the main focus was on the famous story campaign, which featured emotional beats and large-scale combat between the Autobots and Decepticons as their home Earth crumbled.
4. TRANSFORMERS ARMADA: PRELUDE TO ENERGON
Platforms: PS2
Developer: Atari Melbourne House
From the fourth position onward, the Transformers games we’re providing are actually noteworthy and well worth pursuing even if you’re not a huge Transformers enthusiast.
The first of the franchise’s “top tier” games is Transformers Armada: Prelude to Energon, also known simply as Transformers. This release, like the Armada cartoon series, was a winner that rekindled the IP’s mainstream appeal in the early 2000s.
Although not canon to the series, the general notion of the third-person shooter is similar to that of the show. While players could only play as Optimus Prime, Red Alert, or Hot Shot, the game compensated for this and other shortcomings with outstanding combat options, impressive situations (for the time), and powerful visual effects.
5. TRANSFORMERS: PRIME – THE GAME
Platforms: Wii, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS
Developer: Now Production
The Transformers: Prime tie-in game is another difficult one to categorize, owing to how much it attempted to do in such a short amount of time. However, its goals generally paid off, making it a fast journey that Prime animated program aficionados should like.
Transformers: Prime offers a story mode that is part brawler and part light driving game, as well as co-op and competitive multiplayer modes. There are also a few bonuses to unlock, providing it some replay value for the show’s biggest fans.
Read Also: Top 10 Most Anticipated Video Games Coming in 2023
6. TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Developer: Luxoflux, Beenox
The second Transformers movie tie-in is likely the most solid one that Activision released during Michael Bay’s tenure. Given that the second film is widely considered to be the poorest of the five, and that the studio (and game engine) scenario for this game was a nightmare, the end outcome – at least for the main version – was more than enough.
The graphics and mission objectives were a little boring, but the two separate campaigns delivered on the fundamental notion of live-action representations of the Autobots and Decepticons duking it out all over the world. Furthermore, the unanticipated online multiplayer mode received positive feedback and a sizable following.
7. TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360
Developer: High Moon Studios
The third of the Bay-era Transformers games is marginally better than the first. The development was once again divided among three different teams based on the target platforms, and the primary version by High Moon teams – who created the beautiful War and Fall of Cybertron titles – felt completely acceptable and even unexpected in some ways.
Dark of the Moon, unlike its predecessors, had a one cohesive campaign while yet preserving the swapping between the two Transformers sides. Overall, it felt like a more refined version of the previous two games, but a lackluster multiplayer experience and senseless reductions kept it from surpassing Revenge of the Fallen.
8. TRANSFORMERS: THE GAME
Platforms: PC, PS2/3, Xbox 360, Wii
Developer: Traveller’s Tales
Transformers: The Game, the first of several tie-ins constructed around Michael Bay’s films, did a good job of covering the foundations of a successful modern Transformers computer game. No one gushed about it when it was launched, and few gamers remember it, but in a sea of late-2000s tie-in games that weren’t really trying, Traveller’s Tales’ first attempt was absolutely delightful.
Each zone has an open structure and secondary quests. Furthermore, players can command both Autobots and Decepticons, making the total package more substantial than anyone had anticipated. The Nintendo DS and PSP versions of the game are predictably less thrilling and were handled by separate studios, a trend that would be continued in the future.
9. TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED: THE GAME
Platforms: Nintendo DS
Developer: Artificial Mind and Movement
We’ve all seen enough of horrible major IP tie-in games, and Transformers is no stranger to flops, so we don’t blame you for being dubious of this one. It’s a Nintendo DS tie-in for the quirky and stylized Transformers Animated animation. However, this was a solid 2D platformer with a strong emphasis on puzzle solving and far less fun driving sequences.
While Transformers Animated: The Game may be difficult to recommend for more mature gamers and fans seeking the finest the franchise has to offer, we believe it’s an above-average release that younger fans may enjoy before delving deeper into the lore.
10. TRANSFORMERS: FORGED TO FIGHT
Platforms: iOS, Android, Netflix
Developer: Kabam
Forged to Fight is an odd beast, half fighting game, part role-playing game (RPG). Despite its mobile game format, which was heavy on in-app purchases, the actual core experience was surprisingly strong and packed with stuff from G1, Beast Wars, and even the live-action movies.
The original game was discontinued in January 2023, but it was revived in May as part of Netflix’s game offerings. While in-app purchases and adverts have been completely deleted, and new characters have been added, keep in mind that the live-action versions of our favorite Autobots and Decepticons are no longer present.