Figureheads
Figureheads is a third-person science fiction mech shooter built around small-team tactics rather than lone-wolf duels. In each match you pilot a roster of bipedal machines called 2Foots, swapping between different frames and loadouts to react to the battlefield. The result is a 5v5 base-capture game that mixes shooter fundamentals with a light, real-time strategy style layer of unit management and counterpicking.
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Publisher: Square Enix Type: Third Person Mech Shooter Release Date: July 8, 2015 (Japanese Beta) Shut Down Date: June 30, 2018 Game Modes: 5 v 5 Base Capture Pros: +You field a small squad of mechs instead of a single character. +Matches emphasize coordination and smart decisions. +Deep build variety through mech roles and interchangeable parts. Cons: -Public details and documentation are sparse. -It never received an announced Western release. |
Figureheads Overview
Figureheads is a mech-focused shooter from Square Enix, a company more commonly associated with console RPGs but which also experimented with PC-first competitive projects around the same period. What makes Figureheads stand out is its core match structure: you do not bring one mech into battle, you bring a set of 2Foots and rotate through them as the situation changes. That design adds a strategic rhythm to the action, where choosing the right machine for the next push can matter as much as mechanical aim.
The primary mode pits two teams of five against each other. Victory typically comes from either eliminating the opposing team during a decisive fight or by taking control of the enemy’s main base. Because players can cycle through multiple 2Foots, the game leans into planning, timing, and team roles, rather than pure deathmatch momentum.
Figureheads Key Features:
- Control Multiple Units – Instead of a single loadout, each player operates four 2Foots per match, which means a full 5v5 round can feature up to 40 mechs in play across both teams.
- Mech Variety – 2Foots are divided into three weight groupings with two roles each: Lightweight (Sniper/Engineer), Heavyweight (Assault/Support), and Heavyweight (Striker/Heavy Assault)
- Mix & Match – Mechs can be outfitted with different parts, letting players tailor their lineup for map control, base pressure, or team support. Combined with the available roles, this encourages experimentation and matchup-driven builds.
- No IP Restrictions – Even without a stated Western launch, players outside Japan could still connect to the Japanese servers, provided they were comfortable navigating the language barrier.
Figureheads Screenshots
Figureheads Featured Video
![Figureheads - First Promotional Trailer [JP]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HK5zzepfIHg/0.jpg)
Figureheads Review
A full review is not available here. At the time this page was created, the intention was to publish impressions once the game fully launched. In practice, Figureheads remained a Japan-focused release and later shut down, so most players’ experiences come from the beta period and limited coverage rather than long-term global community play.
What is clear from the game’s structure is the direction it aimed for: a competitive 5v5 shooter where teamwork and roster management are central. The multi-mech approach is the defining hook, as it creates meaningful decisions around when to swap to a different 2Foot, how to cover teammates, and how to respond to enemy compositions while still keeping moment-to-moment combat in third-person shooter form.
Figureheads System Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10 (64 bit)
CPU: 2Ghz Dual Core
RAM: 3 GB RAM
Video Card: NVIDIA 9800 GTX / AMD HD 5670
Hard Disk Space: 5 GB available space
Recommended Requirements:
Operating System: Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10 (64 bit)
CPU: 3Ghz Dual Core or better
RAM: 4 GB RAM or more
Video Card: NVIDIA GTX 460 or ATI HD 6850
Hard Disk Space: 5 GB available space
Figureheads Music & Soundtrack
Coming soon…
Figureheads Additional Information
Developer: Square Enix
Closed Beta: July 8, 2015 (Japan)
Shut Down Date: June 30, 2018
Development History / Background:
Figureheads was part of Square Enix’s 2015 wave of free-to-play online announcements, reflecting a period where the publisher explored multiple PC-oriented multiplayer projects. While Square Enix is best known for single-player RPGs, it also has long-running MMO experience as the developer and publisher of Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV. Figureheads ultimately ended service on June 30, 2018, concluding its run as a Japan-centric competitive mech title.