Summary
Anyone who’s afan of mecha animewould have heard ofGundam, and anyone who’s never watched aGundamseries could certainly feel overwhelmed with the number of series they could watch and especially when they realize some of them take place in various timelines - including the upcomingGundam: The Witch From Mercury. To those looking for the “definitive”Gundamexperience, choosing thebestGundamseriesto start with can be quite difficult.
Thankfully, fans new toGundamcan actually look at a few landmark series that can become their perfect gateway to the show and its many tropes. Not only that, but certain entries in the franchise can introduce them to various activities within the franchise, such as collecting Gunpla toys or even exploring its more popular sub-franchises.
Updated on Jun 27, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam:With a new globalGundam Card GameTCG set for a December 2024 “Edition Beta” ahead of its 2025 release, fans of the hit mecha franchise might be wondering how the vast expanse ofGundamseries can fit in the context of gameplay involving Unit Cards, Pilot Cards, Base Cards, and even Command Cards. And with mechanics such as Linked Units, standard 1v1 play, and even innovative 2v2 Team Battle and 3+ Battle Royale setups, it seemsGundam Card Gameis out to give players a wild ride. However, for fans who want to get to know purchasing their decks upon the game’s release, they might want to watch someGundamtitles first - some of which include the precursor to theBuildsub-series and a short series with dream match-ups.
2021
3
MAL Score
6.6
While the originalBuild Fightersseries had in itself its own version of aBattloguethat comprised of dream matchups, viewers would only appreciate this iteration of theBattlogueconcept to the fullest if they view its main series. This isn’t necessarily the case withGundam Breaker: Battlogue, as it’s advertised as more of a teaser to the now-cancelledGundam Breaker Mobilegame as well as the consoleGundam Breaker 3.
As more of a low-stakes series,Gundam Breaker: Battloguehas a straightforward premise, where a mysterious force has begun hijacking Gundams of Gundam Battlers so close to the festivities of the Gunpla Battle Fest. Hijinks ensue, eventually culminating in various action-packed Gunpla fights that would likely take viewers back (or take viewers for the first time) to the good ol’ days ofGundam Build Fightersfocusing on the spectacle and not trying to be so deep in its plot.
Why Watch This First?
While technically tie-ins to theGundam Breaker Mobilegame andGundam Breaker 3, there’s no need to necessarily play the games to get intoGundam Breaker: Battlogue. The series is a short-enough ride for newcomers interested in high-octane mecha action to enjoy, especially as a starting point before watching the more nuanced stories common inGundamtitles. There’s always a chance of viewersloving a particular Gundamintroduced inGundam Breaker: Battlogue, and the idea that they can purchase a recentGundam Breakertitle (in this case,Gundam Breaker 4) to create them can be quite the exciting notion for newcomers.
2010
Fans who want to approachGundamfrom the perspective of Gunplawill likely have already heard of theGundam Buildseries. However, fans who want to take a deep dive into a more grounded version of the series might want to check outModel Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G, a three-episode OVA series depicting the adventures of Gunpla newcomer Haru Irei and his first foray into Gunpla Building and Gunpla Battling.
If the premise ofBeginning Gsounds surprisingly similar to that ofBuild Fighters, it’s because the former is actually the latter’s spiritual predecessor. Haru, who manages to secure the unique GPB-X80 Beginning Gundam, is thrust into the world of Gunpla Battle as he tries to pursue the title of Gunpla Master. He meets various allies and rivals along the way, all of which serving as both an introduction and reminder to the exciting elements that madeGundamsuch a hit franchise to fans.
It’s very likely that newcomers toGundamwould have already seen Gunpla models, and may even have their favorite mecha from the franchise despite not being able to watch the series where they have come from. It’s this level of knowledge of the franchise thatBeginning Gwants to latch on, as it wants to introduce newcomers toGundamfrom the perspective of the thrills of making one’s own Gunpla and even the prospect of customizing it to become a personal creation. The idea of hardcore Gunpla customization is not as popular at the time ofBeginning G’s release, and an anime that is tackling the popularity of the franchise’s toys hasn ever been created - makingBeginning Gan interesting experiment into the notion.
Jun 08, 2025 to July 24, 2025
24
5.78
While Neo World has heroes to protect its citizens, a sudden meteor strike and the emergence of an amnesiac traveler named Wukong Impulse Gundam sends the world ofSD Gundam World Heroesinto peril. When the heroic Zhuge Liang Freedom Gundam and Liu Bei Unicorn Gundam learn of disasters about to plague various worlds, they begin to wonder how Wukong Impulse Gundam will begin to affect the destinies of the surrounding realms. Due to the nature ofSD Gundam World Heroesas an anime revolving around the SD (Super Deformed) line, it’s easy to assume the anime is made for kids.
And while the latter is mostly true, it’s interesting to see a take on theGundamconcept that is less about being “lighthearted” and more about dwelling on the fantastical. The Chinese mythology inspiration of the lead characters denote inspiration fromJourney to the West, but exploring the other worlds will also seeSD Gundam World Heroesadapt works such asRomance of the Three Kingdoms, historical periods like the Warring States of Japan, and even modern films such asRoboCop.
The premise of the show where a group of heroes travels to other worlds to meet other heroes based on mythological figures is reminiscent oftheFatefranchise, and the familiarity of these legendary characters from both fiction and history can makeSD Gundam World Heroesa decentGundamanime for newcomers. Its lighthearted story and heroic premise can become a jumping-off point to the more serious stories of the OG series, giving newGundamviewers the opportunity to get immediate familiarty on the franchise’s flexibility before diving deep into its hard-hitting narratives.
June 13, 2025 to June 09, 2025
52
5.6
Set in the city of Neotopia,Superior Defender Gundam Forcedepicts how the peaceful coexistence between humans and robots is suddenly threatened by the presence of the Dark Axis. After the creation of the Super Dimensional Guard, youngster Shute accidentally becomes involved in the conflict when he makes contact with the SDG’s Gundam Force leader, Captain Gundam. It’s discovered that Captain Gundam’s Soul Drive can defeat Dark Axis’s powers - but only when he’s on good terms with Shute. Hijinks ensue, as friendship quite literally saves the day in every episode.
Soon, Captain Gundam is joined by other heroes such as Zero and Bakunetsumaru from other dimensions. As the Gundam Force continues to defeat the Dark Axis presence in Neotopia, their sights go towards saving other realms as Dark Axis begins conquering them as well. The child-oriented and straightforward nature ofSuperior Defender Gundam Forcedoesn’t make it as “deep” as other traditionalGundamshows, leaving expectant viewers of an intense story with mixed feelings.
It’s precisely due to the divisive reception towardsSuperior Defender Gundam Forcethat makes it worth the watch at least once, especially from the perspective of aGundamnewcomer. The basic premise of “good guys versus bad guys” is a far-cry from traditionalGundamseries, making it a fair point of criticism from franchise fans. However, it’s perhaps precisely due to positive reviews from the perspective of nostalgia and childlike humor and negativity from the POV ofGundamaficionados that make it an interesting entry to watch. To say the least, fans who want a more lighthearted first series to check out in theGundamfranchise wouldn’t necessarily go wrong withSuperior Defender Gundam Force, especially if this would help them appreciate the depth of more critically-acclaimed series afterwards.
June 22, 2025 to July 03, 2025
51
6.3
When the traditional image of a Gundam is that of the futuristic RX-78,SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriorssurprises fans with a regal aesthetic that fits its mythological setting. Unlike otherGundamseries,Brave Battle Warriorsadapts theRomance of the Three Kingdomswith a mecha perspective - quite an unprecedented take for bothGundamand theSDline at large. Set at a time when the land of Mirisha is thrust into chaos, the souls of three gods or Sovereigns are transported into heroic Gundams.
Fans both aware and unaware of the source material can watchBrave Battle Warriorsand get a decent story. As a retelling,Brave Battle Warriorsmodified many aspects of the coreRomancetale, but the core trio of Liu Bei as well as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei serve as decentGundam-ized adaptations of their story counterparts.
Despite the anime not containing the same complexities as a traditionalGundamseries, its attempt at depth manages to maximize its short episode run with intense action scenes or enough moments to develop the plot. Runtimes of around 10 episodes hurt the series' pacing, making both story and character development seem lacking from a bigger-picture perspective. However, among theSD Gundamstories,Brave Battle Warriorshas perhaps the most decent approach in terms of providing a cohesive viewable material for newcomers.
2014 to 2015
26
5.80
Set in the Regild Century,Gundam Reconguista in Gfollows the story of trainee pilot Bellri Zenam in the Capital Guard as he and his team are tasked to protect the orbital elevator named the Capital Tower. When Bellri captures and manages to operate the G-Self Gundam, he’s thrust into a war that can very well determine the fate of the world.
As such, this seemingly-standalone premise surprises fans with the reveal that the Regild Century actually takes place in the far future ofthe Universal Century of the originalGundamseries.Not only that, but it’s the most recent work of Yoshiyuki Tomino, the creator of the entire franchise. WhileReconguista in Gis often criticized for its rather inconsistent storytelling and overall faster-paced plot, fans do praise the series for its vibrant visuals and likable cast. It’s far from the very first series a new viewer should start watching, but among the safest to check out if they want to immerse inGundam’s spectacle before the much heavier plots of other series.
Some would suggest watching the entirety of the Universal Century timeline before watchingGundam Reconguista in Gas it takes place further down the line, but there’s not much in the latter that references the former that new viewers should take note of. Fans would say the vagueness in concepts, character motives, and overall story is characteristic of the slow burn approach of Tomino in his works - things that aren’t present in otherGundamshows and precisely the elements that might turn off fans fromReconguista in Gto begin with. However, skippingReconguista in Gor coming to it with the bias from other series even in laterGundammarathons may have viewers lose out on the doe-like innocence of what might be some of the best visuals to ever grace aGundamseries.
2018
25
6.31
Building upon the popularity of Gunpla-focused shows such asGundam Build FightersisGundam Build Divers, an anime taking place in a world where a game called Gunpla Battle Nexus Online (GBN) lets users engage in virtual reality missions through their Gundam figures. While protagonists Riku Mikami and Yukio Hidaka drag their friend Momoka Yashiro into playing the game with them, their meeting with a mysterious girl named Sarah will change their lives forever.
Although criticized for its rather so-so storytelling,Build Diversjust does enough to become a serviceableGundamseries that meets a fine line between providing fanservice to fans and offering a more light-hearted take to the series for newcomers. Riku and his friends can be compared to traditional anime protagonists, which in itself is a breath of fresh air compared to the heavier and more complex casting of otherGundamseries.
Being a standalone series, newcomers toGundamdon’t necessarily need to be familiar with the terminology, the basis of the Gunpla the characters use, and even the series tropes in order to appreciateBuild Divers. Its separation from theBuild Fighterssaga makes it an even more worthwhile watch for first-timers, as there’s no need to get invested anywhere else in order to get started with this series. SeeingGundamtake a more “traditional” shonen route inBuild Diverscan make it a decent entryway into the core franchise, especially when there are very few otherGundamseries that are able to have a lighter tone.
1991
6.60
Set in Year 123 of the Universal Century,Mobile Suit Gundam F91takes place in an era where the Earth Federation has once again tried expanding its reach across the Solar System with its new space colonies. Unfortunately for them, attacks of the rebel group Crossbone Vanguard have begun threatening this new era of peace. When the conflict reaches the Earth Federation-allied home colony of Seabook Arno, his attempts to escape lead him to cross paths with a dormant Gundam F91 - a Gundam he discovers that his mother, whom he resented for leaving her family to pursue research, helped create.
While Seabook unwittingly fights for the survival of the crew who helped him, his friend Cecily Fairchild is abducted by the Crossbone Vanguard. Events reveal Cecily’s true identity as Berah Ronah, a part of the Ronah family whose leadership of the Cosmo Babylonia family aim to reestablish a new aristocratic regime across the star system. Cecily is also drafted among the ranks of Crossbone Vanguard, albeit against her will. Both friends will cross paths in combat throughout the film, with Seabook and Gundam F91 eventually dictating the tide of battle.
Despite its connection with some of the last conflicts of the Universal Century -namely,Char’s Counterattack-the 30-year gap between the two events leaveGundam F91in a position to be a unique-enough film for newcomers to the franchise. While the letdown of this film was the fact that it was what remained of a scrapped full-lengthGundamseries, the movie works as a decent standalone tale that also teases a story that unfortunately never materializes.
1989
6
7.98
Unlike otherGundamstories telling the tale of an unknowing hero’s journey to save the world,Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocketexplores the perspective of outsiders uninvolved in the tumultuous One-Year War. Told from the perspective of 10-year-old Alfred Izuruha,War in the Pocketis a short tale of Alfred’s fascination about action-packed stories of Mobile Armors in the conflict between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon.
Being raised in the neutral colony of Side 6, Alfred is fortunate enough to only hear of the war from stories spread by his classmates and peers. Unbeknownst to Alfred, his neighbor Christina is actually a test pilot of a prototype Gundam being developed by the Earth Federation. When a Zeon Special Forces Team attempts to capture the prototype Gundam, a Zeon rookie named Bernard Wiseman accidentally befriends Alfred after the crossfire. While Alfred is interested in the war stories Bernard is there to tell, the pilot needs to befriend the little boy for his team’s mission.
First-timeGundamviewers will likely have heard of the One-Year War inMobile Suit Gundamduring their research about the series, and the OG anime might be too much of a first rodeo due to its focus on realism. This is what makesWar in the Pocketthe perfect first watch, as Alfred is the perfect analog for any viewer who hasn’t had the full picture of the One-Year War’s events. Alfred’s naivete makes him the perfect shoes to fill for audiences to slowly understand the horrors of war grasped in the series. And by the time viewers start noticing the tiny changes in their background, they are likely already invested in the lives of Alfred and his friends to know what a tragedy the One-Year War must have been for those in the frontlines.
Jun 30, 2025 to June 07, 2025
13
7.23
Taking place just years after the historic One Year War between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon,Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memoryis both a spinoff and a sequel-esque take on the originalMobile Suit Gundam. Its main plot revolves around the theft of a prototype Gundam by Anavel Gato under the orders of Zeon Remnants, and the efforts of Earth Federation rookie Kou Uraki and the crew of the new Albion carrier to stop the “rise” of a new Zeon.
The events of the OVA set up the officialMobile Suit Zeta Gundamsequel series within its self-contained storyline, interspersed with high-stakes mecha fights that are just a delight to watch. Its nostalgic animation and soundtrack can become a treat to newer viewers who want to watch more “classic” anime, while tropes used in the story are quite the standard in terms of overallGundamstories. While not groundbreaking from the perspective of older fans,Stardust Memorydoes its job for introducing aGundamstory within a built canon while having its own story.
Stardust Memoryis a standardGundamanime without all the moral complexities and philosophical depth that can make other entries a heavy watch for some viewers. Mecha action remains on point with every encounter, and subplots between characters can be entertaining enough as breaks across fights. Granted, character development and overall narrative can be lacking when compared to otherrecentGundamseriesdue to exaggerated tropes, but they may serve as effective anchors to surprise newcomers to the eventual narrative depth of other series.
