Gundam Arsenal Base Forsquad Season 1

If you’ve ever dreamed of commanding your own squad of Mobile Suits in the Gundam universe, Gundam Arsenal Base FORSQUAD Season 1 might just be the game you didn’t know you needed. Released as the latest evolution of Bandai’s arcade-based digital card battle system, FORSQUAD introduces a new layer of real-time strategy and team-based combat that’s as thrilling as it is nerdy—in the best possible way.

For newcomers, here’s how it works. Arsenal Base is a Japanese arcade game where you build a deck of cards, each representing a pilot and Mobile Suit from across the Gundam multiverse—from the original RX-78-2 to the sleek designs of Gundam SEED, Iron-Blooded Orphans, Hathaway, and beyond. These cards are then scanned into a glowing arcade terminal, where your custom team is deployed into a 5v5 real-time battlefield that looks like a hybrid of a tower defense game and a sci-fi military sim. And yes, it’s exactly as awesome as it sounds.

What sets FORSQUAD Season 1 apart is its emphasis on cooperative tactics and formation management. While previous Arsenal Base seasons focused heavily on solo skirmishes and player-versus-player tactics, FORSQUAD introduces a squad-based format where units operate in synchronized groups. The name "FORSQUAD" refers to both the visual motif of a formation (a “four-squad” layout) and the game’s pivot toward collective team mechanics. You’re not just micro-managing individuals—you’re commanding an elite combat team with dynamic formations, support abilities, and chain attacks.

Season 1 kicks things off with a bang, featuring updated mechanics, new pilot synergy systems, and a revamped user interface that makes planning and execution feel smoother and more intense. Cards now have specific synergy bonuses if you pair certain pilots with particular Mobile Suits or with other pilots from the same series. For example, placing Amuro Ray with the Nu Gundam alongside Char Aznable in his Sazabi opens up a cinematic-style joint attack that looks like it was ripped straight from a movie.

The appeal, beyond the gameplay itself, is the sheer Gundam-nerd delight of mixing and matching Mobile Suits across generations. Want to put Heero Yuy from *Wing* in a Unicorn Gundam? Go for it. Curious what would happen if Setsuna F. Seiei from *00* took the helm of the Zeta? That’s the fun. It’s a fan-fiction playground turned battle simulator.

FORSQUAD Season 1 also adds a progression system that encourages consistent play, rewarding players not just for wins but for how effectively they use formations, utilize special skills, and adapt to enemy strategies. Leaderboards and ranking points return, but the season places greater emphasis on mastery than just grinding. A new challenge mode lets you simulate key battles from various Gundam timelines—think Battle of A Baoa Qu or Operation Meteor—and test your team against increasingly difficult waves of enemies.

The arcade experience is immersive and visually impressive. Each terminal is a glowing command station with dynamic holographic battlefields, booming sound effects, and touchscreen controls that let you swipe, drag, and deploy in real time. Watching your squad launch from carriers, intercept enemy units, and execute coordinated finishing moves is straight-up dopamine for any Gundam fan.

It’s worth noting that Arsenal Base is Japan-only for now, which makes finding a machine a bit of a pilgrimage for overseas fans. Major arcades in Tokyo—like those in Akihabara, Ikebukuro, and Shibuya—usually have multiple units with active communities, weekly rankings, and even local tournaments. Season 1 of FORSQUAD has already gained a strong following, thanks in part to its balance tweaks, new card artwork, and the pure novelty of the formation-focused system.

Whether you're a longtime Gundam buff or just someone curious about how deep arcade gaming can get in Japan, FORSQUAD Season 1 is a must-try. It's accessible enough for beginners to jump in but rich with strategy and lore to keep veterans engaged for hours. Build your deck, scan your cards, and prepare to deploy—because in this battlefield, it’s not just about firepower, it’s about formation.