Ion Heart Review | A Peaceful Mech RPG for Solo Role-Players

ION Heart Review

Steve Kellums and Christina review ION Heart, a solo RPG about a mech and its pilot exploring a postwar world. Rather than focusing on battles, the game sends former war machines out to see the world and help people—a peaceful twist on the mech genre that both reviewers found appealing.

What They Liked

They praise the book’s colorful, evocative art, which gives it an almost storybook feel, and its brief, easy-to-follow setting history. The rules are so simple that Steve says he checked the book twice, expecting there to be more. With six-sided dice and little rules overhead, play gets moving quickly.

The game is built around journaling: players set up a scenario, make choices, and write down what happens. Christina enjoyed playing through adventures, while Steve particularly liked the “Mech Circus” storyline. He also used another solo RPG system to explore how his mech and pilot first met, showing how easily ION Heart can be adapted.

A Potential Drawback

Their main reservation is that the core book has only 18 adventures. Christina notes that, especially if you play without journaling in detail, you could get through them quickly.

Verdict

Both recommend ION Heart as a fun, welcoming starting point for solo role-playing—especially for players who want a story-focused, non-combat take on mechs.

Personalities Appearing

• Steve Kellums
• Christina