Recent investigations into mechanochromic luminescent metal complex materials have been presented. These mechanochromic luminescent metal complex systems include Zn(II), Au(I), Pt(II), Ag(I), Cu(I), Al(III), Ir(III) and heterodinuclear complexes. The structure–property relationships as well as the mechanisms proposed for the mechanochromic luminescent metal complexes have also been described. It has been pointed out that AIE complexes are expected to become a rich source of mechanochromic luminescent complexes.