Mega Man jumped onto the NES in 1987 and became one of Capcom's most famous heroes, with tough platforming, boss weapons you steal and some of the best music on the system. Here is every game in the classic series and the Mega Man X series in release order, plus the best places to start.
Mega Man games in release order
| Year | Game | Original system |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Mega Man | NES |
| 1989 | Mega Man 2 | NES |
| 1990 | Mega Man 3 | NES |
| 1992 | Mega Man 4 | NES |
| 1992 | Mega Man 5 | NES |
| 1994 | Mega Man X | Super Nintendo |
| 1994 | Mega Man 6 | NES |
| 1995 | Mega Man 7 | Super Nintendo |
| 1995 | Mega Man X2 | Super Nintendo |
| 1996 | Mega Man X3 | Super Nintendo |
| 1997 | Mega Man 8 | PlayStation and Saturn |
| 1997 | Mega Man X4 | PlayStation and Saturn |
| 2001 | Mega Man X5 | PlayStation |
| 2001 | Mega Man X6 | PlayStation |
| 2003 | Mega Man X7 | PlayStation 2 |
| 2005 | Mega Man X8 | PlayStation 2 |
| 2008 | Mega Man 9 | Download (Wii, PS3, Xbox 360) |
| 2010 | Mega Man 10 | Download (Wii, PS3, Xbox 360) |
| 2018 | Mega Man 11 | Switch, PS4 and Xbox One |
Years are the first North American release. Capcom also made several other Mega Man series: the Game Boy Mega Man games (1991 to 1994), Mega Man Legends (PlayStation, 1998), Mega Man Battle Network (Game Boy Advance, 2001 to 2005), Mega Man Zero (Game Boy Advance, 2002 to 2005) and Mega Man ZX (DS). Mega Man 9 and 10 were download-only at launch.
Classic Mega Man vs. Mega Man X
Classic Mega Man games follow the same formula: pick any of eight Robot Masters, beat them and take their weapons, then use the right weapon against the right boss. They are short, tough and memorable. Mega Man X moved the series to the Super Nintendo with a faster, older hero who can dash and climb walls, plus hidden armor upgrades. Mega Man X is often named one of the best SNES games, and Mega Man 2 is the classic most fans start with.
The Mega Man games worth owning
Which Mega Man game should you play first?
Start with Mega Man 2 on the NES. It has a gentler difficulty option and shows off everything the series does well. For the 16-bit era, Mega Man X on the Super Nintendo is the one to get. If you want to play several at once, the Mega Man Legacy Collection and Mega Man X Legacy Collection bring the classics to modern consoles.
Mega Man on original hardware
The classic Mega Man games were built for the NES and its controller, and they play best on the real console with a CRT or a good upscaler. Original Mega Man cartridges, especially the later NES entries, have become collectible, so prices are higher than many other NES games.
Frequently asked questions
What was the first Mega Man game?
Mega Man, released for the NES in North America in December 1987. In Japan the series is called Rockman.
What is the best Mega Man game?
Mega Man 2 is the most common pick for the classic series, and Mega Man X for the X series.
Do you need to play Mega Man games in order?
No. Each game has its own simple story, so you can jump in anywhere. Playing in order does let you see the series get better step by step.
Are Mega Man games hard?
Yes, especially the early NES games. Mega Man 2 has an easier Normal mode in the North American release, and the later games add shops and extra lives to help.
How many classic Mega Man games are there?
There are 11 numbered games in the classic series, from Mega Man (1987) to Mega Man 11 (2018), plus eight Mega Man X games.
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