Here’s our compilation of the best Mega Man games of all time! We’ve ranked them from worst to best.
Among the few video game series which have withstood the test of time, Mega Man remains a fan favorite. A constant in its design philosophy among action platformers, it has honed and refined its entries over the years for bigger and better experiences, and some even hold a high spot among people’s favorite games of all time.
Like any series though, there are entries that proved better than others, and today we have every title in the mainline series ranked from worst to best.
Best Mega Man Games, Ranked From Worst to Best
11) Mega Man 6
After several iterations in close succession, it was hard not to notice the flaws in Mega Man 6. True, it still held all of the elements one would want in a Mega Man game.
The platforming was challenging, the Robot Masters were interesting enough, and some of the new features like the charge shot finally felt tuned for most every level.
It also had an interesting story, with Dr. Wily replaced (temporarily, at least) by Dr. X, offering someone new for Mega Man to fight against for the fate of the robot world.
At the same time though, it feels the most generic out of the original NES offerings. The level design is predictable, the bosses offer less challenge than their forebears and the power-ups Mega Man can obtain feel like the barest variations on past power-ups.
There’s still enough here to make it an enjoyable platformer, but with so many better entries in the series to choose from, players wouldn’t miss much by skipping this entry.
Best Mega Man Games, Ranked From Worst to Best
10) Mega Man 7
For the Mega Man series, the jump from NES to SNES was understandably a big step forward. Not only would the series’ developers have more computing space to work with, but it would mark a departure from the style of game which was arguably integral to the series and its design philosophy.
Luckily, it proved to be a fairly solid outing with updated graphics, faster gameplay and a slew of new Robot Masters under Wily’s control. It also introduced Bass, a new rival character who poses a suitable threat to the Blue Bomber and helped spawn a spin-off title starring the two.
At the same time though, it felt like it had lost some of the sharper edges that made the better NES entries so fun.
The game was incredibly forgiving in terms of health drops and enemy attack patterns, and even for newcomers, there was little to warrant multiple playthroughs.
It still stands as a good step forward for the series though, and is worth playing to see how the franchise was able to move toward bigger and better things.
Best Mega Man Games, Ranked From Worst to Best
9) Mega Man 10
Following the success of Mega Man 9, it was little surprise its follow-up failed to escape the shadow it created. Which is a shame, because Mega Man 10 isn’t a bad game by any means.
Like 9, it utilizes the NES style which made the series a household name, and even offers players the chance to take on Wily and his forces as Protoman in a more difficult version of the game.
It was a nice twist on the game, and along with Bass and his mode which were available via DLC, it was a nice change of pace and a welcome addition to the tried and true formula.
Unfortunately, the other aspects of the game don’t distinguish themselves from other Mega Man games enough to make 10 worthwhile.
Its bosses, level design and platforming all feel achingly similar, to the point where older fans of the game will have a since of constant deja vu the whole way through.
There’s still enough there to enjoy for one or two playthroughs, but it’s hard not to say it’s because of the nostalgia it brings for past titles.
Best Mega Man Games, Ranked From Worst to Best
8) Mega Man 8
While there were still some growing pains to work out, Mega Man 8 was a nice improvement over Mega Man 7.
Not only did it come off as a title where the developers were more used to the SNES’ hardware, but it also offered a fresh, 32-bit aesthetic that worked well for the series, bringing it forward without abandoning what made it special.
Even the atrocious voice acting had a certain charm to it, and became an in-joke among fans for years after its release.
Unfortunately, it’s adherence to what had come before kept Mega Man 8 from rising higher than the middle of the pack.
Sure, the bosses and stages had their fair share of polish, but it also felt like it was still trying to stick to a framework established for a less powerful console.
Where they could have striven to make bigger and better stages, the team behind the game instead went for a fresh coat of paint and the same elements the games always had.
Regardless, it was a good show of what the mainline series could have been before it redirected its course toward 8-bit with Mega Man 9.
Best Mega Man Games, Ranked From Worst to Best
7) Mega Man
The game that started a legacy, Mega Man is a worthwhile relic of the NES game era. Dripping with 8-bit charm from its art to its soundtrack, it exemplified the action platformers of the time while introducing something new to the world.
Its introduction of the Blue Bomber and his quest to stop the mad scientist Dr. Wily would become well known enough to warrant a sequel, and spawn one of the most iconic franchises in the industry.
Of course, this reliance on staples of its time has also kept it from aging gracefully.
Common conventions that made platformers more tolerable, from clearer level design to fairer difficulty curves, are absent from the first entry, and it can be rough to slog through even for experienced veterans of the series.
Likewise, it can feel a bit bare bones compared to the later entries in the series, with levels and bosses that can feel too similar in their designs.
All the same, it’s the game that started it all, and even three decades later the magic it held can still be found by those willing to look.
Best Mega Man Games, Ranked From Worst to Best
6) Mega Man 4
Following the original trilogy of Mega Man games, Capcom was eager to shake things up and maintain the Blue Bomber’s relevance in the gaming sphere.
The result was Mega Man 4, a game which does an admirable job of implementing new mechanics without overshadowing the elements that made the franchise what it is.
After Wily’s defeat in the last game, a new mad scientist named Dr. Cossack has amassed a force of robot masters to take over the world.
With no other choice, Dr. Light summons Mega Man to set things right, but not before granting him a new upgrade in the form of the Mega Buster.
With it, he can take on stronger enemies and hopefully overcome the latest array of life-threatening challenges that stand before him.
Though it does come off as a softer and less challenging take on the earlier games’ framework, the game also brings together several elements from across the series and mixes in new components like the charge shot, creating something new that shows promise for the series’ future.
It’s a good thing too because with it future entries would rise all the higher thanks to the groundwork it lays.
Best Mega Man Games, Ranked From Worst to Best
5) Mega Man 3
The second entry in the series was always going to be a tough act to follow, and to Mega Man 3’s credit, it by no means disappointed.
After the defeat of Dr. Wily in the last game, he claims to have been reformed and begins work with Dr. Light on Gamma, a peace-keeping robot like nothing else either has created before.
Before it’s completion, however, eight new robot masters go haywire and steal Gamma’s power crystals, forcing Mega Man to track them down and retrieve them before they are used for more nefarious purposes.
In addition to all the gameplay elements that made its predecessor so legendary, the game introduces Rush, Mega Man’s gadget-filled robot-dog companion, for the first time, and proved his usefulness to the tried and true formula.
Likewise, it offered the largest number of robot masters to date, with a grand total of 16 (and that doesn’t even include the bosses at the end of the game).
Mega Man 3’s only flaw is that it feels like they over-stuffed the game. With so many bosses and levels, alongside the new Rush mechanics, it doesn’t feel as polished as other titles.
It’s still well worth playing though, and sent the original trilogy of games off on a high note.
Best Mega Man Games, Ranked From Worst to Best
4) Mega Man 11
The latest entry in the series, Mega Man 11 feels like a natural step forward for the series while also respecting where it has been.
Once again needed to stop Dr. Wily’s plans for world domination, Mega Man must take on a new force of eight robot masters, each with their own abilities and weaknesses to learn about.
The catch though is that they’re all equipped with the new Dual Gear System, allowing them to reach lightning fast speeds or unleash devastating attacks at will, albeit in exchange for an immense strain placed on their bodies.
In response, Mega Man equips the Dual Gear System himself, setting out to stop them with this new ability.
Touting 2.5-D graphics and modern difficulty options, the game still offers a fast and frantic action platforming experience for those who know it so well while also opening it up to those who would want to enter the series for the first time.
Likewise, the Dual Gear System blends perfectly with the games other mechanics and offers new strategic options for boss battles and platforming alike.
It loses some of its challenge thanks to readily available currency and healing items, which may put off some series veterans, but still brings the series and its core elements forward into the current gaming landscape as well as anyone could hope for.
Best Mega Man Games, Ranked From Worst to Best
3) Mega Man 5
Much like the second title did for the original trilogy, Mega Man 5 realizes the potential of past entries for an experience that’s at the top of its game.
Following Wily’s defeat in the last game, Mega Man’s brother Proto Man starts to stage attacks on cities across the world alongside eight new Robot Masters before kidnapping Dr. Light.
Not sure of why he has done this, Mega Man sets out for answers, taking on the Robot Masters and their hazard-filled stages in the process.
In addition to the usual array of new abilities earned by defeating each boss, the game utilizes every ability the Blue Bomber has acquired in past titles to their full effect, from the charge beam to Rush’s array of gadgets.
Likewise, the newly added Beat, a robot bird developed by Dr. Cossack, acts as a reward for those who explore each level, clearing away enemies with ease and making platforming much easier as a result.
It’s one of the best Mega Man experiences around, and easily one of the original NES titles most deserving of a playthrough for those who want to see what made it so great.
Best Mega Man Games, Ranked From Worst to Best
2) Mega Man 9
For over a decade, the mainline Mega Man series lied dormant, leaving fans to wonder what had become of the series and if it would ever return.
Their questions were answered in 2008 with the release of Mega Man 9, a retro throwback to the series’ NES days and easily one of the best Mega Man games of all time.
The story is about what one would expect of the series. Robot Masters are running wild, and due to the fact that they were created by Dr. Light, the blame has fallen squarely on his shoulders.
Skeptical of how true this is, Mega Man sets out to stop them and uncover the truth, gaining new abilities and allies along the way.
While it may be nothing players haven’t seen before, the game takes what it has and refines it to a fine point.
The platforming is challenging but never unfair, and boss fights require focus to overcome even with the proper ability equipped.
Likewise, the 8-bit aesthetic is fully utilized and helps the game stand out all the more as not only an homage, but a celebration of the era the series stemmed from. It was as triumphant a return as the series could hope for, and an entry any Mega Man fan wouldn’t want to miss.
Best Mega Man Games, Ranked From Worst to Best
1) Mega Man 2
There are sequels that define the series with the improvements they make, and then there’s Mega Man 2.
After the events of the first game, Dr. Wily returns with a new set of eight robot masters, each with their own special abilities for Mega Man to survive against and make his own.
Likewise, each of their stages poses new obstacles and challenges for Mega Man to overcome, from pitfalls and projectiles to spike traps littering the ceiling and floor.
Taking all of the potential the first game showed and realizing it perfectly, Mega Man 2 defined not only what an action platformer could be but how it should be paced, the best ways to balance out difficulty and how to keep players coming back again and again.
On top of this, its boss and level design were near perfection, creating a challenge for those who wanted it while also allowing for quick, entertaining replays for those who mastered its mechanics.
It’s the definition of what a Mega Man game is, and still shapes the direction of the series so many years later. If you play only one Mega Man game in your lifetime, let it be this one.
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