Mega Man came out on the NES in 1987, and the idea still works. You pick a stage, fight your way to the Robot Master at the end and take its weapon. The gameplay was inspired by rock paper scissors, so each weapon deals a large amount of damage to one specific Robot Master. Working out the boss order is half the fun.
The series grew to over 50 games on multiple systems, and then the new ones dried up for years. One game here exists because its maker felt Capcom had stopped making enough Mega Man titles. These are the 9 games players recommend most to Mega Man fans, ranked by how many different people named each one. Mega Man games themselves are left out.
9 Games Like Mega Man Where Every Jump Counts
20XX (2017)
20XX is a platform game inspired by Mega Man X. You play Nina, an armored girl armed with a power blaster, or Ace, an armored boy with an energy sword. Beat a boss and you can take its power as a new special ability, the way X takes a weapon from each Maverick. Its developer, Chris King, made it because he believed Capcom had ceased to make enough Mega Man titles. Players who recommend it keep calling it a Mega Man roguelite.
The big difference is that the stages are procedurally generated from level segments, so the layout changes on each run. There are no extra lives either. The game has permadeath, but Soul Chips you earn unlock upgrades for the next attempt. You can play it in local or online co-op. Play it on PS4 or Switch.
Gunman Clive 2 (2015)
Gunman Clive 2 is the sequel to 2012's Gunman Clive, from the independent Swedish studio Hörberg Productions. Clive now travels around the world to chase the leader of the bandits from the first game. It has 25 stages and uses the same engine as the first game, and the gameplay is largely similar. If you finished the first one wanting more, this is more of the same short Mega Man-style run with new places to shoot through.
The big difference is the color. The sketchbook look of the first game now comes in oversaturated colors. Bertil Hörberg called its sales "a bit disappointing" compared to the first game, so a lot of fans of the original missed it. Play it on 3DS, or in the Gunman Clive HD Collection with the first game on Wii U, Switch or PS4.
Mighty Switch Force! (2011)
Mighty Switch Force! is a WayForward game starring Patricia "Patty" Wagon, a cybernetic peace keeper chasing the five Hooligan Sisters. She can jump and shoot like Mega Man, and her Siren Helmet does the rest. It pushes blocks in and out of the stage, and you use them as platforms or to crush certain enemies. Each level has a Par Time for speed runners to beat, which suits anyone who replays Mega Man stages to go faster.
The big difference is that it is a puzzle-platform game first. The goal of each level is to find all of the Hooligan Sisters and get back to the exit as fast as you can. You get three hearts, and losing all three sends you back to the start of the level. Play it on 3DS, or the Hyper Drive Edition on Wii U or PS4.
Mighty No. 9 (2016)
Mighty No. 9 is the closest thing to a new classic Mega Man on this list. Project lead Keiji Inafune worked on Mega Man, and the game closely resembles the early Mega Man series in both gameplay and character design. You play Beck, a robot who runs and shoots. After an intro level you pick from eight main levels in any order, and each one ends with a boss fight against another Mighty unit. Beat them and you take their weapons and abilities.
The big difference is the dash. Beck's AcXelerate move crosses large gaps fast, and absorbing Xel from enemies gives him temporary boosts. Fans funded it on Kickstarter in two days in September 2013. It got mixed to negative reviews at launch, and players still bring it up as a letdown. Play it on PS4, PS3 or Wii U.
The Legend of Dark Witch (2014)
The Legend of Dark Witch is a 2D platform action game from Inside System. You play Zizou, who can learn new attacks by defeating bosses. That is the Mega Man deal with a witch in the lead, and you will need every one of those attacks to save the world. The levels are varied and the challenge is fair. Players keep describing it as a cute take on Mega Man.
The big difference is how much it wants you to replay it. It has three difficulty modes, and bonuses reward you for going back through stages. Play it on 3DS or Vita.
Mighty Gunvolt (2014)
Mighty Gunvolt is an 8-bit style platform game in the style of Mega Man, from Inti Creates. It first came out as a free download for players who bought Azure Striker Gunvolt on the eShop. You shoot your way through five main stages as Gunvolt, Beck from Mighty No. 9 or Ekoro from Gal Gun. Each has their own abilities, and Beck can slide and tackle through enemies. Every stage ends in a boss battle.
The big difference is the size. It has five main stages, plus four more as downloadable content, so it is a short game next to the one it came with. Play it on 3DS. The sequel, Mighty Gunvolt Burst, is on Switch and 3DS. It has 8 stages you can play in any order, each with a boss fight against one of the Mighty Numbers.
Shovel Knight (2014)
Shovel Knight is a platform game by Yacht Club Games. It was crowdfunded and came out in June 2014. Each section of the world map has three knights, and you must defeat all of them to move on to the next area. Those knights fill the Robot Master role, each with a stage of their own. The chiptune music is by Jake Kaufman, with two contributions by Mega Man composer Manami Matsumae.
The big difference is the shovel. You fight with it in place of a buster, and treasure you collect buys Relics and upgrades for your health and your shovel. Its developers also name DuckTales as an influence. Critics count it among the greatest video games ever made. Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove adds three other campaigns. Play it on 3DS, Wii U, PS4, PS3, Vita or Switch.
Gunman Clive (2012)
Gunman Clive is a side-scrolling platform game from Hörberg Productions, designed by Bertil Hörberg. You fight across 20 levels to rescue the mayor's daughter, and pick up power-ups such as a spread shot and a laser gun. Destructoid noted that the game takes many ideas from the Mega Man series. Players who recommend it keep comparing it to the early Mega Man games, set in the Old West.
The big difference is the art. The 2D graphics are in the style of sketches, and the game looks like an interactive flip book. It has three difficulty settings, and a duck is unlocked as a third playable character once you finish. Destructoid called it "a steal at $2", and its main flaw was its short length. Play it on 3DS, or in the Gunman Clive HD Collection on Wii U, Switch or PS4.
Azure Striker Gunvolt (2014)
Azure Striker Gunvolt comes from Inti Creates. Like the Mega Man series, namely the original, X, Zero and ZX games, it is a side-scrolling action platform game. It focuses heavily on your technique and skill in moving through stages. Each boss also has its own Offensive Skills that kick in when its health bar drops below a certain level. It came out on the 3DS eShop in August 2014.
The big difference is how you fight. Gunvolt, one of the most powerful adepts, creates electrical fields. An energy bar limits them, and his double jump and air dash drain it too. Finishing a stage is relatively easy, and the challenge comes from the ranking system and the optional challenges. Gunvolt can also level up. Sequels followed in 2016 and 2022. Play it on 3DS, PS4 or Switch.
Which one to play
There you have it, the whole list of games like Mega Man. If you only have time for one, make it Azure Striker Gunvolt.
If you want the classic NES feel, play Gunman Clive, then Mighty Gunvolt. If the stage select and boss weapons are what you love, try Mighty No. 9. If Mega Man X is your favorite, play 20XX. If you want a long game with more to find, pick Shovel Knight. If you are picking for a younger player, start with Mighty Switch Force!.
