Seven Must Play Mega Man Games Before Dual Override

Mega Man Dual Override is on its way, and fans both new and old cannot wait to get their hands on it! While Spring 2027 is a little ways away still, there are thankfully plenty of titles in the series we can play right now!

For today's list, we will be looking at seven Mega Man titles that we feel every fan or newcomer should try before the release of Dual Override. We are not talking about the story here—we've already covered that in our timeline article—and we will not be including the RPG entries in this list, either. We are purely focused on the platforming titles with gameplay similar to Dual Override itself. The games are also not ordered by which is "best," but rather in release order, which we feel will provide the best experience when jumping from title to title. A lot changed over the years, and going backward in a series isn't always easy.

Mega Man 2

We begin our list with the fan-favorite Mega Man 2. Despite being only the second entry in the series, Mega Man 2 greatly refined the formula from Mega Man 1 and included an easier difficulty option for those who thought the original was too challenging. With eight main bosses to take on rather than six, an E-Tank energy system to fall back on when your health got low, and a password system that let you resume your game, it was a much more balanced experience in general that also offered quite a bit more content. That is not to mention the stellar stage design, fun-to-use special weapons taken from the bosses themselves, and catchy music that has lived rent-free in the heads of all those who experienced it. It is what many consider the staple entry in the entire classic Mega Man series, and it is a must-play platformer in general.

Mega Man 5 

Our second entry can actually be substituted out for Mega Man 3, Mega Man 4, or even Mega Man 6; however, for our list, we chose Mega Man 5. 

This is the entry where the series fully built upon its past experiences; it includes all of the staple abilities, like the slide and charge shot, and is simply a lot of fun to play. With a story that focuses on Proto Man and a difficulty level similar to Mega Man 2—though the charge shot itself can make things a bit too easy—it is a much more relaxing title, and it is a favorite of ours. If you want something a bit more challenging, however, you should definitely play either 3 or 4 as you can't go wrong with either. They are all simply pure classic Mega Man fun.

Mega Man X

Mega Man X signified the jump to the Super Nintendo and marked a major shift for the franchise. Introducing the new protagonist, X, the game brought a noticeable increase in challenge along with new abilities, such as the dash, armor upgrades, and wall-climbing. This newfound mobility opened the door for stages and bosses that required complete mastery of X's movement, driving much of the series' core appeal. Though it was only the first entry in this new line, Mega Man X set a high bar that was never quite topped by its successors. While X2 delivered more of the same high-quality gameplay and remains just as fun, beating the original is a tall order.

Mega Man X4

The second entry in the X series that qualifies as a "must-play" is none other than Mega Man X4. Although I spent most of my middle school years obsessed with its "lesser" sequel, X5, there is no denying the sheer quality of the fourth entry.

With X4, the series fully leaped into the 32-bit era, introducing vibrant, highly detailed sprite work, full anime cutscenes, and the ability to choose between either X and Zero at the start of the story. Having two playable characters with distinct combat styles—Zero leaning into close-quarters melee while X relies on long-range buster shots—basically doubled the replay value and gave players every reason to master both playstyles. The stages and boss encounters were once again masterfully crafted and a delight to revisit, with the sole exception of Jet Stingray's auto-scrolling stage. Ultimately, X4 stands out as one of the greatest PlayStation entry in the franchise, and remains a fan favorite to this day.

Mega Man Zero 3

Moving past the X series, we have the direct follow-up, Mega Man Zero. Originally intended to continue the story following the conclusion of the X series in X5, Capcom had other plans that required some reworking once they announced Mega Man X6.

As for the Zero series itself, it does in fact focus on the character Zero, who was first introduced in Mega Man X, but it also features a slightly different gameplay style. Zero has multiple weapons at his disposal, unlocks elemental chips rather than new special attacks from beating bosses, and utilizes a Cyber-Elf system that allows players to customize Zero and grant him new abilities and upgrades. While all four titles are solid overall, Mega Man Zero 3 can be seen as the pinnacle of the series, featuring a wide range of stages to take on, a large base to explore with characters to talk to, and an e-Reader Card system that allows additional features to be unlocked and lets players customize the game. It is jam-packed full of content and shows the best the series has to offer. Honestly, the series is best played back-to-back as a "single" entry, but if you're only going to pick one, pick Zero 3.

Mega Man ZX Advent 

For those wanting to dive into the ZX series, the direct follow-up to Zero, there are only two options: Mega Man ZX and ZX Advent.

While ZX contained an open map with Metroidvania-style gameplay, the map itself can be quite confusing, and its stage design is a step back from Zero. ZX Advent, on the other hand, is more in line with Zero's quality, but features a boss transformation mechanic that not everyone may enjoy. With this, players can physically turn into the bosses they've defeated and use their abilities and powers to progress through the stages. Some transformations are required to access hidden areas, but using the correct elemental attacks can make the game easier as well. The game really steps it up once the bosses based upon the Four Guardians from Mega Man Zero come into play, letting players fully make use of their abilities as well.

We actually like both titles for what they are, but ZX Advent will scratch the Mega Man itch for most players. With two playable characters to choose from, along with a base and mission system similar to Zero, it feels like a true successor.

Mega Man 11

After a long hiatus, the Mega Man series would eventually return with Mega Man 9, which was created in the original NES style. This was followed up by Mega Man 10, also designed as an NES style game, and then over eight years later, the series was once again revived with Mega Man 11. Featuring a modern art style and new gameplay mechanics, this is the title that finally pushed the classic series forward, and it is the closest to what we'll see in Dual Override.

What makes Mega Man 11 so unique is the new Double Gear System. By shifting into the Speed Gear, Mega Man is able to slow down time to avoid traps and enemies, while using the Power Gear lets him use powerful dual-shots and charged-up special weapons. There is a limit to how often they can be used, of course, but they are unique mechanics that help Mega Man 11 stand out from the rest. That's not to mention the game's great stage design, which might have carried the game even without the added abilities.

Those who are looking for a game to play before Mega Man: Dual Override might want to consider 11 at the very least, but we can't recommend skipping straight here if you can help it.

Bonus: Mega Man Powered Up

The final game on our list is a bonus, and it will not be for everyone, nor is it easily accessible!

Mega Man Powered Up was a remake of the original Mega Man and was released exclusively for the PlayStation Portable. It featured a 3D chibi art style, with the stages themselves being reimagined in 2.5D. While containing the original six Robot Masters, two additional ones were also added to bring the title up to current Mega Man standards, and additional characters such as Roll and Proto Man are also playable. Robot Masters defeated with the standard Mega Buster become unlocked as well, bringing the game's roster up to 11 unique characters, not counting alternate versions of Mega Man and Roll. Each of these characters has their own save file, with the stages themselves containing Easy, Normal, and Hard variants to complete. Players who want to complete everything will find dozens of hours of content, and each character is unique enough to provide their own challenge. That's not to mention the actual in-game challenge mode, with unique mini-stages to complete, and the custom stage builder, which allows players to create their own levels. While the official servers are long gone, many custom stages have been preserved online, so fans can find plenty to do once the credits roll.

It really is a shame Mega Man 2 through 8 never received this treatment.

 

And that's our list! Of course, everyone will have their own favorite titles, and honestly, I actually didn't include most of my personal favorites above, but there's no denying these seven games are worth experiencing if you haven't already. They are the games that will give you the "best" side-scrolling platforming experience and get you ready for Mega Man: Dual Override. Thankfully, there are collections for all of these, so it isn't too much of a challenge to pick them all up, plus more.

But what about you? What are your favorite Mega Man games that you feel everyone should play? Feel free to leave us a comment below!