The iconic Mega Man franchise has been around for a while, with the first release simply titled Mega Man dating all the way back to the era of the NES in 1987. Since then, the series has become a staple Capcom IP, spawning numerous spin-offs and tie-ins, not to mention dozens of sequels.
Players are attracted to the franchise for a number of reasons, but the chief selling points are Mega Man's tight controls, outstanding soundtracks, and punishing difficulty. However, in a series with as many entries as this one, it can be hard to pick an entry point (especially when they can vary wildly in terms of gameplay). To get started, consider some of these titles to get a feel for the blue bomber's home franchise.
Mega Man 2
While the original Mega Man set the tone for what would be known as "Classic Mega Man" going forward, most fans will argue that the series didn't quite come into its own until 1988's Mega Man 2. This game is considered by some to be the definitive classic Mega Man experience, and quite possibly the best game in the series overall.
As usual, Mega Man has to beat up eight robot masters to get to the nefarious Dr. Wily. The bosses in Mega Man's second adventure are some of the most recognizable in the series, partly because of some equally recognizable 8-bit tunes that accompany them. Finally, newcomers put off by the franchise's difficulty will find the inclusion of a difficulty select option welcome (in the English version of the game, at least).
Mega Man X
With the classic Mega Man games becoming somewhat stale into the waning days of the NES due to their formulaic structures, Capcom felt the need to revitalize the franchise with some new ideas, and perhaps more than new ideas, they needed new graphics.
Enter 1993's Mega Man X. Leveraging the more powerful hardware of the SNES, Mega Man X was not only an improvement in terms of graphics, but also introduced a number of mechanics to greatly speed up the pace of the game's action. X was such an upgrade that, to date, it remains (debatably) one of gaming's greatest reboots, and will always be a must-play for Mega Man fans.
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 2 might have the reputation of king of the NES Mega Man games, but its immediate successor Mega Man 3 is no slouch either. Although it's essentially identical to its predecessor in terms of structure, Mega Man 3 has a number of important differences that make it stand out.
Overall, Mega Man 3 is more difficult than 2, and many enemy encounters are more threatening. There's also the introduction of a new slide move that Mega Man can use to evade attacks, which speeds up the pace of combat while also allowing for the developers to implement new types of attack patterns for bosses.
Mega Man Zero
Set far into the future, after the events of Mega Man X, Zero tells a darker story of a world ravaged by war, and of robots struggling to survive under a mysterious autocrat. Zero's gameplay reflects this theme well: the sub-series has a reputation as being hard, even for Mega Man, and the intensified focus on melee combat makes boss fights play out along a knife's edge.
While the original Zero game doesn't quite find its footing in the same way that Zero 2 does, the heavier focus on storytelling means that these games have to be played in order for a player to get the full experience. Plus, Zero has a lot to offer in its own right, namely some stand-out boss battles.
Mega Man X2
Mega Man fans are likely to be familiar with the spirited debates pervasive in online communities dedicated to the franchise, with the most frequent subject at hand being what stands out as the best. The X series is no stranger to these debates, of course, and although opinions vary wildly, the most popular picks for favorites are usually among the first four X games.
Mega Man X2 is among the more popular choices as well, considered by some to rival or even surpass the original X. Featuring an explosive introduction and multiple new mechanics, X2 handily builds on the success of its predecessor to create yet another engaging entry in the X series.
Mega Man 9
The ultimate love letter to classic Mega Man, and an outstanding game on its own, 2008's Mega Man 9 stands out as one of the best in the series. As the first numbered entry in the classic series since 1996's Mega Man 8, 9 takes Mega Man back to basics by stripping the gameplay down to its bare essentials.
It can feel a little strange going back to a Mega Man title without charge shots, slides, or 16-bit graphics, but the team behind 9 makes these limitations work in the game's favor through some fantastic level design and combat encounters. 9 can be a tough one, though, so, although it's a franchise, standout beginners should be prepared for an uphill battle.
Mega Man Battle Network
Over the years, Mega Man has taken on a Mario-like flexibility towards the genre. He's appeared in sports games, fighting games, racing games, and a host of other somewhat confusing spin-offs. Capcom's willingness to experiment with Mega Man has paid off at times, though, and one of the most successful diversions into other genres has been the Battle Network series.
Featuring real-time tactics RPG-style gameplay, Battle Network is a full-scale RPG, complete with swappable abilities, character building, and an explorable overworld full of NPCs to talk to and items to purchase. Battle Network was so successful that it spawned an entire series, an impressive feat for a spinoff title, making this one a title new fans won't want to miss.
Mega Man Zero 2
While the original Zero game might have formed the groundwork for the series' story and mechanics, many fans will agree that its sequel is an improvement over the original in most measurable qualities (one of the most notable of which is concerning the game's level design).
Combat in Zero has always been the focus of the series, but in the first game, it could feel like the combat encounters were being prioritized at the expense of the quality of the stages the player needed to traverse. Zero 2 improves on this shortcoming by amping up the creativity when it comes to traversing obstacles and hopping across platforms, making it a more complete-feeling Zero experience.
Mega Man Legends
Notable for being one of Mega Man's more prominent dalliances into other genres. Mega Man Legends is a 1997 action-adventure title released for the PlayStation, with the most obvious distinction for Legends being its fully-3D graphics and levels.
Without a doubt one of the most aesthetically impressive PlayStation titles, Legends features an endearing visual style and a far more open-ended approach to Mega Man's typical adventures on account of its shift into the third dimension. While some players today find the game's controls to be objectionable, Legends is such a unique entry in the franchise that it deserves to be checked out.
Mega Man 11
Reports of the demise of classic Mega Man are often greatly exaggerated, and the very first robot to bear the title Mega Man made yet another triumphant return in 2018's Mega Man 11. Featuring the classic structure of a Mega Man game (eight robot masters, evil doctor, the usual), developers updated the graphics to suit the sensibilities of a modern audience.
11 is a good choice for beginners for a number of reasons, including some new mechanics that add a new layer of depth to the gameplay, and an option to select a difficulty at the beginning of the game to help ease inexperienced players into the game's typically challenging action.