22. Mega Man Zero (GBA)

Mega Man Zero kicks off a series that will challenge you endlessly, but is very rewarding to master. Its brutal difficulty is bound to turn off a lot of gamers, but those who stick with it will find the richest world in any Mega Man series, populated with interesting characters and pulsing with a predictably brilliant soundtrack. Its sword-heavy combat and Cyber Elf approach to upgrades aren't going to resonate with everybody — and the grinding is a genuine obstacle to enjoyment — but if you have even a passing interest in Mega Men, it's worth seeking out. Just don't expect to be very good at it for a long time.

21. Mega Man Zero 4 (GBA)

At this point in a series, you should know what to expect, and Mega Man Zero 4 delivers in the same way that other high-numbered Mega Man titles do in other branches of Capcom's franchise.

You get more of the same excellent gameplay in this final game, with the addition of an optional Easy Mode for those who prefer a light jog-and-gun as opposed to a full on run-and-gun, although things were already simplified in Zero 3. There is still a secret hard mode if you want a truly harrowing experience, as well a plethora of unlocks that are quite difficult to acquire.

All-in-all, this relatively late release in the GBA's life cycle is another fine franchise entry.

20. Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 (Switch eShop)

All told, Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 feels like a letdown compared to the stellar presentation of its predecessor. Missing features and the lower quality of games easily make this the more skippable of the two, although that doesn’t necessarily mean that this is a bad collection. Entries 9 and 10 just about justify the collection on their own, but those who are looking to get their feet wet will want to pass on this and jump in with the first collection. Good, but not great.

19. Mega Man Zero 2 (GBA)

Mega Man Zero 2 does a great job of ironing out the wrinkles of its predecessor. With both audio and visual improvements, it also significantly reduces grinding, and provides the same brutal challenge in what feels like a much more fair way. Unlockable forms and EX Skills are also added to the mix, which gives the game an additional layer of replayability.

It's a sequel done right, and it's no surprise that it's remembered so fondly all these years later.

18. Mega Man ZX (DS)

While its direct sequel might have added bells and whistles, Mega Man ZX built on the formula of both the Mega Man X and Mega Man Zero series and Inti Creates built something that struck a chord with fans. There may have been some dark times ahead for Phil Megaman, but the DS hosted a couple of gloriously light spots.

17. Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection (Switch)

Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection is everything that you could’ve hoped it to be. This is ultimately six great Mega Man games presented to you with a slew of customisable features, extra content, and quality-of-life updates. If you’re a fan of either Mega Man or side-scrolling action games in general, you owe it to yourself to give this release a go and see what all the fuss is about. These are hard and occasionally frustrating games, but they offer up some rewarding, action-heavy gameplay that even today stands among the best of its class. Don’t pass this collection up.

16. Mega Man 4 (NES)

Following on from the classic one-two punch (or should that be two-three punch) of its direct predecessors, this fourth entry is still a very good game, even if it can't quite live up to the two previous entries.

It vacillates between perfect refinement of the formula and a lack of care and inventiveness, and its soundtrack is another area where it doesn't compare favourably to its forebears. That doesn't make it bad at all, but you wouldn't put 'Not as good as 2 or 3' on the poster, would you?

Mega Man 4, then — 'A very good Mega Man game.' Yep, print it.

15. Mega Man V (GB)

Mega Man V was the first wholly original series entry in the Game Boy, with the preceding games being mashups inspired by his NES adventures. Against all odds and exceeding any reasonable expectations, it turns out to be one of the best Mega Man games, period.

The difficulty might be a tad low, and the soundtrack only intermittently hits the peaks we've come to expect from the series, but all of that is made up for by an endlessly creative experience, 10 new special weapons, and a whopping 15 main bosses.

This might be one of the most overlooked games in the Blue Bomber's catalogue, but that just means it's primed for rediscovery. If you have any interest at all, you'd be doing yourself a great disservice by passing on Mega Man V.

14. Mega Man Legacy Collection (3DS)

Mega Man Legacy Collection is a great package for 3DS owners with a lot of content and stuff to do. For newcomers it's worth acknowledging that each game is very challenging, and could be too much for someone who isn't used to the steep learning curve. With that in mind, the wealth of extras, the challenge mode and the sheer scope of six games nevertheless make Mega Man Legacy Collection a great option for anyone who's looking for an old-school Capcom treat who'd rather play on a smaller handheld than Switch.

13. Mega Man Anniversary Collection (GCN)

Mega Mans 1-8 collected together on one disc sounds like a mighty fine proposition, no? And so it was. It wasn't without faults, but this compilation also included Mega Man: The Power Battle and Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters, two arcade rarities outside Japan.

In fact, the only huge mark against this game was the truly bizarre decision to make 'B' the jump button with the GameCube's big chunky 'A' button firing the Blue Bomber's Arm Cannon. This control scheme could not be altered which caused no small amount of trouble for players who had years of muscle memory built up from playing the classics. A puzzling choice, but an otherwise fine collection from Capcom.

12. Mega Man 10 (WiiWare)

Mega Man 10 was an old-school sequel that built on the retro rebirth of Mega Man 9, with 8-bit graphics that made the game feel like you'd gone back in time — back to a reality where SNES never released and Capcom just kept iterating on the classic Mega Man formula. Inti Creates and Capcom did remarkable work here, and while it would be several years until the character returned in another numbered sequel, that was worth the wait, too.