43. Mega Man (NES)

Mega Man (NES)
Mega Man (NES)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: Mar 1988 (USA) / 13th Dec 1989 (UK/EU)

The first outing for that bluest of bombers, the formula laid out in Mega Man may have been refined in its immediate sequels, but the irresistible mix of run-and-gun platforming and tight controls were there from the get-go. If you're looking to get into the series, this 8-bit beginning is still a good place to start and will give you an appreciation of the subtle improvements Capcom implemented over the first three NES entries.

42. Mega Man Battle Network 5: Team Colonel & Protoman (GBA)

Mega Man Battle Network 5: Team Colonel & Protoman (GBA)
Mega Man Battle Network 5: Team Colonel & Protoman (GBA)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 10th Jun 2005 (USA) / 21st Jun 2005 (UK/EU)

It's another Mega Man Battle Network game, what more is there to say? This fifth entry doesn't really change things up too much, so if you enjoyed the previous game — as we did — you're likely to enjoy this one as well. Capcom originally also released both games as one title on the DS just a few months after this release with some extra stuff thrown in for good measure, so there's not too much incentive to track down Mega Man Battle Network 5: Team Colonel & Protoman on the GBA. Not bad, though.

41. Mega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DS (DS)

Mega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DS (DS)
Mega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DS (DS)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: TBA

Featuring both of the GBA games plus a dusting of extra content, Mega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DS is yet another hit of MMBN for anyone addicted to its tactical RPG mechanics with Mega Man stylings, although with not much going on to truly differentiate it from its many predecessors — and there was a sixth game left in the series before it lost steam.

40. Mega Man Star Force 3 (DS)

Mega Man Star Force 3 (DS)
Mega Man Star Force 3 (DS)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 30th Jun 2009 (USA)

Arriving in 2008/09, this third and final entry (pair of entries, actually — with slickly-named Black Ace and Red Joker variants) in the Star Force subseries delivered more of the same. Some new battle system features and minor tweaks gave fans a nominal reason to pick up the last game in the 'trilogy', but by this point everyone knew exactly what they were getting.

39. Mega Man X: Command Mission (GCN)

Mega Man X: Command Mission (GCN)
Mega Man X: Command Mission (GCN)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 21st Sep 2004 (USA) / 19th Nov 2004 (UK/EU)

A decent battle system was the standout feature of this GameCube title, although the Nintendo version boasted GBA connectivity which put a radar on the handheld's screen when connected via the bespoke link cable. As a spin-off to the X series, expectations were high; in the end, though, Mega Man X: Command Mission was short, but not overly sweet.

38. Mega Man III (GB)

Mega Man III (GB)
Mega Man III (GB)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 11th Dec 1992 (USA) / 19th Jun 1993 (UK/EU)

Offering gorgeous visuals, a great soundtrack, an excellent new boss, a fun new weapon and some surprising improvements on the NES originals, Mega Man III is a solid outing. The difficulty might be a bit high, but E-Tanks cushion the blow for all but the most masochistic Mega Man fans. While Dr. Wily's Revenge and Mega Man II had their respective merits, this is the first of the portable series that was a great game in its own right. Fortunately, it was by no means the last.

37. Mega Man 64 (N64)

Mega Man 64 (N64)
Mega Man 64 (N64)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 10th Jan 2001 (USA)

Fondly remembered for admirably taking Mega Man into the third dimension, Mega Man 64 was a port of Mega Man Legends, and while it's a little clunky by modern standards, the PlayStation famously pioneered mechanics like lock-on targeting before Nintendo would give their take on system in Zelda. Ocarina of Time. Mega Man 64, though, didn't arrive on Nintendo's console until the end of 2000 and arguably looked a little creaky in direct comparison to Link elegance and Mario's athleticism.

36. Mega Man Battle Network (GBA)

Mega Man Battle Network (GBA)
Mega Man Battle Network (GBA)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 31st Oct 2001 (USA) / 30th Nov 2001 (UK/EU)

Capcom struck gold with the Battle Network series, creating six main titles and plenty of spin-offs which all sold well. Mega Man Battle Network lays the foundation for its sequels, introducing players to a fun, unique battle system, plus an interesting world and characters. Its successors arguably do the job a little better, but the first game in the Battle Network series is still a great place to start.

35. Mega Man Star Force (DS)

Mega Man Star Force (DS)
Mega Man Star Force (DS)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 7th Aug 2007 (USA)

An action RPG starring the blue bomber, Mega Man Star Force is similar to the Battle Network series of games. Following the exploits of Geo Stelar (you can rename the player character, but why would you?), the plot is a colourful melange of aliens, missing parents, keys and space agencies which makes the deep 3D battle system seem simple by comparison, but the love for the Battle Network series ensured that this game has a solid base of devoted fans.

34. Mega Man Battle Network 6: Cybeast Falzar & Cybeast Gregar (GBA)

Mega Man Battle Network 6: Cybeast Falzar & Cybeast Gregar (GBA)
Mega Man Battle Network 6: Cybeast Falzar & Cybeast Gregar (GBA)
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: 13th Jun 2006 (USA) / 16th Jun 2006 (UK/EU)

Mega Man Battle Network 6 doesn't reinvent the wheel, but makes some slight alterations to keep fans of the series interested. It's still Mega Man Battle Network and it's still as solid as ever, so if you enjoyed the previous games you're almost guaranteed to enjoy this one as well. And if you got a little tired around 3 or 4, probably best to sit this one out.

33. Mega Man 7 (SNES)

Mega Man 7 (SNES)
Mega Man 7 (SNES)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 1st Sep 1995 (USA) / 1st Sep 1995 (UK/EU)

For players new to the Mega Man franchise, Mega Man 7 is a great place to start: a pure platforming experience in contrast to the more complex Mega Man X, and colourfully inviting without the harsh challenge of earlier core Mega Man entries. It's by no means the best title in the series — gigantic sprites make the game frustrating at times and lead to more generic level designs to accommodate the character models — but it's nevertheless a solid addition to the library.