Mega Man 11 is a 2018 platform game created and released by Capcom. It is the 11th main game in the original Mega Man series. The game was made available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in October 2018. It was later released on Amazon Luna on September 9, 2021. This game ended an eight-year break in new Mega Man games and was the first in the series not led by Keiji Inafune, who left Capcom after the release of Mega Man 10 in 2010.
The game includes features such as voice acting and a mix of 2D and 3D graphics, which were used in earlier Mega Man games. As of 2025, it is the most sold game in the franchise, with more than two million copies sold worldwide. Reviewers praised the game’s graphics, boss battles, and gameplay, but some noted challenges, such as sudden increases in difficulty and long levels. A follow-up game, Mega Man: Dual Override, is planned for release in 2027.
Gameplay
Mega Man 11 keeps the gameplay style of the classic Mega Man games. It uses a 2.5D graphics style, with 3D characters and 2D backgrounds. Players control Mega Man as he tries to stop Dr. Wily from using the Double Gear system, which Dr. Wily created many years ago at Robot University. The game has eight stages that players can choose to play in any order. Each stage ends with a battle against one of Dr. Wily’s new Robot Masters: Block Man, Fuse Man, Blast Man, Acid Man, Tundra Man, Torch Man, Impact Man (called Pile Man in Japan), and Bounce Man (called Rubber Man in Japan).
Mega Man can charge his Mega Buster and slide, two moves he lost in earlier games. He can also collect new weapons by defeating Robot Master bosses. A unique feature of this game is the Double Gear system, which gives Mega Man two abilities: Speed Gear and Power Gear. The Speed Gear lets Mega Man slow down time to avoid attacks, while the Power Gear increases the strength of his weapons. However, using the Power Gear reduces the number of regular bullets he can fire at once and uses more ammo for special weapons. A bar above Mega Man’s head shows how much energy is used. If he uses the Power Gear too much, he will overheat and cannot use his special weapons for a short time. If he fires a charged shot when the bar is full, it becomes a powerful Final Charge Shot. When Mega Man’s health is very low, he can use both gears together. This weakens him temporarily, making it harder to charge shots, fire bullets, and survive attacks. The cooldown period for using the gears is also longer.
The game includes extra features like Time Trials, Missions, Global Leaderboards, and a character gallery. It also has four difficulty settings: Newcomer, Casual, Normal, and Superhero. The Nintendo Switch version supports Amiibo, which can unlock in-game items.
Plot
The story starts with a memory of Dr. Thomas Light and Dr. Albert Wily when they were students at Robot University, the exact moment their friendship ended. A committee is deciding whether to continue Light's research on robots that can think for themselves or Wily's Double Gear System. Despite Wily's disagreement with Light's ideas, the committee chooses Light's research. Wily becomes angry and vows to take revenge on Light. After the memory ends with Wily waking up troubled, he suddenly recalls the Double Gear System from his dream and begins planning.
At the same time, in his lab, Dr. Light, Roll, and Auto are checking eight of the newest Robot Masters for maintenance. Just as they finish with one, Wily enters the lab and claims he has perfected the Double Gear System. He uses the Speed Gear to capture the Robot Masters. Mega Man asks Wily to release them, but Wily takes the robots away to test the Double Gear System and his new plan. Dr. Light explains the Double Gear System's power to Mega Man, warning that he cannot fight Wily alone. Seeing Mega Man's determination, Dr. Light reveals he repaired Wily's prototype Double Gear System. After cautioning Mega Man about its risks, he installs the system into Mega Man to help him fight Wily. A few days later, Mega Man is ready for battle.
After Mega Man defeats four Robot Masters, Dr. Light tells him that the Double Gear System was part of the reason Light and Wily disagreed in university. Light believed robots could be true partners with humans if they could think for themselves, while Wily thought robots would remain tools unless given power and speed through the Double Gear System. Light opposed Wily's research because he feared the system would harm robots by overworking them, leading to dangerous consequences if used improperly. The committee chose Light's research, and Wily, feeling rejected again, destroyed his prototype and left without forgiving Light. In the present, Dr. Light regrets not showing Wily a way to work together instead of rejecting his ideas. He then gives Mega Man the Rush Jet modification for Rush (Mega Man's robotic pet dog), and Mega Man prepares to fight the remaining Robot Masters.
After all eight Robot Masters are defeated, Auto tries to find Wily, who challenges Mega Man to his Gear Fortress. Mega Man overcomes Wily's defenses and the Robot Masters again, then defeats Wily in his new Wily Machine. Wily pleads for mercy with the Speed Gear, but Mega Man refuses. Wily claims he did not lose to Mega Man but to the Double Gear System. Dr. Light arrives and, after Wily accuses him of copying his technology, tries to reconcile with Wily, using Mega Man as proof that their ideas could work together. Wily refuses to forgive Light and escapes, leaving him disappointed. As the fortress collapses, Auto arrives, confirming he completed the task Light asked of him. The three escape the falling fortress.
Back at the lab, Dr. Light explains that he and Auto went to the Gear Fortress to recover parts to rebuild the Robot Masters. Auto uses the Double Gear System to transport the Robot Masters to the repair room, where they can be returned to their owners. During this, Auto overheats and faints.
Development
The game was announced in December 2017 as part of the celebration of the series' 30th anniversary, along with the release of re-releases of earlier Mega Man games. Mega Man 11 includes 3D polygonal characters and hand-drawn environments, which is different from the pixel art style used in earlier games. The game uses a 2.5D display. It was directed by Koji Oda and produced by Kazuhiro Tsuchiya, with character designs by Yuji Ishihara and music by Marika Suzuki. Tsuchiya and Oda explained that the long break between games was mainly because the previous producer, Keiji Inafune, left the project, and there was hesitation for someone else to take over until Oda stepped in. Marika Suzuki composed the music, though she did not create the arranged versions.
Mega Man 11 was released worldwide for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on October 2, 2018. In Japan, it was released two days later. A special soundtrack was made available as a free DLC add-on for those who pre-ordered the game. A Mega Man Amiibo was released with the Switch version. A demo featuring Block Man's stage was released on the Nintendo Switch on September 6, 2018, and on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 the next day. A version for Amazon Luna became available on September 9, 2021.
Reception
Mega Man 11 received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to Metacritic, a website that collects and summarizes game reviews.
IGN gave the game a 7.5/10 rating, stating, "It is not revolutionary, but Mega Man 11 feels almost like a classic Mega Man game and is a good foundation for the next 10 games." GameSpot gave it a 7/10 rating, praising the game for "great sub-bosses and intense robot master fights," "some new stage gimmicks that are a lot of fun," and "the endearing personality of the series coming through in the visual and character design." However, GameSpot also noted that the stages were "far too long" and had "questionable elements," "difficulty spikes that lead to frustrating setbacks," and "the Double Gear System never seeming as useful as intended." Nintendo Life gave the game a 9/10 rating, writing that "Mega Man 11 is an excellent return for the Blue Bomber, adding modern touches and new ideas to classic gameplay while expanding on existing concepts in interesting ways."
During its first week of sale in Japan, the physical Nintendo Switch version of Mega Man 11 sold 14,650 copies, while the physical PlayStation 4 version sold 12,052 copies. As of February 2019, the game had sold 870,000 copies worldwide. As of September 2019, it had sold 1.3 million copies worldwide. Capcom confirmed on September 30, 2022, that the game had sold over 1.6 million copies, making it the highest-selling game in the Mega Man franchise. As of September 2023, the game had sold 1.8 million copies worldwide. As of February 2025, the game had sold 2 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling entry in the franchise.
The game was nominated for "Best Action Game" at The Game Awards 2018, for "Original Light Mix Score, Franchise" at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards, and for the G.A.N.G. / MAGFEST People's Choice Award at the 2019 G.A.N.G. Awards.