Capcom finally confirmed Mega Man: Dual Override, and even hinted at a faster release cadence for the series. Fine. But “confirmed” is not “playing tonight,” and Mega Man 11 came out in 2018, so the wait for the next Blue Bomber is long enough that anyone jonesing for tight run-and-gun platforming needs something to run through in the meantime. That is what this list is for.
We played through seven Mega Man alternatives on Windows, macOS, and Linux and picked the ones that get the platforming feel right, not just the pixel art. Each is available on Steam (some via Proton on Linux) so cross-platform buying is not a headache. Here are our picks for the best Mega Man alternatives on desktop right now.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Free demo | Price (USD) | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Gunvolt Burst | The closest thing to a Mega Man clone | No | About $10 | Player character customization |
| Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope | 8-bit design with modern polish | No | About $25 for whole treasure trove | Boss patterns |
| Blazing Chrome | Contra fans who want tight Mega Man platforming | Yes | About $17 | Split-screen co-op |
| Cyber Shadow | Ninja Gaiden meets Mega Man | Yes | About $20 | Handcrafted level design |
| Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 | The polish of Mega Man ZX | Yes | About $30 | Combo score system |
| Freedom Planet 2 | Sonic-adjacent momentum platforming | Yes | About $30 | Playable roster of four |
| 20XX | Mega Man X design plus roguelike runs | No | About $15 | Two-player co-op |
Why players leave Mega Man behind (usually briefly)
Three reasons come up over and over in Steam reviews and long threads on r/megaman:
- Long release gaps. Mega Man 11 was 2018. Anyone who finished it needed a new game to play by 2020.
- Difficulty spikes. Mega Man 11’s Wily stages punish players who skipped Rush upgrades. Many bounce off Bounce Man for a week.
- No Legacy-collection modern-mode dopamine. Once you finish the classic collections, there is nowhere to go inside the franchise until Capcom ships new hardware.
If any of these are you, the six games below cover the gap.
1. Mighty Gunvolt Burst, best for Mega Man fans who missed Mighty No. 9
Mighty Gunvolt Burst is the closest thing to a Mega Man clone on desktop, and it plays like one because Inti Creates (Mega Man Zero, Mega Man ZX, and Azure Striker Gunvolt) built it. It stars Beck (from Mighty No. 9) and Gunvolt in an 8-bit action platformer with weapon customization so deep you can build a charge-shot laser that punches through walls. Stage design is tight, boss patterns reward memorization, and a New Game Plus keeps runs going.
Where it falls short: the art style leans very NES, which some players will read as retro and others as cheap.
Pricing:
- Base game: about $9.99 on Steam.
- No free demo.
vs Mega Man: The DNA is direct. Same team, same play patterns. It is the answer to “is there a Mega Man alternative that plays like Mega Man.”
Migrating from Mega Man: You will feel at home in one boss fight. Weapon acquisition, weakness rotation, and the run-and-gun cadence all carry across.
Bottom line: First recommendation for classic-Mega Man diehards. Skip if you dislike NES-era pixel art.
2. Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope, best for 8-bit design with modern polish
Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope does not shoot, but its DNA is Mega Man mixed with DuckTales. Eight themed knights replace robot masters, each with a stage that teaches its own mechanic before its boss fight. Movement is heavier than Mega Man, but the level pacing, hidden rooms, and permanent gear upgrades hit the same notes.
Where it falls short: no shooting, so if the run-and-gun is what you want specifically, this is not it. The pogo-jump attack takes ten minutes to click.
Pricing:
- Shovel of Hope alone: about $9.99 on Steam.
- Treasure Trove (all four campaigns plus King, Plague, and Specter knight): about $24.99.
vs Mega Man: More platforming, less shooting. Better boss variety, harder stages.
Migrating from Mega Man: Rebind attack to the same button you use in Mega Man, and it fades into muscle memory in one stage.
Bottom line: Best all-round action platformer with Mega Man’s design language.
3. Blazing Chrome, best for Contra fans who want Mega Man rhythm
Blazing Chrome is a run-and-gun that plays like Contra in the shooting and Mega Man in the platforming. Six stages, hand-drawn pixel art, screen-filling bosses, and a split-screen co-op mode that turns local play into a party fight. Enemy patterns are punishing but readable, and the checkpoint density is fair.
Where it falls short: short. A single playthrough is three to four hours. Speedrun-focused replay value or bust.
Pricing:
- Base: about $16.99.
- Free demo: yes.
vs Mega Man: Faster and more chaotic. Fewer weapons but harder-hitting ones. Better co-op.
Migrating from Mega Man: Movement is faster. Expect to die more in the first hour, then to feel invincible by hour two.
Bottom line: Best for Mega Man players who want to co-op with a friend on the couch.
4. Cyber Shadow, best for Ninja Gaiden vibes over Mega Man
Cyber Shadow is a cyber-ninja platformer with Ninja Gaiden combat and Mega Man-style progression. Hand-crafted, non-procedural stages hide upgrade paths, boss patterns are strict, and the soundtrack by Enrique Martin (Blocks That Matter) is one of the strongest chip-tune scores in the last five years.
Where it falls short: the difficulty curve is steep for the first three stages. Some players stall before it opens up. Assist mode is added but many will resist enabling it.
Pricing:
- Base: about $19.99.
- Free demo: yes.
vs Mega Man: More combat, less shooting. Melee is the primary weapon; ranged skills come later.
Migrating from Mega Man: Expect harder bosses and heavier momentum. Once past the third boss you will find the rhythm.
Bottom line: Best pick for players who want a harder, more physical alternative to Mega Man.
5. Azure Striker Gunvolt 3, best for polish and combo scoring
Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 is Inti Creates at full modern polish. It runs at 60 fps, uses hand-drawn art with anime cutscenes, and layers a combo score system on top of Mega Man Zero-style platforming. Kudos accumulate as long as you keep hitting enemies, and cashing them out charges a super-mode. It is Mega Man ZX at faster speed.
Where it falls short: the story is anime melodrama, and the tag-team switch between the two protagonists takes a stage to click.
Pricing:
- Base: about $29.99.
- Free demo: yes.
vs Mega Man: Faster, flashier, more combo focused. Story is heavier.
Migrating from Mega Man: ZX and Zero players will land immediately. Classic-Mega Man players may find the momentum too fast at first.
Bottom line: Best pick for players who liked Mega Man Zero and want more of that formula.
6. Freedom Planet 2, best for Sonic-adjacent momentum play
Freedom Planet 2 is not a Mega Man clone. It is a fast momentum-based platformer that ships four playable characters, each with a distinct kit (Lilac has a dragon boost, Carol has a motorbike, Milla can throw shielded blocks, Neera skates on ice). Stages loop, boss fights ape Treasure’s Gunstar Heroes, and the soundtrack is one of the best on this list.
Where it falls short: requires a shift in muscle memory. If you want stop-and-shoot precision, this is the wrong pick.
Pricing:
- Base: about $29.99.
- Free demo: yes.
vs Mega Man: Faster, chunkier stages, more Sonic-style pacing. Bosses are pattern-heavy.
Migrating from Mega Man: It will feel odd for a stage or two. Once you commit to the momentum, it clicks.
Bottom line: Best pick for players who want a modern take on 90s momentum platformers.
7. 20XX, best for Mega Man X plus roguelike randomization
20XX takes Mega Man X’s dash-jump-wall-jump kit and stitches it into a roguelike run structure. Stages are procedural, weapons drop from bosses at the end of each run, and two-player online co-op lets you clear runs with a friend. Death sends you back to the hub with permanent unlocks, so late runs benefit from early ones.
Where it falls short: repetition. Procedural stages are less handcrafted than a real Mega Man level. Expect the same tileset to feel stale by hour ten.
Pricing:
- Base: about $14.99.
- No demo.
vs Mega Man: X-style movement, but every run is different. Co-op that Mega Man never had.
Migrating from Mega Man: X players feel at home in five minutes. Classic Mega Man players want to try 30XX (the sequel) if they prefer classic-style.
Bottom line: Best pick for X fans who want infinite replay and roguelike upgrades.
How to pick the right one
- Want a Mega Man clone as close to source as possible: Mighty Gunvolt Burst.
- Want polished modern design in the same lineage: Shovel Knight.
- Want to co-op with a friend on the couch: Blazing Chrome.
- Want a harder, more physical challenge: Cyber Shadow.
- Loved Mega Man Zero and ZX: Azure Striker Gunvolt 3.
- Want momentum platforming with a wide roster: Freedom Planet 2.
- Want Mega Man X in roguelike form: 20XX (and its sequel 30XX for classic-style runs).
Buying more than two means one will sit in your library unplayed. Pick the one whose “Migrating from Mega Man” line matches your muscle memory and start there.
FAQ
Is there a Mega Man game like this on desktop right now?
Mega Man 11 and the Legacy Collections cover Steam. If you are done with those, Mighty Gunvolt Burst is the closest new-play alternative because Inti Creates (the studio behind Mega Man Zero and ZX) built it.
Which of these games run on Mac or Linux natively?
Native macOS support is uneven. Shovel Knight and Freedom Planet 2 ship native builds; the rest rely on Proton or CrossOver. On Linux via Proton, all seven have Gold or Platinum ratings on ProtonDB.
Is Mega Man Dual Override a remake?
No, Mega Man: Dual Override is a new mainline entry Capcom announced with a hint at a shorter release cadence. There is no shipped release date beyond the announcement window.
What is the cheapest Mega Man alternative?
Mighty Gunvolt Burst at about $10 and 20XX at about $15 are the cheapest picks that actually feel like Mega Man. Blazing Chrome regularly goes 60% off in Steam sales.
Do any Mega Man alternatives support co-op?
Yes. Blazing Chrome supports local split-screen co-op, and 20XX supports two-player online co-op. Neither classic Mega Man nor Mega Man 11 has a proper co-op mode.
