Mega Man has been around since the 1980s, so it’s no surprise that the franchise as a whole has seen its fair share of unique entries and heroes. While many of those heroes are simply different versions of Mega Man, Capcom managed to keep things interesting by throwing in some drastic changes between those versions.

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Many of the heroes in the series start out as rather simple characters, but as they made more and more appearances, fans grew to love how surprisingly complex the characters could be. Some of the newer heroes haven’t always resonated with fans the same way the classics have, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t great characters on their own.

10 Geo Stellar/Mega Man Starforce

Megaman Star Force screenshot

The Mega Man Starforce series of games have a huge dedicated fanbase and many of those people love Geo Stellar, otherwise known as Mega Man Starforce when merged with Omega-Xis. Being able to morph into electromagnetic waves to take on dastardly creatures in the future is a unique setup for a Mega Man title.

While he led three games in which he protected the world from evil FM-ians, some had a hard time connecting with him at first thanks to his originally dismissive nature. Those that stick with Geo will learn about his tragic life and watch him grow into a capable young hero.

9 Axl

Mega Man X Axl Art

The fan-favorite character Axl made his debut in the series in Mega Man X7 as a new playable hero. A lot of people had a hard time connecting with the character due to his original voice acting, but many thought he was cool thanks to his dual-wielded blasters.

Much of Axl’s history is shrouded in mystery, but many liked his initial introduction as someone who shared similar ideals as the series' two main heroes. His constant need to prove his worth as a Maverick Hunter is something that many people connected with in a hurry.

8 Ashe/Grey

Mega Man ZX Ashe & Grey

While Ashe and Grey are distinctly unique characters in a lot of ways, they are paired together due to the selectable nature of the characters in the sole game they feature in. Ashe is a bit more lively and willing to speak her mind, while Grey is a bit more reserved.

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They each have their own backstories, but both can feel familiar to other already existing characters from the franchise. Despite that, they manage to obtain incredible power to take on the threat of Prometheus, Pandora, the four Mega Men, and many more nefarious villains.

7 Vent/Aile

Mega Man ZX Vent & Aile

These two share a spot because they are more or less the same character with slight variations. They are each the protagonist of their title, each simply acting as a selectable character of differing genders. They luck into becoming heroes somewhat, but that doesn’t stop them from being incredibly interesting.

Both appear again in their sequel game, but this time, they are older and aren’t the playable character. The unique but still familiar look of the characters and the incredible powers they obtain make them a ton of fun to play as. With a great backstory and fun adventures, Vent and Aile are two fun characters.

6 Mega Man Volnutt

Mega Man Legends 2 screenshot

While the Mega Man Legends games may not always get the love that many people feel they deserve, Mega Man Volnutt has still managed to stand out as one of the best versions of the iconic blue hero. His adventures only get more epic as they go, starting with saving an island and ending with an unknown choice.

Volnutt stands out thanks to his intricate backstory and world that is filled with countless iconic characters. His games feel unique when compared to the rest of the series and the same can be said for Volnutt. He’s so beloved that many still hope for a Mega Man Legends 3.

5 Lan Hikari

Artwork Featuring Mega Man.Exe and Lan Hikari from Mega Man: Battle Network

Anyone who is a fan of the Mega Man Battle Network series of games is likely a huge fan of Lan Hikari and his iconic partner. Lan is just an ordinary fifth-grader who quickly turns into one of the greatest Net Navi operators alive.

He works with MegaMan.EXE to defend not only the cyber-world but also the real world from a series of terrifying groups. Lan is an extremely likable hero thanks to his comedic nature and caring attitude toward those around him, even if he always isn’t quick to admit his feelings.

4 Mega Man

Mega Man next to a ladder and some enemies in MMAB

No list would be complete without the mention of the character that started it all. The original Mega Man is a simple character, but he’s one that has endured the test of time, even when some of his entries leave much to be desired.

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His story is simple, it’s up to Mega Man to stop the nefarious plans of the evil Dr. Wily and his dastardly creations. Regardless of how stacked against him the odds are, everyone knows that Mega Man will never give up when it comes to protecting the world.

3 MegaMan.EXE

Promotional art for Megaman Battle Network and Megaman NT Warrior

A character that likely became so beloved thanks to how much time and character development he gets is MegaMan.EXE. Since his line of games is made up mostly of RPGs, there is plenty of time to get to know him, and there’s even a fair share of shocking twists.

The character is willing to put everyone before himself and acts as a kind of brother to his operator, Lan Hikari. Together, the duo managed to stop countless world-ending disasters while becoming a famous pair. His willingness to sacrifice himself for what’s right is likely to resonate with many people.

2 Zero

Mega Man Zero 4 screenshot

One of the most complex characters to grace the Mega Man series is undoubtedly Zero. He was created by Dr. Wily but would go on to become one of the greatest heroes of multiple eras. His fascinating backstory is incredibly easy to get lost in thanks to all the twists and turns.

Whether working along X or working to destroy a copy of him, Zero is generally regarded as the coolest character from the series. His story is a dark one, and that may be why so many people gravitate toward him and often label him as the best character to grace the franchise.

1 Mega Man X

Promo art for Mega Man Maverick Hunter X

It’s hard to deny just how iconic Mega Man X has become. He has led a shocking amount of games and is a pivotal character in even more. He’s not always playable, and he’s not even always the best playable character, but whenever X is around, you know a Mega Man story is going to be good.

He is the ultimate catalyst of good in his universe. His interesting backstory mixed with his undying will to see the good of the world prevail makes him endlessly interesting. You control his actions, but the character is constantly conflicted about the violence he has to enact in order to save the world.

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