# Mega Man 11 (ロックマン11 運命の歯車!!)
**Mega Man 11** (ロックマン11 運命の歯車!!, *Rockman 11: Gears of Fate!!*) is a 2D side-scrolling action-platformer developed and published by Capcom, released worldwide on October 2, 2018 for [PlayStation 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/playstation-4), [Nintendo Switch](https://www.edgepedia.org/nintendo-switch), Xbox One, and PC.[1](https://news.capcomusa.com/mega_man/blog/2018/05/29/gear-up-for-mega-man-11-available-october-2nd) • [2](https://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/news/html/e171205.html) It was the first completely new entry in the classic [Mega Man](https://www.edgepedia.org/mega-man) series in eight years, following Mega Man 10 (2010), and its central new mechanic is the Double Gear system, which lets the player temporarily boost Mega Man's speed and power.[3](https://primagames.com/eguides/mega-man-11-eguide/behind-the-scenes-of-mega-man-11/with-game-director-koji-oda-and-producer-kazuhiro-tsuchiya) • [4](https://megaman.capcom.com/mm11.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | October 2, 2018, worldwide, on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC[1](https://news.capcomusa.com/mega_man/blog/2018/05/29/gear-up-for-mega-man-11-available-october-2nd) |
| Announcement | Revealed December 5, 2017 during the series' 30th-anniversary celebration[2](https://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/news/html/e171205.html) |
| Signature mechanic | Double Gear system: temporary boosts to speed and power, including slowing time[4](https://megaman.capcom.com/mm11.html) |
| Structure | Eight Robot Master bosses, one per linear stage, selectable in any order[5](https://www.gemsjc.com/-/media/project/gems/jcd_gems_jumeirah_college/pdf-files/jc-juice-nov-2018-issue-compressed.pdf) |
| Visuals | 2.5D presentation combining hand-drawn environments with 3D character models, running on Capcom's MT Framework engine[4](https://megaman.capcom.com/mm11.html) • [6](https://www.mclibre.org/descargar/docs/revistas/wireframe/wireframe-02-en-201811.pdf) |
| Difficulty | Four difficulty modes, including Newcomer and Casual settings below the standard difficulty[7](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/228479-mega-man-11/reviews/167015) • [8](https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/mega_man_11) |
## Development and announcement
Capcom announced Mega Man 11 on December 5, 2017, as part of the Mega Man Series 30th [Anniversary](https://www.edgepedia.org/anniversary) kickoff, scheduling it for release in late 2018 alongside plans for Mega Man Legacy Collection and Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 on Switch and all eight [Mega Man X](https://www.edgepedia.org/mega-man-x) titles on modern platforms.[2](https://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/news/html/e171205.html) At the time of the announcement, the franchise, which debuted on the [Nintendo Entertainment System](https://www.edgepedia.org/nintendo-entertainment-system) in 1987, had cumulative sales of 32 million units worldwide as of September 30, 2017.[2](https://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/news/html/e171205.html)
The game was directed by Koji Oda and produced by Kazuhiro Tsuchiya, a Capcom employee since 1992 who had worked on Mega Man 7 as a programmer and later supervised the Mega Man Legacy Collection.[9](https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/interview/48045/mega-man-11-interview) • [10](https://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/data/oar/2018/develop/rock11.html) Oda and Tsuchiya described the project as a revival, noting the eight-year gap since Mega Man 10 and saying the story was written so that players new to the series could still understand the world.[3](https://primagames.com/eguides/mega-man-11-eguide/behind-the-scenes-of-mega-man-11/with-game-director-koji-oda-and-producer-kazuhiro-tsuchiya) The development team deliberately mixed veteran, mid-career, and younger staff, including members with no prior Mega Man experience.[10](https://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/data/oar/2018/develop/rock11.html)
## Gameplay
The core run-and-jump-and-shoot formula of the classic series is retained: the player clears eight linear stages in any order, defeats each stage's Robot Master, and absorbs its weapon for use against the remaining bosses and in Dr. Wily's castle stages.[11](https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/10/mega-man-11-review-switching-gears/) • [12](https://as.com/meristation/2018/09/30/analisis/1538336158_720013.html) The Double Gear system modifies this loop in two ways: a Speed Gear that slows the passage of time and a Power Gear that increases attack strength, each active for a limited duration.[4](https://megaman.capcom.com/mm11.html) • [13](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mega-man-11-review-an-uneven-retro-romp/1900-6417003/)
**Difficulty options.** Mega Man 11 offers four difficulty modes, a first for the series in this form, with Newcomer and Casual settings below the standard difficulty.[7](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/228479-mega-man-11/reviews/167015) Easier settings provide more power-ups and health and reduce damage taken, while the level design itself remains the same across modes.[8](https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/mega_man_11) • [14](https://godisageek.com/reviews/mega-man-11-review/) The game also includes extra modes such as time trials, missions, global leaderboards, and a gallery of concept art.[4](https://megaman.capcom.com/mm11.html)
## Story and presentation
The story centers on the gears of fate between two scientists, Mega Man's creator Dr. Light and his enemy Dr. Wily.[10](https://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/data/oar/2018/develop/rock11.html) When Wily's creation turns robots evil and empowers them, Dr. Light installs the original Double Gear system in Mega Man so he can stand a chance against the new threat.[14](https://godisageek.com/reviews/mega-man-11-review/)
Visually, the game departs from the deliberately 8-bit style of Mega Man 9 and 10 in favor of a 2.5D presentation closer to Mega Man 7 and 8, with polygonal characters moving through a traditional horizontal plane and hand-drawn environments.[12](https://as.com/meristation/2018/09/30/analisis/1538336158_720013.html) • [4](https://megaman.capcom.com/mm11.html) It runs on Capcom's proprietary MT Framework engine.[6](https://www.mclibre.org/descargar/docs/revistas/wireframe/wireframe-02-en-201811.pdf)
## Reception and sales
Critics received the game solidly: Metacritic aggregated 52 critic reviews, and one roundup placed the game at 83/100 overall with critics at 81 and players at 83.[15](https://www.metacritic.com/game/mega-man-11/?ftag=MCD-06-10aaa1h) • [16](https://videogamescritic.com/game/mega-man-11-742300) Reviewers generally praised the Double Gear system as a meaningful addition that pairs well with the level design, while criticizing uneven elements such as long stages with strict checkpoints, instant-kill hazards, and harsh collision detection.[8](https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/mega_man_11) • [13](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mega-man-11-review-an-uneven-retro-romp/1900-6417003/) • [17](https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/mega_man_11)
## Place in the series
Mega Man 11 ended a hiatus in which several Mega Man projects, including Mega Man Universe and [Mega Man Legends](https://www.edgepedia.org/mega-man-legends) 3, had been canceled and the spiritual successor [Mighty No. 9](https://www.edgepedia.org/mighty-no-9) had disappointed.[13](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mega-man-11-review-an-uneven-retro-romp/1900-6417003/) It remained the most recent fully new mainline title for years: Mega Man: Dual Override, the first fully new game in the series since Mega Man 11 in 2018, was shown in preview form in 2026.[18](https://www.t3.com/tech/gaming/retro-gamers-relax-i-played-mega-man-dual-override-and-it-was-properly-hard)
## References
1. [Gear Up for Mega Man 11, Available October 2nd, Capcom News](https://news.capcomusa.com/mega_man/blog/2018/05/29/gear-up-for-mega-man-11-available-october-2nd)
2. [Mega Man 11 Announced for Release in Late 2018, Capcom Press Release](https://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/news/html/e171205.html)
3. [Behind the Scenes of Mega Man 11: With Game Director Koji Oda and Producer Kazuhiro Tsuchiya, Prima Games](https://primagames.com/eguides/mega-man-11-eguide/behind-the-scenes-of-mega-man-11/with-game-director-koji-oda-and-producer-kazuhiro-tsuchiya)
4. [Mega Man 11, official Capcom site](https://megaman.capcom.com/mm11.html)
5. [JC Juice, November 2018 issue, Jumeirah College](https://www.gemsjc.com/-/media/project/gems/jcd_gems_jumeirah_college/pdf-files/jc-juice-nov-2018-issue-compressed.pdf)
6. [Wireframe issue 2, November 2018](https://www.mclibre.org/descargar/docs/revistas/wireframe/wireframe-02-en-201811.pdf)
7. [Mega Man 11 Review for PC, GameFAQs](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/228479-mega-man-11/reviews/167015)
8. [Mega Man 11 Review (Switch), Nintendo Life](https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/mega_man_11)
9. [Mega Man 11 Interview, Nintendo World Report](https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/interview/48045/mega-man-11-interview)
10. [Geared-Up Mega Man Takes Off with New Release During the Series' 30th Anniversary, Capcom](https://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/data/oar/2018/develop/rock11.html)
11. [Mega Man 11 review: Switching gears, Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/10/mega-man-11-review-switching-gears/)
12. [Mega Man 11, análisis, MeriStation](https://as.com/meristation/2018/09/30/analisis/1538336158_720013.html)
13. [Mega Man 11 Review – An Uneven Retro Romp, GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mega-man-11-review-an-uneven-retro-romp/1900-6417003/)
14. [Mega Man 11 review, GodisaGeek](https://godisageek.com/reviews/mega-man-11-review/)
15. [Mega Man 11 Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/game/mega-man-11/?ftag=MCD-06-10aaa1h)
16. [Mega Man 11 review score, VideoGamesCritic](https://videogamescritic.com/game/mega-man-11-742300)
17. [Mega Man 11 Review (PS4), Push Square](https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/mega_man_11)
18. [Retro gamers, relax – I played Mega Man: Dual Override, T3](https://www.t3.com/tech/gaming/retro-gamers-relax-i-played-mega-man-dual-override-and-it-was-properly-hard)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Video games and digital play › Games and gameplay › Franchises and series*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license