Mega Man is a franchise that has frequently gone in and out of hibernation since 2010. What was once a series that released new entries every few years completely disappeared until Mega Man 11 released in 2018. Then, it went dark again, and the future of Mega Man was relegated to collaborations and collections. Now, the series has returned with its first new entry in 8 years: Mega Man: Dual Override. I had the opportunity to play it for myself during Gamescom 2026, and I can confidently say that this new return of the Blue Bomber has the potential to be the best entry yet.
Within moments of starting the first of three levels I played through, it immediately felt natural to control. All of the classic Mega Man gameplay features are present and accounted for. Charge blasts and E-tanks are both key parts of your offensive and defensive kit, respectively, while a slide and jump help to give you an edge in mobility. However, several new additions make Dual Override feel excitingly fresh for both new and old players.
To start with, there’s the chip customization. I could choose between three loadouts, each geared towards different playstyles. One, for instance, emphasized defense and allowed me to use a shield and more E-tanks in the middle of battle. There is also one that removes all of the chip enhancements and brings it closer to a classic Mega Man experience. The one I ended up utilizing focused more on offense, as it auto-charged projectiles and gave me more combat potential throughout each level. This was especially needed in some of the harder parts of the three levels.
Beyond the new customization options, special weapons also make an unsurprising return. The only one that I had access to is the new jet weapon, which allowed Mega Man to attack enemies with a damaging dash. It can be used to cross large gaps, and can be used repetitively to cross greater crevices. The biggest new addition is the “override,” which sort of functions like a power boost that can be triggered when you are low on health. It is one last opportunity to defeat a boss that has the upper hand on you, but is still low on health. In general, all of these new gameplay modifications made the Dual Override experience feel nothing short of thrilling.
Further, the overall level design is really solid. Each highlights a central theme that is directly connected to Dr. Wily’s latest creation, Twinkle Girl. Initially, the first of the three levels had the same sort of factory vibe that players have come to expect from the series. But later, there is an entire party going on in the background, with fireworks going off and displays showing Twinkle Girl’s face. The fight itself is quite tough, and it took me a little bit to figure out how best to outmaneuver her firework attacks. Yet, despite how many times I died to her, I still had a ton of fun with the encounter. The same applies to the mini-bosses in prior levels.
Overall, even with all of the new elements and additions that Mega Man: Dual Override introduces, it still feels like quintessential Mega Man. The override and chip customization mechanic feels like an extension of the core franchise experience. The level design tries new ideas, while still being a natural continuation of Mega Man 11‘s levels. The visuals are also upgraded from Mega Man 11, but do not try to reinvent the wheel unnecessarily by going for an entirely new graphical style. Finally, the combat is so much fun due to how satisfying the controls are, as well as the increased power you can gain depending on your playstyle.
I cannot wait to see more of Mega Man: Dual Override, especially with the introduction of Proto-Man as a playable secondary protagonist. The game will release for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam in 2027.
