Mega Man X3 is a Capcom action platformer released for the Super Famicom in Japan on December 1, 1995, as Rockman X3, and in North America in January 1996. Much of the game design was outsourced to Minakuchi Engineering, while Capcom wrote the scenario and made the characters and artwork. Keiji Inafune moved from artist to director, producer and writer and designed only X, Zero and Vile; he later spoke of psychological turmoil over the outsourcing. The music is by freelancer Kinuyo Yamashita.
PlayStation and Saturn versions followed in Japan on April 26, 1996, adding animated cutscenes and CD audio, and reached Europe in 1997, but they were never released in North America. A Windows version came in 1997.
Because of a limited production run and a higher price, the North American and European SNES cartridges are rare and now sell for high prices.1
Names and releases
| Region | Title on the box | Platform | Date | Publisher | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA | Mega Man X3 | SNES | January 1996 | Capcom | 1 |
| NA | Mega Man X CollectionCompilation with the PlayStation version; also GameCube | PlayStation 2 | 2006 | Capcom | 1 |
| NA | Mega Man X3Virtual Console (SNES version); Japan 8 October 2014, PAL regions 6 November 2014 | Wii U | Aug 28, 2014 | Capcom | 1 |
| JP | ロックマンX3Rokkuman Ekkusu Surī | SNES | Dec 1, 1995 | Capcom | 1 |
| JP | ロックマンX3Sega Saturn version the same day | PlayStation | Apr 26, 1996 | Capcom | 1 |
| JP | ロックマンX3 | Saturn | Apr 26, 1996 | Capcom | 1 |
| EU | Mega Man X3 | SNES | May 15, 1996 | Laguna Video Games | 1 |
| JP | ロックマンX3North America and Europe in 1998 | Windows | Mar 28, 1997 | Capcom | 1 |
| EU | Mega Man X3Saturn version the same month; neither 32-bit version was released in North America | PlayStation | March 1997 | Virgin Interactive | 1 |
| JP | —Mobile phones; English Wikipedia gives 1 July, Japanese Wikipedia 1 June 2010 | Other | 2010 | Capcom | 1 |
| JP | —New Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console | Nintendo 3DS | 2016 | Capcom | 2 |
| WW | Mega Man X Legacy CollectionAlso PS4, Xbox One and Switch; Japan 26 July 2018 | Windows | Jul 24, 2018 | Capcom | 1 |
Also known as: ロックマンX3 JP2Rockman X3 JP1
Box art by region
NA Mega Man X3 
EU Mega Man X3
Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: libretro-thumbnails.
Version differences
-
ContentPlayStationSaturnWindows
The PlayStation, Saturn and Windows versions replace the SNES opening with an animated cutscene, add more cutscenes, remixed CD audio music and new sound effects; SNES passwords still work, and memory card saves were added.1
-
AudioPlayStation (JP)Saturn (JP)
The Japanese PlayStation and Saturn editions add two vocal songs by Kotono Shibuya, including the ending theme I'm Believer.1
-
GraphicsSaturn
The Saturn version adds black bars at the sides of the screen, so the picture looks squashed on a standard TV.2
Translations
-
English Official
Capcom1996SNES · Japanese versionReleased · complete
Official English version, released in North America in January 1996 and in Europe in May 1996.1
Where to play legally today
-
Steam Purchase
Mega Man X Legacy Collection
Mega Man X3, with Mega Man X, X2 and X4
Checked: 2026-10-133store.steampowered.com
Reception
The SNES version has a 70.77% average on GameRankings: critics praised the gameplay, graphics and playable Zero, though some found it too close to earlier games. The 32-bit ports fared worse, with Saturn Power calling the Saturn version the worst Saturn title and Computer Games Magazine giving the Windows version 1/5.1
Sources
Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13
Spotted a mistake? Write to atlas@old-games.net.