Initially the game was planned for Nintendo's downloadable Wiiware service, however the final game ended up being larger than that service's maximum size limit. The team thought about doing a physical release for the system but were persuaded not too by other publishers who told them that people weren't buying Wii games in sufficient enough numbers to warrant the cost. Years later, Super Meat Boy at it's sequel became available on the Nintendo Switch eShop.
The ability to wall kick was inspired and is similar to the Super Nintendo video game, Mega Man X (1993).