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Metroid

Nintendo

Metroid is Nintendo's lone-wolf sci-fi series where you play as interstellar bounty hunter Samus Aran, exploring alien worlds in a powered battle suit and steadily unlocking new abilities to reach previously sealed areas. The open-ended design — finding a locked door, returning later with the right tool — is so influential that this whole style of game is literally named after it: Metroidvania. There are two flavours: the classic 2D exploration games and the Metroid Prime sub-series, a critically acclaimed line of first-person action adventures.

SINCE 1986 · 14 GAMES

▶ WHERE DO I START?
  1. 1980s

    Metroid

    1986 · NES

    The 1986 NES game that started everything: Samus lands on planet Zebes to destroy the Space Pirate base and the Metroid organisms they are weaponising.

    For fansMainline2D Metroid

    6 releases & editions

  2. 1990s

    Metroid II: Return of Samus

    1991 · Game Boy

    The 1991 Game Boy sequel that sent Samus to the Metroid homeworld SR388 to eradicate the species — a grim mission with major story consequences.

    For fansMainline2D Metroid

    3 releases & editions

  3. Super Metroid

    1994 · SNES

    The 1994 SNES masterpiece widely considered the high point of 2D Metroid: a lonely, atmospheric adventure on a dying planet Zebes that defined the genre.

    Mainline2D Metroid

    5 releases & editions

  4. 2000s

    Metroid Fusion

    2002 · Game Boy Advance

    The tense 2002 GBA thriller in which a weakened Samus is hunted through a space station by an unkillable mimic of her own power suit — the direct prequel to Metroid Dread.

    For fansMainline2D Metroid

    4 releases & editions

  5. Metroid Prime

    2002 · GameCube

    The 2002 GameCube game that launched the 3D sub-series: a breathtaking first-person exploration of the planet Tallon IV, scanning alien environments to uncover their history.

    For fansMainlineMetroid Prime (3D)

    3 releases & editions

  6. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

    2004 · GameCube

    The 2004 GameCube sequel that splits the world of Aether into light and dark dimensions, with Samus fighting a dark echo of herself across both.

    For fansMainlineMetroid Prime (3D)

    3 releases & editions

  7. Metroid: Zero Mission

    2004 · Game Boy Advance

    The 2004 GBA remake of the original Metroid: a modernised retelling of Samus's first mission on Zebes with a full map system and an extended new epilogue chapter.

    MainlineRemake2D Metroid

    3 releases & editions

  8. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

    2007 · Wii

    The 2007 Wii conclusion to the original Prime trilogy: Samus races across multiple planets to stop a Phazon corruption that is turning her into a weapon of destruction.

    For fansMainlineMetroid Prime (3D)

    2 releases & editions

  9. Metroid Prime: Trilogy

    2009 · Wii

    The 2009 Wii compilation collecting all three Metroid Prime games on one disc, with Prime 1 and 2 updated to use Wii motion controls.

    For fansMainlineCompilationMetroid Prime (3D)

    2 releases & editions

  10. 2010s

    Metroid: Other M

    2010 · Wii

    The 2010 Wii action game that explores Samus's backstory and relationship with her old commander through a hybrid side-scrolling and first-person format.

    LaterMainline2D Metroid

    2 releases & editions

  11. Metroid: Samus Returns

    2017 · Nintendo 3DS

    The 2017 3DS remake of Metroid II: Samus hunts down and destroys the last Metroids on their home planet SR388, with new parry mechanics and a fully fleshed-out world.

    MainlineRemake2D Metroid

    2 releases & editions

  12. 2020s

    Metroid Dread

    2021 · Switch

    The 2021 Switch adventure that closes the 2D storyline: Samus lands on planet ZDR to investigate a distress signal and is immediately hunted by near-indestructible EMMI robots.

    Start hereMainline2D Metroid

    2 releases & editions

  13. Metroid Prime Remastered

    2023 · Switch

    The 2023 Switch remaster of the 2002 landmark: an atmospheric first-person exploration of the ruined planet Tallon IV, now with beautiful updated graphics and dual-stick controls.

    MainlineRemasterMetroid Prime (3D)

    2 releases & editions

  14. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

    2025 · Switch, Switch 2

    The 2025 first-person Prime sequel set after Super Metroid: Samus arrives on the planet Agon in pursuit of a new threat with ties to the Galactic Federation, on both Switch and Switch 2.

    MainlineMetroid Prime (3D)

    2 releases & editions