10 Best Metroid Games of All Time, Ranked

It’s hard to think about some of the best and long-standing franchises without getting Metroid games into the thought. The series has been around for nearly four decades and is not about to stop. Retro Studios is set to drop a new installation in 2025. Titled Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, the new game will mark the 11th main iteration in the franchise. For those who are yet to experience the thrill of a long string of this series, here are the best Metroid games of all time, ranked. 

10. Metroid Prime Hunters

Action-adventure game fans had all the good things to say about Metroid Prime Hunters. From its gameplay to the graphics and action-packed level design. The game events appear some time between Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. Samus is still the main protagonist, this time investigating a strange message from the Alimbic Cluster. You see more first-person shooter elements in this game compared to previous titles. Additionally, Metroid Prime Hunters some new bounty hunters with special weapons, not forgetting you can tour other orbs with Samus’ gunship.

9. Metroid Prime

With Metroid Prime, Retro Studios launched their first action-adventure entry in the series with 3D graphics. It was a worthwhile addition following an 8-year hiatus after Super Metroid. The action unfolds on planet Tallon IV as Samus battles it out with the Space pirates. Players control Samus from a first-person perspective, a shift from the Metroid games before Prime. She travels throughout Tallon IV to find twelve Chozo Artifacts that will help her unlock the path to the deepest location on the planet.

8. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

Retro Studios marked the seventh main entry in the franchise with Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. You still play the heroine Samus but with a more interesting fate of Samus's doppelganger. Her doppelganger infects her with the Phazon, which she must now stop from spreading to the other planets. The game has great controls with the Wii Remote and Wii Nunchuk, although some fans were divided about the controls. However, Corruption also introduced new features like commanding Samus’ gunship and the Hypermode with high-power attacks. 

7. Metroid

Nintendo developed and published Metroid, the original game in the renowned Metroid series. The title launched to critical acclaim with praise for its tight controls, excellent graphics, and good soundtrack. The game eventually inspired the Metroidvania game genre. The visuals were okay for its time, although an enhanced version with updated gameplay mechanics and visuals later dropped as Metroid: Zero Mission. Samus debuted on planet Zebes, exploring the expansive and connected open world. Armed with a weakened power beam, Samus scouts the planet, hunting for the Space pirates. 

6. Metroid: Samus Returns

Metroid: Samus Returns was a remake of the 1991 Metroid II: Return of Samus. The game gathered attention with its 3DS model, which made it look quite impressive. The developers also did a great job capturing that Metroid vibe and blending the cool visuals with a nice soundtrack. Samus will be going back to SR388 to end the Metroid threats once and for all. However, this time, she will have new power-ups like the Spider Ball and a counterattack system that has enemies flash before attacking. 

5. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

The developers wanted to differentiate this game from other Metroid games by focusing more on the story. They also embedded new gameplay mechanics like more complex puzzles and a first-person perspective play. Samus is up to rescue the Galactic Federation troops trapped in a ship at Aether, where the mothlike race of the Luminoth inhabits. Unknown to her, the marines were slaughtered by some dark creatures known as the Ing. Samus sets on a mission to destroy the Ing while fighting off the Space pirates, unearthly creatures, and her doppelganger. 

4. Metroid Fusion

Coming from the same creators as Super Metroid, this title was bound to be on the A-list of Metroid games. And yes, the team did not disappoint with Metroid Fusion. At least they knew what to do after a long 8-year wait. It is the direct sequel to the all-time top video game, with a few elements made even better. Players have a new game world, a more intriguing story, and a mission structure with more content. Samus is fighting against a new life form called the X parasite that takes her through a near-death experience. But it’s only a matter of time before she begins to eliminate the parasite and restore her lost abilities. 

3. Metroid Dread

Metroid Dread is set after the events of Metroid Fusion. Quite a long stretch, with the game dropping nearly two decades after Fusion. Primarily, the creators perfectly capture what the game is meant to deliver. Dread! Samus is still your illustrious heroine tasked to investigate the bizarre anomaly on planet ZDR. As she steps into the uncanny, desolate, and isolated planet, you get the tone from the beginning. She doesn’t have the upper hand. Rather, it’s a perilous fight to stay alive, return to your ship, and forget the hard-headed bounty hunter you are. 

2. Metroid: Other M

To a large extent, Metroid: Other M continues the classic design and gameplay of the Metroid franchise. However, a few elements still make it seem to want to amplify Samus’ character. The story and action are quite intriguing, and the dynamic 3D graphics and first-person perspective end the old-school feel. Samus here feels quick and is quite agile, making the combat fast, fierce, and overall feels great. You will also enjoy a full exploration suite, as is the tradition with the franchise. 

1. Super Metroid

Super Metroid entered the franchise’s list in 1994 to an overwhelming fan anticipation that was adequately met. The reviews were in the 9s and 10s with all the good words like masterpiece, perfection, and timeless, just to name a few. The game once again puts you in the shoes of Samus Aran, the bounty hunter and tosses you to Planet Zebes. It brings back the setting, feel, and elements of the original game Metroid. But Super Metroid decorates those elements and polishes gamers’ experiences. From the exploration to power-ups, suspenseful atmosphere, and retraversal, everything makes it a glorious entry in the franchise.