When the original Metroid released on the NES in 1987, it was a revelation. With its multiple endings and incomparable atmosphere, it was a sophisticated experience for its time. Most notably, of course, it introduced the iconic Samus Aran, one of gaming’s very first female stars (and still one of the greatest).
In the following decades, the Metroid franchise has continued to bring us even more priceless titles, consistently keeping that spirit of exploration, intriguing worlds and menacing alien enemies in mind. Which are the best games in the series? Here’s the top ten in ascending order, as rated by Metacritic score.
11 Metroid Prime: Federation Force (64)
Now, you might not think that the 3DS would be a natural home of the FPS genre, and you’d be right for the most part. The system has dabbled in the genre over the course of its long life but just couldn’t craft an experience comparable to anything you can enjoy on a PC or home console (which is entirely understandable, of course).
Nintendo themselves aren’t exactly famed FPS makers, but again, they’ve given it a shot. 2016’s Metroid Prime: Federation Force is enjoyable enough, but it’s a little throwaway and is quite a departure from the rest of the series - Samus isn’t even the main character! It was a spin-off that attracted a lot of controversies, but shooter fans who see it on its own merits could have some fun here.
10 Metroid: Other M (79)
The Metroid franchise has strayed away from its roots from time to time. Federation Force for the 3DS is one example, and Metroid: Other M is another one. This 2010 Wii adventure was developed by Dead or Alive’s Team Ninja, and while it starred Samus once more, she was presented in a way that was a little off-kilter for Metroid fans.
Other M is an action-oriented title featuring melee attacks that function similarly to those of the Doom reboot (without the hideous skull-crushing violence, of course). It was the last installment in the series for over a decade and failed to resonate with fans due to its tone and storytelling.
9 Metroid Prime Pinball (79)
It’s a well-known fact that all prolific and successful Nintendo IPs tend to experiment with other genres at some point or another. It doesn’t matter how peculiar the pairing might seem at first glance, they’re going to give it a go anyway.
The thing about Metroid Prime Pinball is, its both a completely bizarre and perfectly fitting idea at the same time. Samus can roll into a ball, after all. You see where they were going with this. This Nintendo DS title didn’t offer many game modes or tables, but it looked great for its time and shook up the pinball genre in some creative ways. How many other pinball games let you climb walls, Morph Ball-style? Not many, that’s how many.
8 Metroid: Samus Returns (85)
After the release of Metroid: Other M it was incredibly quiet on the Metroid front for quite some time. By 2017, fans were ready for Samus’ return, and they literally got it with this remake of Metroid II: Return of Samus. Developed by MercurySteam, this game helped get the morph ball rolling for the future of the franchise.
Metroid: Samus Returns was the title that the series sorely needed at the time. It was an attempt to bring back the side-scrolling 2D Metroid releases of yore, with a modern twist (and with 3D visuals). Our heroine had a number of new techniques to utilize, including a handy counter move and free aiming, which added some welcome variety to the combat. It’s one of the best-looking titles on the 3DS and a top-notch adventure all around.
7 Metroid Prime: Hunters (85)
Tying with Metroid: Samus Returns, we have another of the franchise’s forays into FPS territory. While the Metroid Prime series is presented in first-person, its gameplay is still slow and exploration-based (albeit with some intense combat). In comparison, Metroid Prime: Hunters is an offshoot that offers some rather standard competitive FPS gameplay.
This 2006 Nintendo DS release introduced a cast of Samus’ fellow bounty hunters, members of different species with various abilities. In the single-player mode, Samus searches the Alimbic System for a mysterious power, which her rivals fight her for in turn. The multiplayer modes allow the player to pick from these bounty hunters and engage in deathmatches (or more creative multiplayer modes). For the DS, it was an impressive technical achievement, offering a kind of gameplay that Nintendo very rarely delves into.
6 Metroid Dread (88)
Metroid Dread is Samus’ fifth 2D adventure and after a tumultuous development cycle, was finally announced and released for the Switch in 2021. It took twenty-two years for Metroid Fusion to receive a sequel, but the wait was certainly worth it. Despite the series long absence and a plethora of great games inspired by the franchise’s gameplay, Metroid Dread still stands out as one of the best games in the genre in recent memory.
It recaptures the atmosphere, action, and exploration of its predecessors and finds interesting ways to reinvent them. The planet that Samus lands on, ZDR, feels incredibly familiar while also subverting expectations and provides some of the best environments in the series. Metroid Dread is a thrill to play through over and over again, especially with recent updates like the intense Dread Mode for an even more harrowing adventure.
5 Metroid: Zero Mission (89)
Next, it’s time to take a trip to the days of the Game Boy Advance. One of the accomplished handheld’s best titles was also a remake of one of Samus’ earlier adventures similar to Samus Returns. Zero Mission is a retelling of the original Metroid title and modernizes its gameplay for a tense adventure.
Zero Mission expands on the template that has become super popular in recent years: a 2D Metroidvania in which the player gradually unlocks more and more of the map by collecting a series of power-ups. It’s an amazing remake that allowed longtime fans to finally experience the story they were too inpatient for in 1987.
4 Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (90)
The final game in the beloved Metroid Prime trilogy is the lowest-rated of the trio, but the fact that it still earned an impressive Metascore of 90 is very telling. This is widely regarded as one of the greatest trilogies in recent gaming memory.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption saw Samus have a dramatic encounter with the Space Pirates and the formidable and insidious Dark Samus. It was hit by a number of delays, but the wait proved to be worth it: Corruption was a fantastic (supposed) swansong for Metroid Prime. We only hope that Metroid Prime 4 lives up to what has come before.
3 Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (92)
Narrowly beating out its sequel with a Metascore of 92, it’s Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. There was a lot of pressure on Echoes to deliver, considering everything the original had achieved, and it certainly did just that.
In Echoes, Samus must travel between a number of sacred locations to thwart the Ing, a malevolent race who destroyed a number of Galactic Federation soldiers she was supposed to rendezvous with. It’s more of the best of Metroid Prime, supplemented by a new multiplayer competitive mode. While this mode was little barebones and slightly tacked-on, the idea was welcome nonetheless.
2 Metroid Fusion (92)
Coming in with another Metascore of 92, it’s the much-loved Metroid Fusion. Hitting the Game Boy Advance in 2002, this adventure is very, very reminiscent of the iconic Super Metroid (which would surely have gotten a similarly glowing Metascore if the site dealt with titles that old). Which is, as all Metroid fans will tell you, a great thing.
This adventure sees Samus exploring a space station to investigate the X parasite, which has spread among the life forms on the station (and infected Samus herself). The expansive area begins to open up as Samus collects more of her abilities, revealing a game of quite impressive scope by the humble Game Boy Advance’s standards.
1 Metroid Prime (97)
To the surprise of nobody, Metacritic’s highest-rated title in the franchise is the sublime Metroid Prime. This was the title that brought a gaggle of new fans to the series back in 2002 and has them clamoring for a remake almost two decades later.
The shift to the first-person style was a huge change for the series, but Retro Studios handled it masterfully. Being behind Samus’ visor (and actually seeing her face reflected in it after bright flashes) enhances the atmosphere, isolation and unease that the Metroid series has always pulled off so well. The action’s intense, the visuals and music are stunning… Metroid Prime isn’t just one of the jewels of the GameCube’s crown; it’s worthy of a place among the very best games of all time, period.
