Every Metroid Game RANKED

Yeah, you all saw this coming. “Metroid: Other M” is widely regarded as the most divisive “Metroid” game yet. While some people do enjoy the different things it brings to the table, such as its varied play perspectives and attempts at a more complex storyline, those same things turned off many longtime fans. A lot of “Metroid” fans didn’t like Samus Aran’s characterization, or the changes to the health system, or the fact that you needed permission to use your own abilities. All those changes added up to a game that, at best, is…decent. And the “Metroid” games are known for being more than that.

The only “Metroid” game on the Game Boy, “Metroid II: Return of Samus” is admittedly underrated. It introduces several new concepts after the first game that would become series staples, including save points, Metroids having multiple stages, and various weapons and upgrades. Even so, the game is held back from ranking higher by its hardware limitations and tracking down all the Metroids can get pretty tedious. But the potential and core of the game is solid enough that fans have done plenty of remakes over the years. And we’ll be discussing its official remake soon enough.

The first handheld “Metroid” game to use a first-person perspective, “Metroid Prime Hunters” was innovative for the series in other ways too. Its emphasis on multiplayer and characters other than Samus Aran proved interesting. It is also the first game in the franchise to feature travel to multiple worlds, which would be seen later in the “Prime” series. However, the game’s control scheme with the DS stylus can take some getting used to, and its single player doesn’t offer the length and depth of most other “Metroid” games. Still, it’s an interesting experiment for the franchise and well worth trying out.

The game that started it all, “Metroid” still plays great today. All the series staples, from the bosses to the music to the power-ups to the huge, sprawling, interconnected map – they all began with “Metroid.” It essentially started the “Metroidvania” genre and also showcased one of the earliest female protagonists in gaming. Still, for as good as it is, the rest of the games in the “Metroid” franchise managed to improve on its formula in many ways. The fact that it still uses passwords is a mark against it, for instance. Even so, “Metroid” is a rock-solid foundation for the franchise.

The final entry in the “Metroid Prime” trilogy, “Metroid Prime 3: Corruption” may land the lowest for us, but it’s by no means a bad “Metroid” game. It has multiple worlds to explore, rival bounty hunters to battle, and makes great use of the Wii’s motion controls for some cool puzzles. It takes many of the design elements from the previous two games and refines them to near perfection. While the game does suffer from some longer load times, and its control scheme isn’t for everyone, “Corruption” remains a fantastic conclusion to the “Prime” series…for now, at least.

We’ve already discussed the merits of the original “Metroid,” but “Metroid: Zero Mission” is a remake done right. Not only does it update the graphics to 32-bit level, but it also smooths away the rough edges of its predecessor. The map system is improved and save points are included to make progression easier. There’s also expanded content, with a new area, enemies, and a new final boss, as well as a section where Samus wears the titular Zero Suit. “Metroid: Zero Mission” takes everything from its base game and improves on it, which is exactly what you want to see in a remake.

Speaking of remakes, “Metroid: Samus Returns” is a remake of “Metroid II: Samus Returns.” Fans have done remakes of the game for years, but Nintendo at last made it official. Along with updated graphics for the 3DS, “Samus Returns” implements new gameplay features from not only other “Metroid” titles, but also newly introduced features, such as the scan pulse, which makes finding hidden blocks much easier. Samus also has access to a counter ability, which allows for new ways of taking on enemies and bosses. Speaking of bosses, these can get a little repetitive, given that you have to fight variations on the same Metroid over and over again, but on the whole, “Samus Returns” is a solid entry in the franchise.

Sequels are always tricky to pull off, but “Metroid Prime 2” was brave in trying different things. “Echoes” features a world split into light and dark versions of itself. Not only does this allow for some creepy and fascinating worldbuilding, but it also leads to some very difficult gameplay, since the dark world constantly damages you and the different beams have ammo limitations. “Echoes” is also one of the first “Metroid” games to feature multiplayer, which, granted, isn’t that good, but we appreciate the effort. “Metroid Prime 2: Echoes” throws a lot of new things at the wall, and while not all of them stick, those looking for a creative and challenging “Metroid” game will surely enjoy it.

A return to the GameBoy Advance, “Metroid Fusion” took the series in a new direction, with Samus facing off against the deadly X Parasite. While “Metroid Fusion” may be more linear and less open than other titles in the series, it’s also more focused, with a tight and suspenseful story. The action is fast-paced, and even if “Metroid Fusion” doesn’t reinvent the franchise’s combat, it still does add new touches like being able to hang from ledges. “Fusion” is aptly named, because it feels like a blend of many of the elements from “Metroid” games before it to create a new and satisfying experience.

There are plenty out there who are calling this game the best “Metroid” game ever. Look, recency bias is a thing, okay. We don’t want to jump the gun here. But it’s still damn good! Made by the same team behind “Samus Returns,” “Metroid Dread” refines the elements introduced there, such as parrying, while also placing a bigger emphasis on stealth, including the ability to turn invisible. Being hunted by the E.M.M.I. offered some of the tensest gameplay in the franchise. Another major highlight are the boss fights, which are among the best in the series. “Metroid Dread” was a long time in the making, but it was worth the wait.

Transitioning a franchise from 2 to 3 dimensions can be difficult to do well, and “Metroid Prime” did it to perfection! Featuring an expansive world to explore, “Metroid Prime” puts players inside Samus’ suit and lets us experience things from her perspective. All of the “Metroid” staples transition beautifully into 3D, and “Prime” offers a ton of story, lore, puzzles, and action that was never possible before it. Although later entries in the “Prime” series refined elements of its gameplay and improved on them, the original can’t be matched for its degree of atmosphere and for how innovative it was for both the franchise and FPS games.

You can argue that “Super Metroid” isn’t the best “Metroid” game. That’s totally fair. But we would argue that it’s the one most other “Metroid” games aspire to be. It took everything from the first two games and did it bigger and better. Its map is huge, but easier to traverse. It introduced series staples like the grapple beam and speed booster, and it still controls flawlessly today. Additionally, Its graphical style is imitated by several of the games that followed it. If we had to pick one game to use to illustrate what the “Metroid” series is like, “Super Metroid” is our top choice, every time.