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Metroid Legacy: Ranking the Top 10 Games Before Prime 4

Metroid Legacy: Ranking the Top 10 Games Before Prime 4
Samus Aran standing in front of the Metroid Prime 4 logo, showcasing the legacy of Metroid games

With the highly anticipated launch of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond set for December 4, 2025, the gaming world is abuzz, turning its gaze back to the storied history of Nintendo's iconic sci-fi saga. Since its inception in 1986, the Metroid series has not only delivered unforgettable adventures for bounty hunter Samus Aran across dimensions and platforms but also pioneered an entire genre. Often credited with co-creating the 'Metroidvania' style, inspiring titles like *Hollow Knight* and *Ori and the Blind Forest*, Metroid's influence is undeniable. As we prepare for its next chapter, it's the perfect moment to revisit the finest entries, meticulously judged on critical factors such as level design, player progression, innovation, and their enduring legacy within gaming. Prepare for the definitive countdown of the ten best Metroid games.

The Genesis of a Legend: Metroid's Enduring Impact

From groundbreaking 2D side-scrollers to immersive 3D first-person explorations, Metroid has consistently pushed boundaries. Samus Aran's adventures have graced consoles and portables alike, even venturing into unexpected genres like pinball and soccer. The series has introduced generations to intricate world-building, challenging combat, and unparalleled atmospheric exploration. With 15 games proudly bearing the Metroid name, the following ten represent the absolute pinnacle of this legendary franchise.

Counting Down to Glory: The Top 10 Metroid Games

10. Metroid 2: Return of Samus

  • Developer: Nintendo R&D1
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Platform: Game Boy
  • Release Date (NA): November 1991

A true pioneer for handheld gaming, *Metroid 2: Return of Samus* brought the franchise to the Game Boy. Released in an era before in-game maps were standard, its planet-wide quest on SR388, devoid of Metroid tracking, often felt obtuse. Yet, those who persevered, perhaps with a hand-drawn map, were rewarded with a compact Metroid experience. Despite the Game Boy's "puke-green" screen, its large character sprites, tense chiptune soundtrack, and claustrophobic atmosphere forged a unique and special identity. Its core vision was so compelling that MercurySteam later delivered an excellent 3DS remake in 2017.

9. Metroid

  • Developer: Nintendo R&D1, Intelligent Systems
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Platform: NES
  • Release Date (NA): August 15, 1987

Inspired by the film *Alien* and fellow Nintendo classics *Super Mario Bros* and *The Legend of Zelda*, the original *Metroid* was a genre-blending marvel. It fused space shooters and platforming with an expansive, scrolling map, a rarity in its time. Samus's unique power-ups, like the Morph Ball for hidden tunnels and the destructive Screw Attack, revolutionized exploration. This title introduced iconic villains such as Kraid, Ridley, and Mother Brain, who would terrorize players for decades. Its frantic escape sequence and the surprising reveal of Samus Aran's gender in multiple endings made it a revolutionary NES classic and the foundational pillar of the Metroidvania genre.

8. Metroid: Samus Returns

  • Developer: MercurySteam, Nintendo EPD
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Platform: Nintendo 3DS
  • Release Date (NA): September 15, 2017

MercurySteam's ambitious remake of the Game Boy classic, *Metroid: Samus Returns*, delivered a complete overhaul. Presented in full color, glasses-free 3D, it boasted entirely new graphics, reimagined music, and a significantly enhanced combat system. Samus gained a powerful uppercut melee attack to juggle foes, augmenting her arm cannon and Morph Ball bombs. The addition of a persistent map on the 3DS's second screen, coupled with fluid movement and improved offensive options, made this feel like a distinct modern entry. After concerns following 2010's *Metroid: Other M*, MercurySteam proved its mastery, foreshadowing an even greater Metroid triumph.

7. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

  • Developer: Retro Studios
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Platform: GameCube
  • Release Date (NA): November 15, 2004

While not matching its predecessor's revolutionary impact, *Metroid Prime 2: Echoes* stands as a remarkably robust sequel. It masterfully introduced a compelling light and dark parallel dimension mechanic, reminiscent of *The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past*, allowing players to explore alternate realities for crucial upgrades. This installment also unveiled the formidable Dark Samus, an evil doppelganger who quickly became a fan favorite, eventually gracing the *Smash Bros.* series as a playable character. Though its "barebones" multiplayer felt like a response to *Halo*'s dominance, four colorful Samuses shooting it out provided surprisingly enjoyable short bursts between intense single-player sessions.

6. Metroid Fusion

  • Developer: Nintendo R&D1
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Platform: Game Boy Advance
  • Release Date (NA): November 18, 2002

After an eight-year series hiatus that skipped the Nintendo 64 era entirely, 2002 saw Samus's triumphant return with two new titles. *Metroid Fusion* on the Game Boy Advance was a quintessential 2D sidescrolling adventure, adorned with breathtaking pixel art and a campaign built for endless replayability. While it narrowly missed the stratospheric highs of *Super Metroid*, it was an awesome game in its own right, only slightly hampered by a more linear path and the verbose commanding officer, Adam Malkovich. Its tight, brisk pacing and multiple ending unlocks tied to completion time and percentage quickly made it a darling of the speedrunning community, firmly cementing Metroid's enduring legacy.

5. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

  • Developer: Retro Studios
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Platform: Wii
  • Release Date (NA): August 27, 2007

Embracing the Wii's then-ubiquitous motion controls, *Metroid Prime 3: Corruption* navigated the "waggle era" with remarkable grace, largely avoiding the pitfalls that ensnared many other franchises. Though some motion control elements were occasionally finicky, the act of pointing the Wii remote to blast enemies was immensely satisfying. Beyond controls, *Prime 3* magnificently concluded the original Prime trilogy, presenting a more visually stunning world with enhanced verticality and inventive traversal methods. The "Hyper Mode," offering a full-on attack frenzy at the cost of health, added another layer of strategic depth. It served as a fantastic send-off for the Prime series, leaving fans unaware they'd wait eighteen years for a true sequel (and no, we're not counting *Federation Force*).

4. Metroid: Zero Mission

  • Developer: Nintendo R&D1
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Platform: Game Boy Advance
  • Release Date (NA): February 9, 2004

The second Metroid title for the Game Boy Advance was a masterful remake of the original NES game, reimagined with a breathtaking 16-bit pixel art style. Drawing lessons from *Super Metroid* and *Metroid Fusion*, *Zero Mission* elevated its source material in nearly every conceivable way. It featured grander boss battles, a rock-solid soundtrack, and, critically, an actual in-game map! For purists, the original NES game was even unlockable. Beyond these enhancements, *Zero Mission* introduced multiple difficulty options, new cinematic cutscenes, a time attack mode, and an image gallery unlockable through specific achievements. It stands as the definitive way to experience the saga's origins.

3. Metroid Dread

  • Developer: MercurySteam, Nintendo EPD
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Platform: Switch
  • Release Date (NA): October 8, 2021

Building on their prior success with *Samus Returns*, MercurySteam delivered a wholly original masterpiece in *Metroid Dread*. This Switch exclusive introduced an unprecedented twist: constant pursuit by the E.M.M.I., fast, hulking, and intelligent killer robots that transformed traditional exploration into a nail-biting, urgent struggle for survival. The refined melee combat and parrying system from *Samus Returns* felt sharper than ever, and with snappier controls and increased player speed, *Dread* easily holds its own against the best modern Metroidvanias. It's the toughest game in the series since the original NES Metroid, yet its brilliant map design and generous checkpointing ensure a challenging but fair experience. A testament to 2D Metroid's enduring power, *Dread* makes a compelling case for MercurySteam to continue producing these exceptional side-scrolling adventures.

2. Metroid Prime

  • Developer: Retro Studios
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Platform: GameCube
  • Release Date (NA): November 18, 2002

While the N64 era saw many 2D Nintendo franchises make the leap to 3D with titles like *Ocarina of Time* and *Super Mario 64*, Metroid remained absent. Then, in 2002, Retro Studios achieved the "unthinkable": they flawlessly translated the classic *Super Metroid* essence into a stunning, atmospheric, and revolutionary first-person action-platformer. *Metroid Prime* boasted fantastic shooting mechanics and an expansive world begging to be explored. From the minute details of condensation on Samus’s visor to the awe-inspiring reveal of the icy Phendrana Drifts, complete with swelling piano music, it was clear this was something magical. After eight years of dormancy, the franchise returned with morph ball exploration, intricate suit upgrades, and an ever-evolving arsenal. Epic boss fights and cinematic set pieces elevated the series to new heights, laying the groundwork for subsequent Prime titles. Twenty years on, its quality remains undisputed, as proven by the critically acclaimed *Metroid Prime Remastered* on Switch.

1. Super Metroid

  • Developer: Nintendo R&D1, Intelligent Systems
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Platform: SNES
  • Release Date (NA): April 18, 1994

Nearly three decades after its initial release and despite myriad experiments across genres and perspectives, *Super Metroid* remains the undisputed champion of the series. Its influence was so profound that even its creators felt they couldn't surpass it, leading the franchise to skip the entire Nintendo 64 generation. *Super Metroid* continues to captivate new players and devoted speedrunners alike, thanks to its impeccable pacing, deeply rewarding exploration, meticulously crafted level design, heart-pounding music, and some of the finest pixel art ever created. Like its SNES contemporaries, it took everything great about its NES predecessor and refined it into one of the greatest and most iconic sidescrolling action games in history. *Super Metroid* didn't just define the future of its series; it fundamentally shaped an entire genre. It stands as a masterclass in game design, cited as an inspiration by developers, both indie and AAA, for almost thirty years. It is not merely the best Metroid game; it is one of the greatest video games ever conceived.

The Horizon: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Approaches

This remarkable lineage, comprising fifteen distinct titles with "Metroid" in their name, culminates in the immense anticipation for *Metroid Prime 4: Beyond*. As Samus Aran prepares for her next grand adventure, arriving December 4, 2025, the series' unparalleled legacy of innovation, exploration, and thrilling gameplay shines brighter than ever. The countdown to a new generation of Metroid begins now.