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Metroid Games in Order

By the Bingerun team · How we choose the order →

Metroid's story timeline differs sharply from its release order. Play chronologically to follow Samus Aran's saga, from the original mission through the Prime trilogy to the 2D finale, Metroid Dread, with the Prime branch continuing in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

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  1. Metroid 1986
    NES

    The NES original; Samus's first mission on Zebes

  2. Metroid: Zero Mission 2004
    Game Boy Advance

    Game Boy Advance remake of the original Metroid

  3. Metroid Prime 2002
    GameCube

    First-person reinvention; set right after the original

  4. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes 2004
    GameCube

    Light and dark world twin-planet sequel

  5. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption 2007
    Wii

    Wii finale of the original Prime trilogy

  6. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond 2025
    Nintendo SwitchNintendo Switch 2

    Continues the first-person Prime branch; released December 2025

  7. Metroid II: Return of Samus 1991
    Game Boy

    Game Boy hunt to exterminate the Metroids

  8. Metroid: Samus Returns 2017
    Nintendo 3DS

    3DS remake of Metroid II

  9. Super Metroid 1994
    SNES

    SNES classic; widely called the series peak

  10. Metroid: Other M 2010
    Wii

    Story-heavy entry set after Super Metroid

  11. Metroid Fusion 2002
    Game Boy Advance

    GBA game; introduces the X parasite and SA-X

  12. Metroid Dread 2021
    Nintendo Switch

    Switch finale of the main 2D Samus saga

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Why this order?

Metroid is one of gaming's defining sagas, and its biggest quirk is that the in-universe timeline looks almost nothing like the release order. The series jumps across decades of hardware and two distinct styles: the side-scrolling "2D" mainline games and the first-person Prime sub-series. Because of that, picking the right order genuinely changes how the story reads.

The default order here is chronological โ€” the order events happen to bounty hunter Samus Aran. It opens with the original Metroid (best experienced through its 2004 Game Boy Advance remake, Zero Mission), then moves into the Prime trilogy: Metroid Prime, Echoes and Corruption. From there it returns to the 2D line with Metroid II (and its 2017 3DS remake, Samus Returns), followed by Super Metroid, Other M, Fusion, and finally Metroid Dread, which closes out the long-running Metroid-organism storyline. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, released in 2025, sits in the separate Prime continuity and continues that first-person branch.

The alternate order is release order, which is how most longtime fans actually experienced the games โ€” starting on the NES in 1986 and ending with Prime 4: Beyond in 2025. It's worth toggling to because several games were built as direct responses to their predecessors, and release order shows that design conversation clearly.

The key gotcha is the remakes. Zero Mission and Samus Returns are full reimaginings, so you can comfortably substitute them for the older originals without losing the plot. Fusion is also notable for assuming you've played Super Metroid. If you enjoy the Prime side, Prime 4: Beyond is the place to go next. And fans of Castlevania's "Metroidvania" exploration owe much of that genre's DNA to this very series.

Timeline 1986โ€“2025

Every entry plotted by release year โ€” see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.

1986 2025 Metroid 1986 Metroid II: Return of Sโ€ฆ 1991 Super Metroid 1994 Metroid Prime 2002 Metroid Fusion 2002 Metroid: Zero Mission 2004 Metroid Prime 2: Echoes 2004 Metroid Prime 3: Corrupโ€ฆ 2007 Metroid: Other M 2010 Metroid: Samus Returns 2017 Metroid Dread 2021 Metroid Prime 4: Beyond 2025

Where to play it today

Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.

Frequently asked questions

What order should I play Metroid in?

For the story, play chronologically: the original Metroid (or its remake Zero Mission), then Prime, Echoes and Corruption, then Metroid II (or Samus Returns), Super Metroid, Other M, Fusion, and finally Metroid Dread. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond continues the separate Prime branch. Newcomers often start with Super Metroid or Dread because they play the smoothest.

How many Metroid games are there?

There are ten core single-player Metroid games, plus two full remakes (Zero Mission and Samus Returns), giving twelve titles total on this list. The most recent entry is Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, released in December 2025.

Does Metroid Dread end the story?

Dread concludes the main 2D Samus Aran storyline that began in the very first Metroid, resolving the long-running Metroid-organism and Chozo plot threads. It is positioned as the finale of that saga, while the first-person Prime branch continues separately in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

Should I play the remakes or the originals?

Either works for the story. Zero Mission replaces the 1986 original and Samus Returns replaces Metroid II, both with modern controls and visuals. Purists can play the originals, but the remakes are the easier, more complete experiences.

Where do the Prime games fit in the timeline?

The Prime trilogy takes place after the original Metroid and before Metroid II. So in story order they slot between Zero Mission and Samus Returns, even though Prime released years later. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond also belongs to this Prime continuity.

Is Metroid Prime 4 out yet?

Yes. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond released on December 4, 2025 for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. It continues the first-person Prime branch rather than the 2D mainline saga that Metroid Dread closed.

Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata

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