Best Metroid Games Of All Time

My favorite metroid is the FIRST one... (not really)

Sorry... 2D > 3D. Super Metroid > Metroid Prime. A 2D Adventure game is better than a 3D FPS hands down, no contest.

As my user name states: Super Metroid

Nice timing on this guide Glen, because I have just stumbled on a a NES Metroid HD ROM enhancement that I'm about to test...

Super Metroid isn't just the best Metroid game but its the best game. Full stop! Also, Metroid should be number 2 on this list for the soundtrack alone. Both games stand up to replays.

Metroid Prime deserves to be first based on how the game handles jumping! Beautiful, beautiful game!

How can anyone think Metroid Prime 3 is better than Fusion! I love the first Prime, but the third one ignored everything that made the first amazing and tried to make it into some generic cinematic waggle fest.

I know it’s opinions and all, but ugh. MP3 made me cringe.

Super is my #1, but did enjoy Prime's music.

Super Metroid is still the best in my view, but Prime is absolutely amazing, especially considering everyone thought it would be a disaster until it was released. Also, Metroid Prime 2, while somewhat frustrating and confusing due to the light and dark world mechanic, has the best collection of video game bosses ever! So many of them and they are so so good. I never played through Prime 3, but it seemed good.

Other M is too high and Fed Force gets a bad rap. Corruption is better then Echoes as well. Can't complain about anything else on this list.

Oh and 3D > 2d! 😛

Dang. I loved Metroid II (way more than the original, even). I loved the 3DS remake even more... so much that I'd probably put it in the top 3 on my list (I have great memories of the Prime series, but it's been so long that I played any of them it's hard to say how I'd feel about them if I replayed them now). Also, I'll forever regret not owning Metroid Prime Pinball.

I don’t usually post comments but I simply had to on this case. Super Metroid was the best in the series amd one of the best games ever made. Prime is good, but not even really close.

@jerichofr opinions

Guys, Federation Force is definitely not an abomination, not even close. It’s ok to put it last but no reason to dump all over it. Switch the release dates of Federation Force and Samus Returns and nobody would have cared

@LUIGITORNADO Yep! Like many older, more intelligent gamers prefer the awesomeness that is Super Metroid and 2D Metroidvanias, and the younger, more twitchy-type of gamers tend to prefer the 3D FPS type of games.

I'm definitely interested in the series and have most of its games, but unplayed. I wanted to start from the original one on the NES Mini and I'm still stuck in it. A world too open and no indications whatsoever. But I want to finish it before moving on to Metroid II on Game Boy.

Zero Mission is absolutely my favorite. I still like the original Metroid Prime, but, playing it again, it has one major flaw: the YUGE amount of backtracking required to collect all the Artifacts before beating the game. So the same thing that keeps Wind Waker from being my favorite Zelda game.

@jerichofr Sorry to be blunt but that's silly. Metroid Prime isn't my favorite game in the series but it isn't even close to a traditional FPS. I would argue that you do more exploring an less shooting in Prime than you do in Super Metroid.

It seems that anything that "shreds the formula" is the best one.

@jerichofr I don’t know where to begin with this comment. You are wrong on both accounts. It’s not even an opinion. Just complete bologna.

Where’s your research that shows intelligence is linked to what kind of games you like: FPS vs 2D?

And are you calling Metroid Prime a twitchy first person shooter? If you are then you haven’t played the game.

There are many of us Metroid fans who like both the 2D and 3D games; with lists that don’t favor one type at the bottom or top.

Toxic tribalism within a video game franchise. I heard about you guys. Never thought I’d meet one.

@jerichofr nonsense. Hipsters trying to be cool write off anything that isn’t proper retro.

I’m 39 and been a gamer since early 80s.

They are both fantastic games.

Your constant insistence you are intelligent based off your opinion tells me all I need to know about you.

Intelligent gamers can like either. Both are fantastic games and neither is head or shoulders above the other.

Arguably Prime did a more interesting thing compared to the market at the time of release.

The other smashed the competition but in a very similar style obviously due to hardware.

Prime took two worlds and made something beautiful and that’s not easy.

Good list! I would change a few things in there, like lots of people would, but I think most would agree that Super Metroid and Metroid Prime are the high points of the franchise (even though I secretly prefer Fusion and Prime 2)

If you have to separate the 3 Prime games then yes the first Metroid Prime is the best Metroid but I'd say the true best Metroid game is Metroid Prime Trilogy for Wii. One of the few franchises where Wii motion controls improved the experience rather than worsen it. That said, in a post-Splatoon Wii U world gyro controls similar to the Splatoon franchise would be even better.

@GraveLordXD Not a bad list at all. You put Super Metroid in the proper place, although I wouldn't agree that it is the best game ever made. I'd give that honor to the original Legend of Zelda. But, I would agree with that.

As far as the profile pic... I think it was from deviantart. I downloaded it years ago.

@foxyglen if I might suggest a guide. “Best big budget/AAA/big developer switch games (non first party)”
So games like skyrim, doom, wolfenstein, south park, skylanders, fortnite, payday, octopath, wwe, nba 2k, fifa, minecraft, all lego games, any of the warrior games, ys, DB xenoverse etc etc etc...

@Stocksy Not intelligent based off of my opinion, but the opinion is based off of intelligence.

Meaning that those that are more intelligent share my opinion.

Also, I never said Prime was a bad game. Just said it wasn't as good as the 2D games. And it wasn't. Those that agree with me have the intelligence to see that. Those that disagree do not. Simple logic.

@GraveLordXD Found it! https://www.deviantart.com/elemental79/art/The-Legend-of-Zelda-Link-Fights-Ganon-523121997

@jerichofr let’s see that data, buddy. If you’re going to make such claims you need numbers to back it up instead of just stating it does.

Oh that’s right. You don’t. It’s just your inane opinion packaged up in a false sense of superiority because your lack of confidence.

I mean rererereally...in your original comment you are clearly trying to make a connection that people who like Prime more than the 2D games aren’t as intelligent as those who like 2D games over Prime.

Gaming for over 40 years and you have an opinion like that? Get a hobby, dude.

@GraveLordXD Have you seen the Super Metroid/A Link to the Past crossover maker? Playing that now, it's really quite interesting. Combining two of the best games of all time.

They forgot Axiom Verge 🤔

@GraveLordXD Here's his Super Metroid (best Metroid game) one:
https://www.deviantart.com/elemental79/art/Super-Metroid-Depths-of-Tourian-361405953

Well, there's not nearly as much wrong with this list as with the Mario and Zelda ones. But Zero Mission is too high. It's short, the stealth part at the end isn't nearly as good as the first part of the game, and the whole thing feels like a watered-down Super Metroid.

I haven't played Federation Force but can't help but feel you were a little harsh on it, especially since the reviewer for this very website gave it an 8/10 - not as good as most Metroid games but by no means an abomination. And you say that it doesn't include any of the main aspects that make up a Metroid game, but then go on to say that Prime Pinball is the only spin-off in the series. If Fed Force is completely different to the rest of the series, doesn't that make it a spin-off?

Anyway, I'm by no means a Metroid expert (I've only played Super, Fusion, Samus Returns and a bit of Metroid 1) and despite my nitpicking I do like list features like this, so keep them coming every now and then.

@jerichofr I think you have a rather simplistic view to FPSs mate. Metroid Prime is a different beast to something like Halo (I'll use an example of one of it's peers). I'm not going to argue your opinion, because I have no right to lol, but I do think you are being a tad unfair to Prime.

Wait a minute – what the heck is a pinball game doing on a list of best Metroids? This is an absolute scandal. It's a total outrage! I'm never reading Nintendo Life again!

@GrailUK Halo is a FPS too. Any game that is 3D and that you are in First Person shooting stuff (be it players or mobs), whether it has adventure elements or not, is a FPS. And thus, is an inferior game.

Also, I never called anyone stupid. Simply stated their intelligence wasn't as great as those that prefer the 2D games.

@GraveLordXD https://alttsm.speedga.me/ That is the link to the crossover maker. You have to supply your own games, but it's really interesting. Items are all mixed between the two worlds and everything.

I am with majority here, Super Metroid is definitely without a doubt the best of the Metroid titles as good as Prime is it is still not good enough to dethrone Super Metroid which is very easily one of the top 5 games ever made it is to this day a MASTERPIECE..,

Metroid Fusion should definitely be higher, and I don't think Prime is the best Metroid game by any stretch - don't get me wrong, it's an absolute benchmark and they did a wonderful job of moving things to 3D, but for me Super Metroid should be first.

I actually didn't play Super Metroid until after Fusion (I was a Sega child), so Fusion was an incredible experience for me - and if we are judging each game by today's standards, it can't really be judged too much for its similarities to Super Metroid.

I played Super Metroid only maybe a decade ago for the first time, and the fact it was so similar to Fusion made me love it even more. Both games blew me away first time around.

I enjoyed Other M, but it just needed a little more exploration. The way you unlocked abilities was stupid, but it wasn't enough to ruin the game for me. It was generally a nice fresh take on a console Metroid that had some flaws.

You ranked 2 under the first one? Madness!

I’m sorry, but Federation Force gets unfairly criticized. The only reason it was hated so much is because it was branded as a Metroid game when the series had been in hiatus for so long. Anyone who actually bothered to play the game without bias (especially in co-op) would’ve found it to be a rather enjoyable experience. Fanboyism and prejudice were ultimately responsible for this game’s unfairly negative reputation. It’s not even a Metroid game. It’s a team shooter set in the Metroid universe, and it really shouldn’t be included in this list, much like Prime Pinball. Including those games in this list would be like putting Link’s Crossbow Training in a Zelda countdown.

@thesilverbrick oh tell me, I like Natsume's Harvest Moons. Go read the comments in the last article they posted about it.

@Yosheel And the ironic part is that while this article lays into Federation Force as an “abomination,” this site awarded the game an 8/10 when it released. So which is it?

@GrailUK it’s an opinion you are right but saying he is Intelligent because he likes the 2d just proves he doesn’t know what the word intelligence means.

That’s a fact

@thesilverbrick it is whatever the hive says it is!

@electrolite77 haha yep. It’s a clear sign of the opposite

@Yosheel Haha, yep. Everyone who trashed on the game never points out exactly mechanically why it’s bad. They just dismiss it as garbage, usually without ever having played it themselves. I wager that if Federation Force didn’t receive any Metroid branding it would have been celebrated.

Yeah...can't really say I agree with the list.
Now, my favourite is "Zero Mission", followed probably by "Super", but placing "Prime" before either them...not sure about that. "Prime" is great..."Prime 2" is overrated in my opinion, I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the first one. I'd definitely place "Other M" above it, in all honesty (yes, I really liked "Other M" in terms of gameplay).
Calling "Federation Force" an abomination is a joke. Just because it's not really a Metroid game, but simply a part of the universe, doesn't make it a bad game.

1. Super Metroid
2. Metroid Fusion
3. Metroid Prime

@Stocksy Ye. I thought better of it than picking him up on that point. I have a horrid feeling it would have gone nowhere lol.

Of all the Metroid games I've played, Fusion is still my favorite. It's something to do with the atmosphere, that you're constantly followed by your own shadow. Love it!

@darkswabber thanks for the suggestion! I’ve got a big list of guides I want to do and third party is on there

I’ve never ever played a Metroid game but have always been interested. I’ll definitely pick up what I can on Switch. Fingers crossed for an HD prime trilogy before Metroid Prime 4. It only makes sense.

Super Metroid is one of those games thats as good as people say it is. deserves #1

Other M is actually a fantastic game with some story issues. It's top 4 for me. Its popular to hate on it, but I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in trying something unique. Just ignore a lot of the dialogue.

@Grumblevolcano I don't intend this to be a criticism or challenge of your view, but merely a statement about my own experience. I had an easy time learning Metroid Prime's control scheme on the Cube and found it extremely intuitive. The shift to motion controls was a massive downgrade to me. That may be a minority view on the matter, but the controller was way better for me.

@chiptoon

My thoughts exactly. I give Other M an 8 out of 10 easily. It's my favorite Metroid and I've beaten them all.

Super Metroid is renowned as the best and Other M's sales are almost as high. I think it's a vocal minority that truly has a problem with Other M.

It's not perfect but blends 2D/3D in a very brilliant way and in my opinion (like Skyward Sword for the Zelda series) it features the series best combat. The best Metroid sequel would combine a 1st person option from the Prime series with the 2D/3D hybrid platforming gameplay from Other M.

As others have said, what you said about Federation Force is unfair and wrong. How is it that according to you, it doesn't feature anything related that makes it a Metroid game? It has the gameplay of the prime games (focused on team work instead of solo, but it's still the core gameplay) and the creatures and lore of the series, it simply lacked the main character, which, as surpsising as it is, it doesn't have to be included in every entry, specially if it's a spin-off. The franchise is called "Metroid", not Samus, and still, it does feature her.

Yup... pinball's gameplay is clearly more faithful to any other Metroid game and has a lot more to do with the series than Federation Force!

I got Metroid 2 on GB when it was new after playing a friend's copy. It was really impressive for GB and remained among my favorite games on the system. I don't remember any mixed or negative reviews of the time.

I hated Prime 3, despite loving the previous two. The motion controls turned me off big time and I didn't enjoy other changes to the game.

I'd swap Fusion and Zero Mission. Last time I played them, I ended up preferring Fusion.

Super Metroid didn't grab me like it did so many others. The stage design didn't really work for me. I prefer objectives to exploration, so that probably factors in. As a result, it wouldn't be near the top of my list. I would put Prime in first.

Errr Federation Force is also a spin-off.

Stopped reading after seeing Federation Force in last place. It's great, especially with good co-op partners!

Other M is way too high on this list.

@sdelfin The GC controls were fine, I just prefer the Wii version's controls but what I'd like even more is Switch pro controller + Splatoon 2 gyro controls.

Man, this list is a mess.

It's hard to tell if they were put in a deliberate order, or if they were just picked out of a hat.

@NicolausCamp have you played ANY other metroid game? seriously dude

Prime 3 is great.

It has tight controls, amazing action, and brilliant landscapes. Most of the complaints about the more linear style of gameplay can be set at Prime 2's feet.

Not how I’d personally order them. Metroid II would be much higher, Samus Returns much lower, Super Metroid at number 1, Zero Mission would be second and AM2R would need to be somewhere in the top ten as well.

Super Metroid is def number one for me. First prime number two. After that the list is pretty fair. The only other thing I’d change is I’d put prime pinball above other M and hunters, it’s so good.

Super Metroid if by far the best and that's a fact. Zero Mission is the only other one that comes close. Metroid and Metroid 2 would be 3 and 4. Then Metroid Prime being the only other good Metroid game. Metroid Prime 2 is a joke and by far the worst Metroid game. Such a chore to play that game! Metroid Prime 3 is almost as bad. Please Nintendo no Metroid Prime 4. I think Metroid needs to be laid to rest unless they go back to 2D.

Yes to metroid prime! When it launched I had just turned 12, and I tried it but never got into it. I'm replaying it now, 16 years later, and god its so gooooood

@Medic_alert You are really spot-on. They really need to get some old-school gamers on staff instead of just millennials that don't understand the glory days of gaming.

I look at Super Metroid as no. 1 as it is the pinnacle of what Metroid was built to be and has yet to be surpassed in its own series by. Now, I put the Metroid Prime series next because it kicked and screamed that Metroid formula into 3D AND managed that in first person when many critics bemoaned it. Prime 1 will get a nod for being the catalyst of its kind of course, but Metroid Prime 3: Corruption imo perfected it into an even more epic game, and you forgot one thing, NL-- It was the first Metroid Prime to have motion controls before they were added to all of them in Metroid Prime Trilogy, greatly improving its playability for the time. Anyway, there's my opinion

Whoa didn't know Other M was considered a bad game. People always moan about the story but I thought it was one of the top ones. I've never been able to get into this series, but have always admired the aesthetics I guess.

My list is more like:

Super Metroid
Prime
Prime 2
Fusion
Samus Returns
AM2R (not official, but I'm including it)
Prime 3
Zero Mission
Other M (I'd play this over the original Metroid ANY day).
Metroid II
Fed Force
Hunters
Metroid
Pinball

Also calling Federation Force an abomination is just a bit extreme...And...

"Metroid Fusion bears more than a passing resemblance to Super Metroid, and that's likely its biggest fault. Though it's an excellent game in its own right, it didn't really do much to distinguish itself from other Metroids."

Whaaaaaaa...? Okay.

"It's still Metroid. You still explore various planets that each have their own open world environments." I could be wrong, but I only remember Talon IV in Metroid Prime...

@AlienX I didn't mind the story back when I first played it, but I was younger and didn't have the most refined tastes. I still enjoy the gameplay on occasion too. It's actually a more enjoyable game when you just skip all the cutscenes in my opinion.

federation force< original Metroid. that's how bad the original Metroid has aged.

@boop22 Yep, all of them. It's one of my all-time favourite game franchises. And Federation Force deserves a lot better than that.
So, yeah, dude, seriously.

Ima bit confused by the fusion criticism, in how it doesnt "distinguish" itself from the other games, even though it features a different version of samus hunting you down in the facility, a companion which talks to you a lot during the game, and how its far more linear compared to games like super metroid

@NintendoFan4Lyf I'd certainly take it over Metroid NES, Metroid 2, Hunters, and Pinball.

Stupid list how can you separate them there all awesome apart from other m and federation Force. Where’s all the amazon links anyway? I don’t know where to buy these games.

I’d put Other M a bit higher (people exaggerate on how bad it was) and Hunters lower (single player was garbage, Nintendo’s servers were awful at that point, and I had no one local to play with, so it ended up not being a great experience - a newer multiplayer focused spinoff like that could be better now when we have better online).

Super Metroid is #1 and it's not even close.

@GraveLordXD Zero Mission still a great game, but Metroid is an exceptional series with several superior entries.

Prime followed by Super at the top for me. Both excellent games; just prefer 3D gameplay over 2D.

Out of those that people are discussing:

Hunters & Federation Force I have similar problems with in that I feel they are held back by the hardware - not enough graphical power and hand-cramping controls make them difficult to play. Hunters story had the weakest story of what we'd seen at the time but I liked that it opened out the Metroid Universe more. FF being a co-op game puts it towards the end of the list for me, I could only go so far solo before coming up against missions where it felt like you had to play in co-op and I'm not one for co-op games. My experience with FF stopped me picking up Zelda Tri Force Heroes.

Other M I'd put above these two. It was a good game to play (apart from the first person sections) and not as bad as a lot of people make it out to be. The idea behind the story (of a corrupt Galactic Federation being as bad as the Space Pirates) did have potential but was let down by Sakamoto's awful writing.

Original Metroid and Metroid II especially have aged really badly and have been surpassed by their remakes.

Am I the only one who thought that there will be something like:
01./00. Metroid Prime 4 (?)
?
But... MP1 for the first place? Seriously? No.

The writer hates games then, to say you’re past the questionable games, when Metroid 1 & 2 have already been mentioned is a bit mental. Super Metroid is games design, it’s utter genius. This list is just terrible, I’m expecting a MARIO list with Dr Mario at number 1 based on this and the Zelda list

@BladedKnight Pretty sure he's just trying to get a rise out of people, it's best to just ignore people like that. Don't give them the satisfaction of a reply.

There are several games on this list I wouldn't rate so high or low

Metroid Prime Hunters isn't what I call "solid game material". Take online multi player out of it, and you have a dreadful single player mode, that recycles generic bosses and a poor ending. Level design was pretty naff as well.The bounty hunter stuff characters were a total waste of opportunity, and just there to hunt Samus down. Nothing compelling about them.

Metroid Fusion does quite a bit different to the series. I would even say it was more creepy and tense than Super Metroid, thanks to the X Parasite storyline. I would swap that with MP3.

Metroid Prime 3 did add motion controls and also an interesting storyline line of Samus and allies becoming corrupted by Phazon, but is easily worst in series and felt out of place in MP series. Not excellent but a solid entry.

Metroid Zero Mission. Great remake, too damn short to put so high on list, even by Metroid standards.

Federation Force was reviewed as “great” on this site.

This list is wrong in so many ways. Primes shouldnt even be in the top ten. Prime above Super Metroid? NO.

Lol, even pinbal version gets higher ranking buhahaha

tl;dr they’re all great. Except Other M, screw Other M.

From my subjective perspective, yes Prime is the best. The third dimension is what I grew up playing video games in so thus, Prime is that ever so slightly more enjoyable experience because of it. I'm typically more oriented towards dynamic, intense action games, but this series has managed to impress with truly gorgeous, atmospheric worlds and fun power ups which can be applied in puzzles solving and combat in incredible ways. Metroid Prime featured while slightly generic, enthralling and beautiful worlds. The translation of the items into the third dimension was also really neat.

Anyway, eff' Other M. It isn't at all relevant to the storyline of the series and will never be. Well, ok, the action and combat could be entertaining, but otherwise, I'd gladly take a grinder and turn a bunch of Other M discs into Metroid chow.

@Grumblevolcano I actually had already planned on purchasing Trilogy on eShop today, before this article came out . It’s doing its slow downloading now. Can’t wait to play it, because I remember next to nothing of 2, not sure I even played it so I know I skipped 3.

I personally don't really see what other people do in Zero Mission. Then again, the only parts I truely remember were the intricately frustrating Shine Spark parts to get certain powerups and the forced stealth section tacked on the end. Either way, to each their own.

I'm not saying it should be higher on the list or anything - because it's not a Metroid game, it's a pinball game - but Metroid Prime Pinball is one of the shining jewels of the DS library in my opinion. It's a joy to play and it never gets old. It was one of the first games to make perfect use of the dual screens as one tall screen, and it gave us the DS rumble pak.

If it had one or two more tables it would be absolute perfection.

My favourite Metroid game is Metroid Prime 2 but my favourite 2D metroid game is Metroid 3: Super Metroid.

I think the only purpose of these lists is to generate a lot of comments/views.

Can't agree with any list that puts the Prime games above the 2D. I'll take the classic 2D forumla over a FPS wearing Metroid clothes anyway. Much as I love Super Metroid, I personally think Zero Mission was better for the improved controls/abilities (still need to play Fusion) so may enjoy that one even more. All of them pale in comparison to Samus Returns though. That game isnt just a perfect Metroid game, it is a damn near perfect video game.

1. MP2 Echoes
2. Zero Mission
3. Fusion
4. Other M
5. Prime
6. Super
7. Metroid
8. Corruption
9. Return of Samus

The top 6 are practically tied for me. I love them all. Yes, even Other M.

Prime, really? I mean I first beat it a few months ago, and it was good, but also had a LOT of problems. Platforming in first person is just terrible, the amount of backtracking was very, very much, and the first area was incredibly boring. Also there were some gigantic difficulty spikes (Phazon Mines, anyone?), and many times when you tried going back to a previous part (to save after a difficult battle), the rooms were filled with much harder enemies than before.

Again, it was a good game overall, but it didn't even come close to Super Metroid or the GBA games. And I have no idea why anyone would think otherwise.

they made good metroid games?

My list of Metroid top 5 games:
Metroid Other M
Metroid: Samus returns
Super Metroid
Metroid Zero mission
Metroid Fusion

The metroid prime games are no real metroid games in my opinion and I dislike the FPS style, just like with Castlevania games are supposed to be sidescrolling hence the name of the type metroidvania games. Metroid is the original game, it is an awesome game and has a good quality but still the others are upgrades of the game in different ways and thus makes this below my top 5 but without it there would never had been the others.

My favourite is Prime 2 I think. Fusion, Zero Mission and Prime to follow. Glad to see Prime Pinball get a mention. For some reason I didn't find Super Metroid as good as most people but I didn't play it until recently, maybe I'll appreciate it more on a second play through. Time to crack it the SNES mini.

Also, it feels like we should have had more Metroid games over the years, this list would've been bigger.

@NicolausCamp this is a list of metroid games not co op shooters in the metroid universe. i dont really think federation force deserves anything

@jerichofr I don't believe for a second you've been gaming for forty years. Anyone that old would have long since grown out of the immature mindset you've demonstrated.

@LeonBelmontX I too played Fusion before Super Metroid, and found it incredible. It got me into the franchise. I can still hear those awesome explosion sounds and boss enemy screams in my head now. And the SA-X, what an antagonist! I’ve never understood the hate Fusion receives, such a shame.

@GravyThief I think the biggest hate for Fusion (and I don't dislike the game just this aspect of it) is that it is FAR to linear. There isn't much to explore, you're told what to get, where to get it, and when you can use it. Not a lot of freedom. I think that is the main concern people have with Fusion. The story is interesting, and the atmosphere of the game is top notch.

Metroid has always been my 2nd fav series, for the 30+ years I’ve been gaming, and I just don’t agree that other m is as bad as it is made out to be. It’s not the best metroid game, but a decent 3rd person adventure game in a metroid skin.
It’s not my fav, but still s great game on the Wii. I’ve 100/0% it on hard mode.
Super metroid see the bar very high for all games, but the prime trilogy is by far my fav. Sadly I haven’t finished Samus Returns since I just don’t use my 3ds anymore. Waiting for a switch release. And fed force, well, I agree with its position, but I did enjoy playing that game with my friends. There was nothing wrong with it, if you took out the metroid name.

Metroid Prime was the reason I bought Game Cube and Metroid Prime 3 was the reason I bought Wii.
If Nintendo releases Prime series on Switch.. I might buy those games third time.

@GravyThief Oh yeah, the SA-X was awesome, got me so freaked out on those sections.

The game had amazing atmosphere and really captured that feeling of being trapped in space. And I really loved the X as a new enemy and the way they used Metroids in the game.

The only ones I keep coming back to are Super Metroid, Zero Mission, and Fusion.
The Prime series I do love, but are a little overwhelming.

In Metroid II's defence, might I suggest a few musings from Jonas Kyratzes: http://www.jonas-kyratzes.net/?s=Metroid+II

In terms of the handheld games, my favorite was and still is Zero Mission. It was one of the first Metroid games I ever played. I remember playing it back at Wal-Mart when they used to demo the Game Boy Advance.

In terms of the console games, sorry, folks, but my favorite was and still is Other M. Unlike others, I appreciated that there was a story for once, and that we finally got to see more of Samus' backstory, her personality, and her finally being voiced. Plus, the visual style of Adam Malkovich's sacrifice was exactly how I envisioned it years before I even played the game.

@Pojos98 thank you

Nope, Super Metroid should be at the top.

Although, I wouldn't mind trying Metroid Prime in VR. . . .

I got close, but the Dolphin VR emulator just wasn't playing nice with my Rift, especially getting the controls set up and working decently.

@jerichofr In that case the older Metroid games are 2D side scrolling shooters and not adventure games. I seriously don't see how a change in perspective is a change in genre. I thought that would be caused by a change in gameplay.

Wow the latest entry in the series isn't on the top of the list for once

Any list that puts the original Metroid next to last, and Super Metroid in second place behind Metroid Prime cannot be taken seriously.

@boop22 I see you haven't actually played Federation Force, because if you had you would see that it still retains quite a bit of the spirit of Metroid. Doesn't matter if the genre is a bit different or not, it's still a better game than a few on this list on it's own merits.

Wow, I’m just blown away by the divide I’m seeing here from some certain posts. To make a statement about intelligence based on older games and some kind of correlation? I’m not going to tag this person just to get into some lame loop of arguing over semantics on a video game series, but please...there’s a word called ‘subjective’. To curb others intelligence over an opinion of a video game?...That’s not only wrong, it’s actually a bit sad you went to that level. You need to rethink how to state an opinion. Which is just that. In the end, you sound more like a disgruntled elderly person who can’t stand this generation’s music.

Whew, anyway. Good list, love them all. Still never played federation forces or pinball. So I don’t have an OPINION on them.

I’m gonna add to this: I like the placement of Prime. Is it right? Well maybe not to some, but I got into the metroid series THROUGH prime. I’m in my mid 30s, so super metroid was obviously something I was aware of, but I got into AFTER playing Prime. Sure, I’d put Prime at the top because of some linked bias I had at the time that triggered me to get into the series, and maybe if I had gotten into super metroid BEFORE Prime I’d maybe feel that it should be before it. But man, we’re talking one 10/10 game versus another 10/10 game here. Is there really a loser here? People need to seriously calm the f*** down. Again that’s just my opinion, man.

We're still labelling these as "guides"? Why not "feature" or "list"?

I would have a really hard time deciding between Metroid Prime and Super Metroid. The former is my favorite 3D game of all time; the latter, my favorite 2D. They’re both masterpieces. If I had to choose between them, my choice would switch every other day. I hope we continue to get more 2D and 3D entries for decades to come.

I would have ranked Metroid Prime 2 and 3 over Zero Mission, but other than that this list is spot on for me.

@jerichofr to be fair, you have to have a high IQ to understand 2D games...

1. Prime
2. Zero mission
3. Fusion
4. Super metroid
5. Prime 2

Played most of those and you all can say what you will, but Other M is my favorite of this list.
Prime is good. It's just not my cup of tea (FPS).
The 2D ones are very good and i have Zero Mission as my favorite.
I know it's not official and all that, but i also liked AM2R a lot. Just as much if not more than the oficial 3DS remake.

I think I'm the only person who loved "Other M"

Let's be completely honest here. No list will be definitive, but this is mine.

1) Super Metroid
2) Metroid Prime
3) Metroid Zero Mission
4) Metroid Prime 3
5) Metroid Fusion
6) Metroid Samus Returns
7) Metroid Prime 2
8) Metroid Other M
9) Metroid 2 Return of Samus
10) Metroid Prime Hunters
11) Metroid Pinball
12) Metroid
13) Federation Force

Yes, Federation Force IS that bad. Other M, aside from awful scenes, is not nearly as bad as people say. And the original and Metroid 2 are tough to play now with the amazing, superior remakes.

@Abes3 I didn't "love" it, but I don't think it was as bad as many people do. I wasn't a fan of the Ninja Gaiden-ish mechanics in the fighting, and the story seemed a bit forced. But, it wasn't a terrible game.

I’m not what you’d call a Metroid fan. I’m one of those people who has a passing interest in the franchise, but can still appreciate its coolness and significance. I like Metroid characters in Smash, I own Metroid themed amiibo, and I have Super Metroid, Other M, & Prime 1 on their original consoles but never really got into them. I do plan to buy Prime 4 when it releases.

Metroid was definitely vital to the industry, as a lot of awesome games we have today wouldn’t exist without its influence. I should really get Samus Returns, eventually...

1) Super Metroid
2) Zero Mission
3) Metroid-NES
4) Fusion
5) Samus Returns
6) Other M
7) Metroid 2
8) Prime
9) Prime 3
10) Prime 2
11) Federation Force
12) Prime Pinball
13) Prime Hunters

Almost everyone bashes Metroid: Other M. It has been years since I played it and the only other Metroid games I had played were Metroid 2: The Return of Samus and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (both of which I never beat) so maybe I am not in the right position to say this but I thought it was good.

I have seen many of the criticisms over the game and can understand them but it still feels a bit overblown.

My list, of the ones I've played:
1. Fusion
2. Samus Returns
3. Zero Mission
4. Super Metroid (I haven't gotten into this properly but will need to try again someday)
5. Metroid Prime
6. Metroid Prime 2
7. Metroid Prime 3
8. Metroid
9. Metroid Prime Hunters

I also don't recall hating the story in Other M that much either. In fact, I was happy to see Nintendo attempt to make a more engaging story and it is a shame that one of the few times they tried it, they get blasted over it.

I'm not saying people shouldn't have called the story bad because it could mean Nintendo would be less ambitious next time, if it is bad then call it out for it. I just feel disappointed that this was the result of the game's production, release, and reception.

"We don't want to stop what we're doing to do another thing"

I absolutely disagree
Of course they can do other things with Metroid. The main character can be someone else, the game can be linear, it can be focused on multiplayer, it can be anything, as long as it is a good game
Other M wasn't that bad, but Sakamoto's will to stick with the wiimote only was such a bad idea, the team Ninja wanted to do something good. Metroid as a beat them all but with it's touch ? Why not, they could have done something great, sadly it turned bad
Whatever, what is done is done, but it doesn't mean that fans doesn't like what "is not Metroid"

I hate all of the negativity OTHER M gets. If only it was twice as long, it would have been great. The end felt like the middle. And the exploration bits after the fact felt tacked on. But I loved the combat and flipping the wiimote to aim my missles. A great use of the controller.

I don’t totally agree with the list, but it’s very reasonable.

Super Metroid and Metroid Prime 2 are the best, in my opinion.

You should have placed Metroid Prime 4 on top. It doesn't matter if it hasn't been released yet, it's the newest one and a Switch game so it's going to be the best no matter what, according to NL.

I was around in the nes days, so I appreciate the old games with super metroid by far the best 2d metroid. But the prime series are all at the top. Metroid prime Trilogy is the best Metroid experience to be had to date.

Good list. I disagree though on two points. For millions of gamers it's definitely not difficult to return to the 2D Metroids after playing Prime. That should've been written as an opinion rather than stating fact. The last point is I thought you were a little too harsh on Other: M. Sure it's story was a mess, and the Bottle Ship felt derivative, but the combat and platforming was awesome IMO.

@jerichofr if what you said is true then i can easily tell that you're a twitchy fps and gta gamer (now ignore me or report or do nothing it's your option)

@Tyranexx Nice, I haven't met many that played Metroid 2 as their first Metroid game and that got hooked by it. I think it's a really underrated gem, and while the remake is definitely better, there are certain elements that the original has that makes it the most creepy entry for me. Playing the game again on 3DS has been quite enjoyable because it's definitely better than playing in on the original Game Boy and for some reaason, it delivers the eerie and tense feeling I first experienced when I was a kid. Not many games manage to do that.

For anyone playing it, the usual recommendation is to make your own map since the game lacks one, but personally, I think that getting lost and feeling paranoid because many places look alike is part of the experience.

@jerichofr SO glad I'm not the only one. SM is one of my all-time favorite games. I've tried a couple times to play through Prime, but the control scheme just ruined it for me.

Metroid Fusion is really awful, handhold-y and linear. Don't know why people criticise Other M for that stuff when Fusion is just as bad, if not worse.

@Turbo857 yeah! It's my most replayed Metroid because it's just so much fun moment to moment. Clunky it's not.

@jerichofr yeah, having since played Super Metroid after Fusion, I understand the reasons people didn’t like it as much. Super Metroid still stands up today as a lesson in great game design, guiding a player without needing to tell them explicitly where to go, and allowing them to explore at will. However, I feel lucky to have gone into Fusion without any preconceptions from the previous game, as I probably enjoyed it far more than I would have done as a result. I wish I could go back to that. I can’t really enjoy Samus Returns now I’ve played Super / Fusion / Zero Mission. And MP4 doesn’t really stand a chance after I’ve played MP1 and 2.

@BlueOcean haha, I’m sure we’ll get an updated list in a year’s time or so with MP4 at the top.

I don't have an issue with your rankings, but your descriptions for half of these games have too many errors. I'm convinced you haven't played Fusion, Federation Force and Corruption.

"Metroid Fusion bears more than a passing resemblance to Super Metroid, and that's likely its biggest fault. Though it's an excellent game in its own right, it didn't really do much to distinguish itself from other Metroids." <- This is incorrect. At the time, Fusion was the biggest departure from the formula Metroid had. Even today, it still stands out as it's more narrative driven and is more linear in design. The only Metroid game even close to being like Fusion is Other M.

"Putting them in order is particularly difficult, but we've popped the third entry last because it doesn't really do an awful lot to distinguish itself from the other Primes." <-Corruption has a linear design compared to Prime 1 and 2, which are a bit more open. It's a completely different game especially when compared to the original Prime and Echoes since it also had motion controls. The inclusion of Hyper Mode and beam stacking changed up the mechanics of Corruption as well. None of the Primes really play like another overall.

"It's difficult to understand quite what Nintendo was thinking in making a Metroid game that doesn't feature Samus as the playable character or, like, anything that makes a Metroid game a Metroid game." <- Next Level Games and Nintendo did make a Metroid game that features quite a bit of what makes a Metroid game a Metroid game. The only thing Federation Force lacks that nearly every other entry has is item based progression in terms of accessing new areas. Other M also lacked that element, yet cracks the Top 10.

I don't feel acquiring items to progress to new areas is a make or break concept to lock in for a Metroid game to be a Metroid game as there are plenty of games that do well with that concept that don't carry the label and don't feel like a Metroid experience. Federation Force fully succeeded in connecting itself to the Metroid universe by incorporating gameplay, atmosphere and lore that fits right in with the series.

How the game plays is straight from the original Metroid Prime, and it arguably improved on the original's control with the inclusion of gyro free aim. The arsenal used in Federation Force is very similar to series' staple weapons: Power, Wave, Ice and Plasma Beams, via the Power, Shock, Freeze and Flame Shot respectively. There are Missiles and Super Missiles. I can achieve Spazer Beam-like effects for Missiles and the Flame Shot through the War Head and Fuel Injector MODs respectively. Between the ability to stack MODs and cycle through the player's selected arsenal means that Federation Force is the first Metroid game since Super to include both stacking and switching for weapons. Getting the MODs offers the exploration that is standard for a Metroid experience from simply blasting through a wall with a Missile to having to access areas that are completely optional for the main mission: It's there.

Atmospherically, Federation Force feels like a Metroid Prime game. There are abandoned outposts, Space Pirate labs, remnants of ancient civilizations, intense skirmishes with hostile organisms and Space Pirates...The music, sound, visuals and lighting are there. Going by the trailers for the game, that likely wouldn't be the impression with the simplified art style and push of a co-op multiplayer. It is at its best in my opinion when playing alone, taking advantage of the isolation and relying on your own understanding of the environment and arsenal to complete the mission. When I played the game as opposed to watching trailers, it clicked. I highly recommend Mission 17 for anyone that doubts this game's atmosphere.

Lore and atmosphere tend to go together in Metroid games. Most of the lore in Federation Force is given to the player through mission briefings and is used to set up the atmosphere for the upcoming mission. In that way, it's more like Other M, Fusion and Corruption as opposed to a Metroid Prime or Metroid Prime 2. The game also leaves tidbits within each mission via terminals associated with the Federation, Space Pirates and ancient Bion race. Those tidbits can be about the structures present in extreme weather regions of Bion or about a Metroid's attachment after it hatches. I appreciate the connectivity of the game's lore, not just within itself, but with the chronological entries around it. Its intro connects to the ending of Corruption by doubling down on the eradication of Phazon and Phaaze's destruction and a terminal in Mission 17 ties into the events that happen in Metroid: Samus Returns and Super Metroid with the infant Metroid. It likely connects with Prime 4 with that ending unlocked from bringing the Federation a Metroid egg. I don't see how the game doesn't fit in with the series.

Federation Force overall may be my favorite game in the Metroid Series and it stands above nearly every entry due to having more interesting options. It's a game I can get immersed in solo or have a more lighthearted experience with through co-op. I can approach a mission with exploration in mind or with speed running in mind and be rewarded with either approach. I can pick how I am equipped for any mission and so can take on missions in numerous ways. I don't have to wait to play Federation Force the way I want to play Federation Force. Having 100% completion and every MOD, the game has become very addictive solo.

How do we get people to login and comment? I know!
2. Super Metroid (SNES)

@I-U Man, where you when I played through FF? I completely agree with you.

The writer's descriptions are plain terrible. Doesn't sound like they've even played half of them, sounds more like they just did a google search and based their description on the internet's opinion.

I actually really like the NES Metroid, though I first fell in love with Fusion and Prime when they came out simultaneously.

I saw a cool YouTube video the other day called "25 Times Metroid copied the Aliens Films" that was a fun walk down memory lane of all the games in the series

I've only played a few Metroid games, and not yet completed any of them, so what did my opinion count for... but having only played a tiny fraction of it, I'm tempted to say Samus Returns is my favourite, purely from having the most pleasing controls.

I've played some Super Metroid but don't care much for not having much clue where to head next, or the respawning enemies every time I backtrack, but especially dislike the wall jumping, as I got to a point where it seems to progress I need to string multiple wall jumps between enemies and I just haven't been able to do it, so I've put the game on the back burner.

There are some aspects of the Metroid games I think are really great, but without the hint system in Prime I'd be stuffed, and I really hope there's another way to save in MP4, because the sparcity of save stations really sucks.

Thankfully, they put the (GCN) Metroid Prime on spot 1. I can't stand the Wii version of the game because the motion controls ruin it.

I'll just rank the ones I've played:
1. Super Metroid
2. Metroid Prime 1
3. Prime 3: Corruption
4. Fusion
5. Samus Returns
6. Prime 2: Echoes
7. Other M
8. Prime Hunters

Really hyped for Prime 4 and still holding out hope for a 'DX' port of Samus Returns to Switch. Love it on the 2DS but would really like an HD version I could play on the tv or on the go.

Ok list, but Metroid Prime 3 and Other M are too high, while the original Metroid is too low.

like smash Bros, this is another franchise that I try to like but just can't get into. I didn't even like the SNES version.

"Metroid: Samus Returns is a 3D remake of Metroid II. Well, it's the kind of remake that Nintendo like to make, and actually shares a similar relationship to A Link to the Past and A Link Between Worlds. It's more of a reimagining in that sense."
OK, what? This makes literally no sense. ALttP and ALBW are two completely different games that share part of the game world and gameplay mechanics, besides that they are two completely different games as far as the story goes, it's more so akin to a sequel (well, as much as something can be a sequel in Zelda games)
Samus Returns on the other hand shares its story with Metroid 2, they are in a way the same game, so it's a solid remake.

@jerichofr You are the stereotypical nu-boomer who makes the comments section on this website a nightmare. If you hadn't gotten a scary amount of upvotes off of your first comment alone I would think you were a troll account.

@GravyThief Of course!

About Metroid in 2D and Metroid in 3D, the first game I played was Metroid Prime and I think that it's wonderful. I played Metroid Fusion on 3DS and Super Metroid on SNES Mini. Super Metroid is incredible and is the second game that was developed so I can understand why people hold it in high regard. I played it recently and it impressed me quite a bit.

Metroid Prime 3 is good but not as good as 1 or 2, I agree. Metroid Prime 1 and 2 are both awesome and quite different from each other, exactly like Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.

But Metroid Fusion is not bad at all and I'd never hate it, I only hated Other M. And the first game (Metroid) but only because trying to play it now if you never played it before is basically a nightmare. That's why Zero Mission exists, I suppose.

Funny how other m gets such a bad rap. It was a fun game to play for me and I really enjoyed it. Not so much the story because it was weak and I didn't like what they did with Samus but the gameplay, exploration and combat was fun. Fusion was my favorite 2D Metroid imo.

1. Fusion
2. Prime Trilogy (Motion controls for aiming were excellent & fun)
3. Samus Returns 3DS
4. Super Metroid
5. Other M.

Like Zelda, I think the Snes was the pinnacle of Metroid.

Return of Samus should be a fair bit higher in my humble opinion. I played it recently and it was a lot of fun. Good list, though.

@NickOfTime90 I really liked Federation Force. I understand people don’t like it as a Metroid, but people’s need to suck the enjoyment other people have out of something is annoying to me. I honestly wish we could have gotten a sequel (which we won’t). Games like Dillons Rolling Westen or Style Savy or Steel Diver get safely ignored cause they don’t have a big name attached to them but they are still fun for a lot of people. It’s sad to me that Federation Force... a totally decent and fun FPS on a system with like zero good FPSs... won’t get sequels like those other franchises because of people being [removed].

@MaSSiVeRiCaN people can’t separate in their minds what is fun from what is popular. If someone is fun for you, that is the purest form of enjoyment. I felt the same way about other M. Not what I wanted, but a nice diversion, and some good mechanics too.

Nonsense, federation force may not be a great metroid game but I'd play that over other m any time of the day, week month or year. Not featuring samus is miles better than featuring an abomination version of her.

I know that the comments section here is rather toxic, but I still wanted to give my stance on things. Considering the general reaction to these lists, it may be best to stop making them.

Personally, I really enjoy seeing how you feel games in a certain series should be ranked, however this tends to bring out the worst in people.

@Pojos98 I think it's funny because there hasn't been much storytelling to flesh out the type of character that Samus is.

I believe people have their own idea or view on the type of character she is but in all honesty it's up to the creators to elaborate and show more of her character according to the creators vision. She's human, a woman at that which comes with all the strengths and complexities of being an orphan. If they choose to show her to be vulnerable or terrified at what she's experiencing that's ok. Even if it doesn't match up with our own pre-conceived notions of who she is or isn't.

While it is a good game, I'm really not behind Metroid: Samus Returns like many other fans are. Out of all of the Metroid games, it is the only one with a central mechanic that makes no sense within the game's own universe. If Samus Aran is able to melee counter an enemy on the attack without taking damage, then she should also not be taking damage from making non-aggressive contact with an enemy. If the melee counter system returns again, contact damage needs to be removed when enemies are being non-aggressive. It doesn't make sense otherwise and the overall atmosphere takes a hit, which is a shame for a game like MSR that is impressive visually.

Besides that, the game doesn't get enough push back for how repetitive it is. I think it's more repetitive than the original Metroid II as it took away the uniqueness of the environments where Samus would encounter each Metroid and it turned combat into wait-counter-shoot for nearly every enemy.

The best part of Samus Returns is that it lays the foundation for how a modern 2D Metroid game should look. If they continue making 2D Metroid games in that style in HD for the Switch, I think the fanbase will continue to be very happy. I just would like them to definitely revisit and revise the gameplay going forward. I can't get into games that much that don't make sense in their universe.

Playing as Samus for the first time in 7 years since Other M was also a good feeling, as I think Samus Returns nearly perfects the way Samus should feel in movement and in animation. Not good enough to overshadow the game's faults, but like the environmental and cinematic visuals, I think there is a solid foundation here for Samus that future 2D Metroid games can take advantage of.

For me, Samus Returns is on the lower end of Metroid experiences I've had, and I think AM2R was a more faithful and more enjoyable experience using the basis of Metroid II than Nintendo's own reimagining. I would probably even enjoy playing the original Metroid II more than MSR as it offers more creative situations involving each Metroid encounter that just weren't there last year.

@MaSSiVeRiCaN I totally agree. The issue is that Metroidvania type games really excel at making the player feel like a 'badass' so for all this time, people just assumed that Samus was a badass like Master Chief. By the time Other M rolled around people weren't open to the idea that Samus could be vulnerable. I personally didn't like the way they executed it, but i respect the idea that they could even try that with her character.

@Rontanamo_Bay I'm not going to justify MSR with a Mario game. The melee counter is an element that MSR revolves around nearly from start to finish, and it is inconsistent with the contact damage present. No Metroid game is that inconsistent. I really don't think MSR would be looked at as highly as it is if it weren't the first Metroid game in 7 years to have Samus as lead and playable.

@Rontanamo_Bay It’s certainly not as bad as the Mario and Zelda lists, I’ll give you that.

@Rontanamo_Bay Your Mario example doesn’t even work. The Goomba is being stomped by Mario from the top, and running into a Goomba from the side where his attire is less durable. Are you going to argue that Samus’s Arm Cannon is the most durable part of her armor, over her chest plating and helmet? Would you argue Samus wears armor that offers inconsistent protection?

@BLD

Yup, Prime 3 also featured puzzles incorporating Samus's ship which was a first for the series. I rank it the best of the Prime games so far.

@jerichofr Your rant on intelligence is making me lose IQ points.

Other M is underrated. REALLY liked that game. Super Metroid is still best by a mile. TBH, i'd rank the 2 GBA games and Super M above ALL the first person games. I didnt think the Metroids translated all that well into 3D and, although I enjoyed them, they werent a patch on the side scrollers. Having had a Zelda marathon recently ive realised I also prefer the 2d old school Zeldas too.

@Pojos98 Please mind your language!

@jerichofr No need to report those comments. If you're saying that people are more ''intelligent'' for liking a certain game... well, what kind of reactions did you expect in the first place? It's not a fact, it's an opinion.

@Octane If they tag me, and directly attack me, I will report their comments. That is what the report feature is for, after all. What is a fact is that I never called anyone out specifically by name, they are. Hence why their comments were reported, and will continue to be any time they attack me directly.

Also, everything on this site is pretty much an opinion, not much in the way of facts being disseminated in these comments.

@fluggy

I think one thing that Other M proved was how important platforming is to the core Metroid experience. Other M was the first time we actually got to control Samus's somersault and even wall jumping in a 3D game.

The Prime series are great games but there's something about keeping Samus exclusively limited to a first person perspective that fails to properly display the full depth of the character's varied abilities. I wish (or hope) this is somehow addressed in Metroid Prime 4

@jerichofr They aren't really ''attacks''. And maybe you shouldn't say that people are less intelligent for preferring a certain game if you don't want any responses like that.

It's weird you would call a Metroid game Metroidvania. That's kinda like calling a Kafka novel Kafkaesque. That and you say Metroid Pinball is the only spin-off when you just listed Federation Force a couple entries before.

1. Super Metroid
2. Other M
3. Zero Mission
4. Fusion
5. Prime 2: Echoes
6. Axiom Verge
7. Prime 3: Corruption
8. Prime
9. Prime Hunters
10. Prime Pinball
11. Metroid II
12. Metroid

@jerichofr So you insulted an entire class of gamers, and when you got a response you went straight to the mods?

Yeah, I stand by the inferences I drew regarding your age.

@Rontanamo_Bay The Morph Ball isn’t a gameplay element that contradicts another aspect of the game. That’s why it doesn’t bother me.

Melee combat isn’t necessarily a new concept, it’s just not done that well with MSR. Other M handled that concept much better. I didn’t go out of my way to be bothered by MSR, thought it was the best 2D Metroid after getting 100% initially, but the second run that “new game” ride was over and the game’s problems were much more noticeable.

Confession. I've never played Prime.

I don't know about this list, really... I love Prime, but Super Metroid is a game I've played so much and I enjoy so much. I couldn't possibly put it second. I mean, it's hard for me to even think of other Nintendo games I have loved as much. But it's ok, I like controversy best-of lists

@Pojos98 I really liked it as well, I’m a proud owner. Then again, I also like triforce heroes and other M. Apparantly a pinball game is better than this game...

I've only ever played the Prime games. Say what you want but I consider myself a big fan. Almost died when they announced Prime 4.
As for which of the three I think is the best, I'd have to go with Echoes. So many fond memories with it. With the original as well. I enjoyed Corruption as well but that is the one I played the least.

From best to worst:

Super Metroid (SNES)
Metroid Prime (GCN)
Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (GCN)
Metroid Fusion (GBA)
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii)
Metroid: Samus Returns (3DS)
Metroid Prime Pinball (DS)
Metroid II: Return of Samus (GB)
Metroid (NES)
Metroid Prime: Hunters (DS)
Metroid: Other M (Wii)
Metroid Prime: Federation Force (3DS)*

• Didn't play this abomination (for a Metroid, I'm sure it's a fun multiplayer game in its own right), nor was I excited for it when it was announced. I actually remember saying "WTF?" and getting pissed because fans wanted a new Metroid type of Metroid at the time.

@Pojos98 I don't know how many people were not open to the idea of Samus being vulnerable until Other M since Fusion gave her plenty of lines and did exactly what Other M did in the infamous scene that made her vulnerable, except Fusion did not make her vulnerable and the storyline of Fusion was arguably more terrifying for her than Other M's. Fusion gave Samus several opportunities to not be a badass, but she stood her ground there.

The list seems ok, I'd probably have put Super Metroid in first though.

My favorite Metroid games, not necessarily the best but how much I enjoyed them at the time.
1. Metroid Prime 3 Corruption
2. Metroid Other M
3. Metroid Fusion
4. Super Metroid
5. Metroid Prime

Any time you try and compare a 2D game to a 3D game, it's apples and oranges. And Super Metroid v. Metroid Prime is perhaps the single hardest comparison to make within a franchise in that split. There's a strong case to be made for Metroid Prime being the best game of its generation, and I'd be inclined to agree. Super Metroid has a similar claim, but arguably tougher competition from the likes of Super Mario World, A Link to the Past, and Chrono Trigger. Metroid Prime is just so different from anything else that generation. It is dripping with effort and attention to detail, and it still holds up today despite the controls being a little wonky by modern standards. Super Metroid launched an entire sub-genre and remains one of the greatest platformers ever created. Both are not only great games, but important ones that had transformative impacts on the industry.

There's a lot of vitriol in these comments. Both are unquestionably masterpieces. I don't begrudge anyone who would name either the best, and ultimately it's a matter of personal preference and taste. It'd be a little foolish and arrogant even for anyone to definitively call one better than the other. I don't think FPS's are inherently inferior to 2D platformers, as some have espoused on here, which is an incredibly biased, baseless, and ignorant claim, despite me agreeing with Super Metroid being the better of the two.

I went into this list, as I'm sure everyone else did, assuming that either Super Metroid or Metroid Prime would be #1, and so long as it was one of those two, I knew I'd be reasonably satisfied. Lists just have these effects on people. When two games are so similar in quality, it becomes impossible to objectively compare them. We can all agree, if we are being unbiased, that Super Metroid > Metroid II and Metroid Prime > Other M. The gap in quality in those comparisons is objective, one being the product of hardware limitations and age, the other the product of a meandering and misguided game design.

The sentiment in the comments seems to be that Super Metroid should be #1. Take some solace in that if you agree. But it's stupid to argue that point. They're both equally deserving.

Metroid Fusion is my favorite.

Honestly here is what I would rank them on a personal level I know people will disagree with me on some of these but others I think people will understand.
13. Metroid: Other M
12. Metroid Prime: Federation Force
11. Metroid Prime Pinball
10. Metroid 2: Return of Samus
9. Metroid Prime: Hunters
8. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
7. Metroid
6. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
5. Metroid: Zero Mission
4. Super Metroid
3. Metroid: Samus Returns
2. Metroid Prime
1. Metroid: Fusion

@MaSSiVeRiCaN The reason I despise Other M is due to its plot holes and how badly Samus was portrayed. The plot holes are really what hurt the game. On top of it Samus acts so out of character it kills the game itself. It really doesn't have any redeeming qualities with just those two things.

I liked Metroid Prime a lot. It nailed the atmosphere better than any Metroid game before it. But Super Metroid is my all time favorite. I don't really like first person games, which is a testament to how much of a gem Metroid Prime really is, but at the end of the day, I'd rather play 2D than 3D.

@GamingTenderiser never mind the ridiculous design choice to have it work with only the Wii Remote.

We want a DK list next please!

I agree that Prime is #1 and Super is #2. My only thing I would change is switching Prime 3 and Zero Mission. I personally think Prime 3 added more than Prime 2. Yes Prime 2 was darker and had the light/dark gameplay elements, but Prime 3 introduced more cinematic story elements with terrific voice acting. The bosses were cool too.

So my top 5 would look like this:
1. Prime
2. Super
3. Prime 3
4. Prime 2
5. Zero

I enjoyed Super Metroid when I first played it about 8 years ago on the Wii VC, but when compared to the GBA games (specifically Zero Mission), the movement feels too slow. Because of that, for me I'd say:
Prime 1 > Zero Mission > Super > Fusion

I also enjoyed AM2R quite a bit more than Samus Returns so I'd place that right after Zero Mission despite it being an unofficial remake.

@Bassman_Q Oh, if we're going to add in fan remakes, then AM2R most definitely deserves to be on this list! As does a Super Metroid remake called Super Metroid Redesign. Unlike a lot of hacks that go a bit crazy, this one is basically the Zero Mission of Super.

So, my revised list is:

Super Metroid (SNES)
Super Metroid Redesign (PC hack)
Metroid Prime (GCN)
Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)
AM2R (PC hack)
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (GCN)
Metroid Fusion (GBA)
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii)
Metroid: Samus Returns (3DS)
Metroid Prime Pinball (DS)
Metroid II: Return of Samus (GB)
Metroid (NES)
Metroid Prime: Hunters (DS)
Metroid: Other M (Wii)
Metroid Prime: Federation Force (3DS)*

I have never played a Metroid game. I didn’t realize there were so many honesty.

Are you kidding me with Other M? Do you feel that sorry for it??? I get that the older games have aged poorly and Metroid Pinball is a Pinball game.....but they deserve a lot more credit than the steaming dung that is Other M. It might be the most disappointing game I've ever played. Maybe it wouldn't have been if not for the dumb controls, or the abysmal narrative, or the helpless version of Samus they created, or the linear (LINEAR!!!!!) gameplay, or if they had done ANYTHING ELSE RIGHT!!!! The graphics might have been the only thing that I can't bash as they looked pretty good for a Wii game but I'll never forgive this game for making me think that Metroid had taken a step forward, only to see that this game was step back. Despite what I've said i'd like to see them take another crack at a game like this.....just make it an ACTUAL METROID GAME!

1) Super Metroid
2) Super Metroid
3) Super Metroid
4) every other game

Federation Force really isn't a bad game, it's just not what the fans wanted at the time it came out.

@Kilroy I think that’s the part of fusion that people actually didn’t like. It didn’t open people up to Samus being vulnerable. If anything it should have shown Nintendo to NOT push that angle any further. Problem is it came out in really what was still the early days of games coverage online. I think these days Fusion might have gotten a more negative reaction. Back then people were just glad to have any Metroid period, esp 2D

@Pojos98 Agree, the dialogue in Fusion definitely was the worst part of the game. As far as vulnerability though, Fusion showed Samus staying strong in the faces of greater threats than what Other M presented. Also agree that people half-ignored the dialogue just so they could play a new 2D Metroid.

The only Metroid games I don’t have are Federation Force, Pinball and the first Metroid on NES. I own the rest of the games though and I love them all to bits.

You really have nothing good to say about "Other M" at all?! The gameplay is top notch! The combination of 2D and 3D is brilliant, and switching between firing modes is hardly clunky at all! What game were you playing?! The only issue with the gameplay is that it gets uncomfortable playing long sessions with a sideways held Wiimote.

Meanwhile, the game is no more linear than "Fusion" or either version of Metroid 2 are (I personally prefer the half-linear, half-exploration style of these four games), and the story is actually really good once you get past the horrible dialogue and the mixed reception on the voice acting.

@Kilroy You're ignoring exactly what that scene in "Other M" represented, though. Ridley was Samus's personal nemesis who she had finally killed for good recently back in "Super Metroid." To suddenly see a new version of him once again would certainly be traumatizing.

Now, I don't know exactly what scenes you're referring to in "Fusion," but Samus would be less affected by Ridley's revival that time for two reasons: first, she was able to watch his revival from his remains instead of being ambushed, and second, her experience in Other M helped her deal with this new occurrence. Meanwhile, anything else she faced in Fusion wouldn't have affected her on such a personal level as Ridley or when Adam sacrificed himself in "Other M" (which is one scene that was handled really well).

@BulbasaurusRex At the time Other M was released, Fusion had existed for years and was written long before Other M (was assumed) to be conceived. Chronologically, Samus had fought Ridley in the Metroid (NES), Prime 1, Prime 3 and Super prior to fighting his clone in Other M. After four defeats, all of them arguably thought of as deaths at the time of the defeats, you'd think Samus was immune to all of his resurrections. Plus, Kraid was even resurrected for Super.

Now, in Prime 3, Omega Ridley blew up and evaporated into phazon particles. Once Phaaze was destroyed, all traces of phazon seemed to disappear. Ridley is surely dead from that, no? But then he re-appears in Super. Granted, Super was written long before Prime 3 (much like Fusion was written long before Other M), so that's clearly a plothole. It is now assumed that Ridley is a perpetual being only because the Space Pirates love reviving him, be it through clones or something else.

Other M produced many plotholes and ignored many facets of Metroid history. Samus's reaction to Ridley just supports the lazy and ignorant writing of the game.

@Kilroy Fusion came first, yes, but parts of Other M's story were already conceived by Sakamoto, evidenced in part by the references to Adam in Fusion and the fact that Ridley's remains (which came from Other M) were on that research ship in Fusion in the first place.

They couldn't show it with the graphical limitations, but Samus obviously did not get a clean kill on Ridley in the original game or its remake. As for the Prime encounters, I haven't seen them, but I've always heard that there was clear evidence of Ridley escaping after those fights.

What other plotholes? The rest of Other M's story is perfectly fine and fits in nicely with the series lore. Sure, waiting to activate the Varia Suit was just stupid on Adam's and Samus's part, but there were no plotholes involved anywhere as far as I can tell.

@BulbasaurusRex Is the Adam precursor confirmed by Sakamoto? The manga from the 90's, which is considered canon, also has Adam, who was at least fairly true to his Other M counterpart.

The non-clean kill in the NES Metroid, I'll give you, but by the time GBA rolled around, Nintendo certainly had the hardware capabilities to show that a character is given certain death.

Prime fights: in Prime 1, it's implied because you see Ridley fall and hear him explode as Samus watches him fall. Prime 3, fight with Meta Ridley is obvious that he survived, but that's the first fight. Second fight, when he's Omega Ridley, events occur exactly as I described it two comments up. I even YT'd it to confirm what I remembered.

No, the story isn't perfectly fine. Zebesians, or Space Pirates as they're otherwise known, are described as basically feral and unintelligent without the guidance of Mother Brain. Yet Prime 1 shows them being coordinated and strategic once they realized Samus made planet-fall (there was no MB on Tallon IV). Zero Mission showed them being a great threat after both Ridley and MB were defeated. Now, to go back to OM, there actually was a MB that turned out to be the final "boss." So, Other M seems to be contradicting its own story here.

"Series lore." Other M completely ignored Prime 3's story when OM said the Bottle Ship is the first time Samus worked directly with Federation forces, yet Samus took orders directly from a Federation admiral in Prime 3 and fought alongside Federation soldiers.

There's more, but honestly, how can you debate this when half your knowledge is admittedly from other people that you haven't even fact-checked yourself and you haven't played all of the games?

"It's still Metroid. You still explore various planets"

Lol, they didn't play the game at all. It takes place on 1 planet!
Anyway, my top spot goes between Prime 1 or 2. I actually love the difficulty of Prime 2.

Also lol at the panning of Federation force, while they first praised it!

Finally, putting Fusion sooo low? What where you thinking?!

I feel like Federation Force gets too much slack because it doesn't have Samus and isn't exactly traditional. For what it is, it really isn't a bad game, everyone just has a bad taste in their mouth because it was revealed at a time when it had been a very long time since the last Metroid game and then fans flipped out that it wasn't what they wanted.

I'm gonna probably be disliked for this, but minor correction:
There is only one planet in Metroid Prime (minus Frigate Orpheon, but you're only there for about 10 minutes so it doesn't really count, and it's a ship, not a planet, anyway), Tallon IV. In Metroid Prime II, there's TECHNICALLY only one planet, Aether, though it's duplicated and modified for Dark Aether.
Prime 3 is where we get a bunch of planets and it's where exploration is more varied (notice, I don't believe "varied" to be interchangeable with "exciting". Prime 3 is egregiously linear.)

There's only one game on this list that I've played though completely more than 10 times and that's Super Metroid. Especially now with the Rnadomizer's has brought even more life into the old game. While I like prime, I just don't think know if any Metroid game will ever displace my love for Super Metroid. However with Breath of the Wild I can be shocked by something coming out of nowhere and really loving it to (though LttP is still my favorite zelda as well).

@Classic-Gamer you're name is classic gamer tho

I actually can't stand the controls of super metroid, which surprised me considering the praise it receives to this day. My first was actually Fusion, but Prime was incredible first time around on GC. Echoes is my favourite however, just for the setting and abilities and transitioning mechanics between light and dark worlds, the whole game just captivates me more than the original. Prime all the way, can't wait for the next entry... in several years!

My list for games I played from best to worst has to go:
1. Super Metroid- the atmosphere, gameplay, graphics and music are the best.
2. Prime- insane game that is very unique and has great atmosphere and story.
3-.Samus Returns- Excellent gameplay and Decent atmosphere. The core gameplay is what makes it shine for me.
4. Zero Mission- Excellent remake of the original with fun bosses and more fluid gameplay than fusion.
5 AM2R- Dr.m64 did an excellent job with this remake. Atmosphere is better than Samus Returns but gameplay isnt imo
6. Prime 2- Excellent sequel but the light and dark mechanic got old for me. I did like the world in this game tho.
7. Prime 3- Linear Metroid but it was still pretty fun. I was kinda primed out tho.
8. Fusion- not really a fan of this game. It didnt feel challenging but really unfair at times. The atmosphere was lame and the music was trash. The SaX and story really made up for it tho. I hated Yakuza, Nightmare and Security bot tho.
9. Metroid 2- I dont care what people say this game is leagues better than Metroid Nes. Better gameplay, controls and has aged better
10. Metroid- Awful game. Product of it's time and I respect its legacy. I have played both this with a guide and Metroid Mother rom hack which makes the graphics nicer and adds a map. Lo e the music and cheat codes of this game

Did you guys seriously put Samus returns in front of Fusion lol...…

Fusion is one of the most unique Metroid games as it has such a focused story and the tense atmosphere of being hunted by a superior clone.

Also Super Metroid should be first......

@jerichofr it's true, prime is a shooting game from a first person perspective. This put me off the game for years. I wanted more Super Metroid. When I eventually played it, it was great... but nothing is better than Super Metroid.

Question: Why is Echoes considered so hard? I had an easier time with it than prime 1, and found it super chill and fun. Also, you should add AM2R to the list.

@I_commented did you play it first on GameCube or the Wii trilogy? The Wii trilogy dumbed down the difficulty slightly.

The original GameCube versions, Echoes was defo harder.

As for rating the games, I’ve only really played the 3D games (wish the 2D were available on Switch)…

1: Metroid Prime *****
2: Metroid Echoes *****
3: Metroid Corruption ****

Loved the first two Prime games. Corruption was good but not quite as good as Prime

@Oswinner
Yeah, I figured out that the prime trilogy was easier. Normal on GameCube is equivalent to veteran on trilogy. Echoes is definitely harder in veteran difficulty. I also think I was more experienced going through echoes than when I was first playing Prime 1. Now I’m working on Prime in hypermode and getting through the Phazon Mines. Not easy!

@I_commented awww man. You’re making me want to play the Prime Trilogy on Wii. I’ve been holding out on buying it in hope it gets re-released on Switch! I do still own the originals though so I could boot them up…!

The first eight games are simply must have.

I would add Other M there, though. It's commonly underrated.

You know it’s a good series if only some spinoffs score less than a 7 on average.

Solid ranking list which kind of matches what I think. I'd have the placings a tad different beyond the top 3 but largely agree with the rankings. I think Prime 3 at no.4 is my main one but Zero Mission and Fusion are gaming royalty so it's hard to criticise. Prime 3 is > Prime 2 though

Great list! Maybe a little cheap including the Prime games twice, but still a good list!! (Prime 3 is BETTER then Prime 2... FACT)

Metroid Ii definitely ranks above the original, but ah well.

@Brad_Hogan I was thinking the same thing. Prime Trilogy is the best way to access the Prime games, but the games should only be ranked individually.

Super Metroid is a masterpiece, hands down. And I say that knowing it has flaws, like wall jump/space jump.

However, I think with Nintendo Switch Online, the original Metroid is worth checking out. Now with save states and rewind, the game is a lot less frustrating to play. And yes, it has no map, but with the internet, it's pretty easy to find a guide or map if you want one. And honestly, you can figure it out on your own if you want as well. It's not too bewildering. It still oozes atmosphere, and the music/sound effects are still amazing for a game released in 1986.

The historical significance of the first one is important as well. While Super Mario Bros. showed that the NES could play games of arcade-like caliber, Metroid (and Zelda) showed the NES could also play games that you would never find in an arcade, games with depth and dimension that went far beyond high scores and pumping in quarters to get further.

Putting Prime over Super people? Are you for real?

Samus Returns deserved better than half a million copies.

@Tempestryke The original Metroid Prime is simply perfect, a 10/10 game even if you play it today. So I wouldn't say it's a crazy thing to do.

I think I'm the only person in the world who genuinely prefers Metroid over Zero Mission. And that's not to say the first game is perfect, it has a lot of problems. But I'll take the repetitive corridors and obtuse layouts any day over the handholding and hamfisted elements of Zero Mission. ZM isn't bad but when comparing the two I'd always rather have the original - and most preferably the FDS version.

@Tempestryke

I would personally put Prime, Prime 2, Fusion, Zero Mission and Samus Returns over Super.

I had never played Super until Switch, but everyone praised it and the hype was real. Loaded it up and it's not that fun. Two button aiming, suuuuper floaty, zero mentions of where to go. At 30 and as a husband and father, I don't have time to wander and just figure out that you need to bomb a random floor to find an elevator.

Had I grown up with Super, I'm sure I'd be just as into it as everyone else. But that's just my opinion, no doubt I'm in the minority

@Brad_Hogan
@LEGEND_MARIOID

I've never seen anyone choose prime 3 over 2! What was it you preferred?

I personally loved Prime 2. Prime 1 is GOAT for me, but 2 was a great sequel. Dark world, music, suits, level design. Some bosses should be a bit less irritating, but the game is a gem!

Prime 3 felt less dark, less lonely. Like it was a game in the Mass Effect series. Not bad at all, but no Prime/2

Other M over Hunters? Not. A. Chance.
Hunters may be a product of its time, but at the time, it was amazing. Somehow packing as much as it did into the little DS as well as including one of Nintendo’s best online multiplayer experiences ever? It’s not the best Metroid game by any means, but it HAS to be rated higher than the abomination that was Other M.

If you played Hunters with the thumb strap, Nintendo had managed to practically simulate keyboard / mouse controls in a handheld game. I consider that (still) to be an incredible feat and one I was very surprised wasn't capitalised on by many of the usual fps crowd. A very under appreciated game I think.

''Once you've accepted what Federation Force is rather than what it isn't, it becomes a much easier game to enjoy and a thoroughly decent Metroid spin-off.''
''Our score: 8/10''
Didn't know ''decent'' meant 8/10.

I don't think we give the prime series enough credit for how well it did metroidvanias in a FPS setting.

I'd say Super Metroid is best too... But imo the Castlevania series does the 2D platforming and exploration even better. Before prime nothing really attempted anything similar.

It always seems as if I'm the only one who dislikes Super Metroid. It's a great game until the moment you start climbing walls. When that power is unblocked, frustration sets in. I've tried the game several times and can't shake off that feeling. If only they would have made that easier...

Federation Force is my favorite metroid game of all time...

Prime Trilogy shouldn't have been included on this list. It's not its own game. It's a collection of three games that are already included in the same list. It's just silly to include it.

Zero Mission for me. A friend lent me his GBA along with this one game. It introduced me to Nintendo as a whole and got me though hospital when I was a kid.

So stupid to have the trilogy on here. It is literally already on the list. With that said I agree with Super Metroid but not the placing of all the rest except federation force at the last.

Federation Force is a good game. People are too harsh on that game.

Metroid Fusion is my favorite 2D Metroid game.

Metroid Prime 1 is my favorite 3D Metroid game.

I wish there was a way to see how many people who rated Other M actually played it. I understand why it’s divisive, but there’s no way it’s as bad as the conversation around it. It does too many things right, and in a lot of ways is closer to Super Metroid than Prime is (which I also love). I always think of it as a “lost” title that slots in between Super and Prime, representing the N64 era we never got a Metroid in. For as good as Prime is, Other M’s Samus feels more like the nimble bounty hunter in the 2D games, her characterization notwithstanding. If I could get a copy of it with non-English VO, I’d give it a 10 alongside Prime, Super, Zero Mission, and the original.

Federation Force as well, it’s not my favorite, but the strikes against it are all for what it isn’t, not what it is. It’s better than a lot of games not in the Metroid series, and remarkable for a handheld title at the time.

@jerichofr Ahahahaha! That's the most dumb thing I 've ever read. "I like X instead of Y and anyone that likes Y is intelectually inferior". These are video games hon! Chill out!

OT: My personal favorite is Metroid Prime because it's the game that introduced me to the series. Super Metroid comes in second. I am not a big fan of Sakamoto's direction with the series. The dude is way too obsessed with film tropes, character arcs and another artsy mumbo jumbo that doesn't fit on Metroid. He is the typical failed mangaka/filmmaker and it uses games as a way to shove his frustrations. Still, Metroid Fusion was kinda fun. M:OM was a huge disaster though.

People should try and play the originalNES Metroid at least once. Yeah, it lacks many QOL stuff and all but the sense of isolation and dread (hehe) and the though-as-nails exploration is one of a kind and no other metroid has tried to replicate it.

@Meteoroid It’s odd to see Trilogy at the top for being a compilation, but it is a better version of one of the greatest games of all time and the sequel which is a fan favorite.

Time is always going to hurt the older games as well. As hard as it maybe to go back to the original Metroid, there’s now way to express the impact of it at the time to new players. I prefer a lot of the obtuseness in the first Metroid as well. Just like Zelda, the SNES games are inarguably great sequels, but key elements are lost, or are beginning to be lost in those follow-ups.

@Spiders I played it and I can say that as an action-adventure game is Ok-ish. As a Metroid game is just plain bad.

Metroid is about exploration and MOM took all that. The moment Sakamoron said that people liked Super Metroid because of Samu's maternal instincts should tell anybody that the dude has no freakin' idea why people likes Metroid. He is just there because he is the only one of the original Metroid team that isn't dead or retired.

@DK-Fan Couldn’t agree more. Metroid has a magic (like the first Zelda) that begins to fade in their sequels, despite how great they are. Super Metroid felt very “friendly” in comparison, and at the time I considered that a strike - though a very forgivable one in light of its strengths.

@Classic603 I always had the feeling that they made Metroid Prime 3 that way to compete with Halo which at the time was very popular. I like it a lot but they took a lot of the original and the series magic. At least they kept the exploration and upgrade elements.

@DK-Fan I agree with you, but I always looked at it in the context of the series and Fusion was already that step away from open exploration. Maybe all disappointment people felt with Other M I already coped with coming off of Fusion - story-heavy, linear - so I was able to take it for what it was more than what I wanted it to be.

So the definite versions of Metroid games because nobody cares about the spin-offs…

2D Metroid
1: Metroid III - Super Metroid (94)
2: Metroid I - Zero Mission (91)
3: Metroid IV - Metroid Fusion (88)
4: Metroid II - Samus Returns (84)

3D Metroid
1: Metroid Prime I (94)
2: Metroid Prime II - Echoes (87)
3: Metroid Prime III - Corruption (86)

Considering that both Primes are rated before Super Metroid... that makes Super Metroid number one on the list.

The Prime Trilogy consist of the three games that are rated before Super Metroid.

They should remake Other M, but this time featuring D A B A B Y as "the baby"

How the heck did trilogy win, with the godawful controls that weren't even designed for the first 2 games :S Besides, I'm not sure how much sense it makes to include a compilation. I would've put the Metroid Prime GC version in the first place. At any rate, thanks for not including am2r on the list. Fan-made games are not part of the series.

Gavin - I give you SO MUCH credit for speaking about Other M the way you did. It is absolutely one of my favorite Metroid games (and I've played them all. and read the manga!). So it's really refreshing to see someone give their honest take on the game even if it happens to be positive. Thank you.

I'm just here to say that Zero Mission really wasn't that memorable. Not better than Fusion, and certainly not even close to Super Metroid as reviewers of NL implied. I also take issue with NL saying Fusion didn't bring much new to the table. The suspense in that game is palpable and the story expertly paced. I would argue that it has the best story of any Metroid game.

@Classic603 I just had a great time playing Prime 3 and felt the adventure/story was really good Prime 2 is good no doubt and I know most people would agree with you. But you ALL WRONG!!! Hahahahaha

@Tandy255 Deffo my friend. Super Metroid all day!

To be behind a monochromatic Gameboy game and the 8-bit original, both requiring external means to have a map and lacking the series' improvements to gameplay that have occurred since, Metroid: Other M, Metroid Prime Hunters, Metroid Prime Pinball and Metroid Prime: Federation Force are all four SEVERELY underrated. I have Metroid Prime Hunters as the best game overall, Federation Force as a slight second just barely over Super Metroid (with amiibo support and playing single player) and Other M is no where near as bad as it has been made out to be. I have it right at the edge of my Top 5, and Metroid Prime Pinball is the best at what it is in my opinion. I cannot say that about the main Metroid Prime games as adventure games.

My ranking is:
Super/ Prime 1
Prime 3
Samus Returns
Prime 2
Fusion/Zero Mission (would be higher if these games didn't tell you where to go)
Other M (LIVED parts of it, but story/characterisation issues, awkward control swap)
Metroid / Return of Samus

Super Metroid is overrated. It's just... a Metroid game, nothing really special about it, I get sick of people praising this game to high heavens like it's some perfect untouchable masterpiece because it's not, I can think of a lot of things to improve the game with a remake. Samus Returns and Zero Mission are better.

Same thing with Metroid Prime, I'd rank Prime 2 higher because the Light World/Dark World mechanic made the game more fun to explore, but I'm less down on Prime because there's less competition to make it look plain.

My list:
Prime 2
Prime
Zero Mission
Samus Returns
Prime 3
Super
Fusion
Metroid
Metroid II

@Bolt_Strike

Heard that. I go back and forth between prime and prime 2, and fusion and zero mission. All 4 are fantastic though

You can't have a trilogy of games as an entry.

Edit. Sorry its an article from 3 years ago.

I'm all for recycling.

@GTHOLLAND Yeah, that is kind of cheating. Like, of course a collection of three fantastic games is going to be better than one fantastic games, that's not really a fair comparison.

This might be one of the worst lists yet

Undue hatred? Federation Flop deserves every bit of it and more.

Disregarding a collection, I agree that the Top 3 are definitely Super Metroid, Metroid Prime and Metroid Zero Mission.

"These days it feels rather limited, but on a DS in 2006"
Two games that are ranked ahead of Hunters and that scored 10/10 require the player to essentially stop moving to free aim and requires also holding down another button, and Hunters is the one that's limited? Not to mention that lock-on in Prime and Prime 2 on the Gamecube compensated for the player's almost complete lack of control over Samus's arm cannon. Both games became great when they came over in the Metroid Prime Trilogy release. They're two of the most overrated games prior to that move to the Wii.

I personally prefer Zero Mission and Fusion to Super. Maybe that’s just me.

@jerichofr Ya do know Metroid Prime is considered by Nintendo themselves to be a game in the "First Person Adventure" genre, right?

@jerichofr Hmm are you really an "older gamer" if you use the word "awesomeness"?

Hate to be that guy, but it really feels like a series that even at its best is merely okay, outshined by its followers. Without nostalgia goggles on Super Metroid is a clunky platforming game with rudimentary combat, set in a world that ironically feels less alive than Dracula's castle in the other half of the genre. Even the most faithful indie imitation in the form of Axiom Verge just presents itself as a better game (even though knowing Metroid first certainly adds to it).

Just knock Metroid Prime Trilogy completely off the list (It's just three other Metroid games in one pack!) and the list is perfect, with Super Metroid on top where it should be.

Either flip one and two or just don't count the trilogy collection and this list is exactly my list

@jerichofr
Why are we arguing about something that in purely subjective and completely foolish to argue about? No one walks away from this looking "intelligent"

Other M and Hunters should’ve swapped places IMO.

Not so sure if I would have place the first 5 positions in that same order but as major fan even I shift places from time to time, I would say thou that I did enjoy other M.
Overall pretty solid list and by the way, I have a sealed copy of Metroid prime trilogy 😌

@Shard1 Really? If that was truly the case Meroid
Pinball and Metroid Other M would be in the top three.

I would take any 2D Metroid game over the 3D ones in a second. Number 1 should be Super Metroid or the remake of Samus Returns followed my Fusion and Zero Mission.

@Donkey-Kong-Fan Swapped and be higher rated. Just on a technical level, no game should be rated below Metroid II.

I thought Metroid Hunters was a bit underrated, as it was an interesting take on the series (take a note Federation Force) and the multi-player was so good. Remember, it even had online multiplayer and I recall fond memories of monster online sessions of Mario Kart DS, Metroid Hunters and Star Fox Command via dial-up and using the Nintendo USB dongle as the wifi connection.

Metroid Pinball was so addictive. I only wish it had more tables. It was great multi-player too.

I was so upset the Metroid name was used for Federation Force that I boycotted it. I never played Other M because I boycotted the Wii (and WU) era. Same deal with Prime 3, while I don't understand how a compilation (Metroid Prime Trilogy) can be on a "best game". Never played Metroid 2 on GB and only fiddled with Metroid on NES.

My Top 8
Super Metroid
Metroid Prime
Metroid Fusion
Metroid Zero Mission
Metroid Samus Returns
Metroid Prime 2
Metroid Hunters
Metroid Pinball

I'd dearly love a Metroid compilation on Switch, which would include all the Prime games and Other M.

What is wrong with you people? Metroid pinball is an absolute joke of a game and should ABSOLUTELY be at the bottom of this list.

Hahahaha. You seriously included the prime Trilogy in this list? Not exactly fair including a port compilation, doesn't really count as an entry in the Metroid series if the individual games are there, too. Gonna just consider Super Metroid as the true and rightful winner!

@iammikegaines Metroid Prime Pinball is a great pinball game, and I think it's more enjoyable in short bursts than a handful of games on this list. Metroid II should be dead last. It came before the series' major QOL changes, and is a black and white game. Metroid Prime Pinball is leagues better than that game just on a technical level while also offering great gameplay within its genre.

A shame most of these titles aren't on the Switch now nor in the foreseeable future despite the massive outrcry for GBA and Gamecube titles to come to the NSO, but oh well, you do you Nintendo.

@DK-Fan I agree, but the other 2 games were still there for you to play...... But now you had a blend of Halo & Prime 1 in Prime 3!
A very good game that stands out as a NEW game, much more then Prime 2 did from Prime 1!! That was my point!!!
However, I see your too!!!!

The first PRIME game was a revelation; and was the main reason I was proud to have a GCN in November of 2002 instead of a PS2 as most of my friends were playing VICE CITY at that time. It's atmosphere, music, level design, boss battles, story progression; all first class. While the pointer controls are okay, the lock on with the GameCube's pad is where it's at. You really did feel like Samus exploring another world.

It would be cool to know the amount of people that ranked each game. Pinball ranking higher than Hunters is just weird.

Metroid Prime 2; "Often considered to be the weakest entry in the Prime trilogy"

Is ranked higher than Prime 3

@NintendoArchive Why is so?

It is not for gameplay reasons that I loathe Other M.

Hey, the gameplay in "Other M" works very well and is an excellent blend of 2D platforming and 3D combat that clicks for most players. Meanwhile, it's no more linear than "Fusion" is (although I get it if players complain about that for both games, even though I actually prefer the more linear Metroid games). The good majority of the things the game tried did work.

It's mostly the story and the way it's presented (especially the dialogue) that many players don't like, although I personally find their complaints to either misplaced or overblown and certainly not worth passing up playing what is otherwise a very good action game that adds a bunch of interesting facets to the overarching narrative.

As the list itself points out, I don't know why anyone would rank the original "Metroid" over the original "Metroid 2." The sequel is equal or superior to the first game in pretty much every way save for the built-in disadvantages of being a Game Boy game.

My personal rankings of the ones I've played:
(I don't expect many people to agree.)

1. Metroid: Other M
2. Metroid Prime (Wii Version)
3. Metroid: Samus Returns
4. Super Metroid
5. Metroid Fusion
6. Metroid II: Return of Samus
7. Metroid

I remember seeing Other M being demoed at the Chicago Comic Con before it came out. I thought it looked amazing (especially on the Wii), and I couldn't wait for it to come out. Then when it did, and I saw some more reviews and more gameplay, I passed. I still haven't played it, and I'd love if this got a remake in the future.

I love that they're all rated high, ranking wise.

Now it seems like some people prefer Prime's original GameCube controls to the Wii controls of trilogy.

I'll just add that as someone who didn't play prime until a few years ago, I'd take about anything over those weird aim mechanics.

And one more thing....

For the record, I think Other M is the closest game to a 3D Super Metroid.
I'm not bashing Prime or anything, because I don't think being more like Super Metroid is automatically a plus.

But come on, moving through rooms quickly, blasting enemies, consulting the map but not being slowed down. Even the exploration in Other M to me feels closer to the way you explore in Super Metroid.

In comparison, prime is very slow paced, you're character isn't agile at all, the combat is slow, exploration is a snails pace. Stopping to scan things, waiting for platforms to lower, in some cases solving puzzles, and of course, stopping to aim lol.
Not a lot of waiting and puzzles in Other M or super Metroid.

To me one great thing about Other M is how close it is to Super Metroid.

With the prime Games, to me they are great for what they are. It just bothers me that people say Other M doesn't have the "spirit of Metroid" or whatever.
To a lot of people it does, if you can look at it this way.

There's really no such thing as a bad Metroid game, is there? Even the more maligned entries are averaging solid 7's. I guess Federation Force is the possible exception, though I'm sure there's a lot of resentment over its ill-timed reveal going into those low scores. (I haven't played it, myself.)

Federation Force was a good game but needed to be purchased early to enjoy the multiplayer and now seems dead. I still boot it up, from time to time, to see whether there is anyone online...There rarely is. I think it is too hard to play solo, and not much fun because of to the difficulty playing solo. I got 2 copies so my wife would play with me but she wasn't a fan. Other M is one of my favorites because it faithfully recreates elements of Super and Fusion in 3D. I really enjoyed it and consider it to be the best game on Wii. The best game overall has to be Super Metroid, one of the best games of all time. I enjoyed the Prime games, they are not the same kind of game for me, and it is a shame that Samus is relegated to behind the screen, but I did get into them and enjoyed them a lot. I am happy that Metroid didn't become a FPS(or FPadventure) permanently. I am glad there was a return to 2D. I will be getting both Dread and Prime 4 on day one. Dread is more exciting for me but after I have 100%ed it I know Prime 4 will be the next big game for me. I hope Prime 4 uses a more consistent art style with the other non-prime games, with purple lobster clawed zebezians and similar armour and similar environments, instead of being a more "realistic" take. I hope Nintendo provides more guidance to retro this time because while prime was fun, it felt like a different thing. The prime games are fantastic though, I just think they could be even better.

@SeantheDon29 I think we will get the GBA on NSO by September. It would be a great way to continue the hype before Dread.

GC games will probably never come to NSO. It is a lot trickier without the Switch supporting analog shoulder buttons. For example, Super Mario Sunshine needed modified controls to work on Switch.

Prime Trilogy has a better chance, but probably won’t be anytime soon.

@the_beaver I have not played the original metroid, its sequel or hunters (though I plan to) but from what I've heard, I bet that FF is a better game than those, Other M is also better than those games, despite the fact that its a diagetic disaster, also echoes is a game that people probably havent played in a while, cus that game is a clumsy sequel to Prime, the Level design is off, the structure of the world is a misfire (dark aether), as its just a boring circuit, rather than being interconnected in interesting ways. Samus returns should be above it, & above corruption as corruption tried to leverage the wii hardware to make a bonified shooter, the end result being a displacement of the series more compelling elements for shooter design that is too inferior to justify that disruption. I've never loved zero mission, it feels watered down, hand holdy, & has boring locales, though I'm aware that the 2d people think its the bees knees, not aware why though; the top tier is pretty much the conversation I'd expect

Always preferred the 2Ds

@jerichofr Disagree, as a big Metroid fan, both games 2D and 3D are excellent. Both types of games have their own unique experience, stop with that type of hate and enjoy the game for what it is and not for what it isn't. Is not like they stop making one type of game for the other.

Blah. I’ll never get all the FPS love . I grew up loving the original game and over time all the other 2d versions. The GBA games are absolutely the top of the franchise. And pinball deserves to be higher up than it was.

@NintendoArchive Super Metroid and Metroid Zero Mission are loads better than Fusion. I hated the hand holding and the restricted exploration. It felt like I was being "shown" a Metroid game, rather than "discovering" within a Metroid game, if that makes sense.

@BloodNinja I need to replay fusion & zero mission to refresh my memory, but I thought they were similarly constraining, but fusion was more overt about it, also I thought fusion had its own thing going on (it felt like an action title). Other M & fusion are quite similar, but I thought Other M made for a more convincing artificial environment.

@Offolsense Other M is a Sakamoto @## metroid game, & it feels like it

@NintendoArchive Zero Mission, if played in a standard fashion will feel restrictive, but it's pretty easy and fun to sequence break. I don't think Fusion can be sequence broken unless you seriously break the game, as in severe glitches and out-of-bounds style things. Fusion literally made you explore areas in a specific sequence, and only after you visited the area could you then come back later to explore. It hardly felt connected and organic like other Metroid games. I've actually never played Other M, so I have no opinion there!

Did these rankings change since Sunday? Metroid Prime Pinball is now ranked above Metroid Prime Hunters? These rankings are a disaster up until Metroid: Samus Returns. The upper part of this list at least makes some sense. Arguably two of the most innovative Metroid games since Metroid Prime are regarded as the series' two worst entries here.

@BloodNinja I have heard that about Zero Mission, I haven't attempted any such thing myself, when I play it again, I will give it a go

@BloodNinja Personally, I prefer that style of gameplay in "Fusion" and "Other M" and to a lesser degree in "Metroid II" and its remake. It keeps you from getting lost trying to figure out what to do next, while there is still plenty of exploration finding hidden items and later on also new areas when you can return to older places after acquiring the right upgrades.

The biggest problem I have with "Super Metroid" is that its world is too open and doesn't provide enough guidance on how to continue at various points. It wasn't long before I had to occasionally start relying on an online walkthrough instead of being able to discover things for myself.

The original game has the same problem in addition to a lack of map, archaic save system, excessive difficulty level, and at least one point flat-out forces you to continually use an advanced movement technique too difficult for me to do for long and therefore gets me stuck even with the invincibility password. I haven't tried "Zero Mission," but maybe I should if it also comfortably contains the experience as well as fixing those other problems.

@I-U The list is continuously updated by means of the community reviews. If you don't like how low those games are ranked, then give them better reviews yourself.

@BulbasaurusRex I played the game before online guides were even a thing, yet. Had no trouble figuring it out. Super Metroid is extremely contained. Calling it “too open,” makes me question of you even played it to completion. The stage layouts are very distinct from one another, unlike the first two games, and you even get a map.

Echoes has the feeling of Super Metroid in it, and it's so sad what happened to the luminoth and the planet the whole time it felt like a real alien world. Also I want trilogy on Switch but the trilogy released for wii took out the interactive water and cool effects, there was some other weird choices that made the games not as good as playing them on GameCube (but no pointer) there was stuff wrong with the lighting in the games to, on GC it looked best and that doesn't add up

@BulbasaurusRex If I could give a game a review number that would shoot it up the ranks, I would. Cannot go higher than a 10. I just don't understand how a monochromatic game reviewed above those 4 games. Metroid II isn't going to be review bombed though by some who haven't played it, so that's likely the difference.

Super Metroid. The only metroid game that does not need a remake or update.

@iammikegaines Federation Force is way worse.

Prime Trilogy should be deleted from the list.

@Trmn8r How is Metroid Prime: Federation Force way worse than Metroid Prime Pinball?

I thought it was a good list. I agreed with almost everything, except I think Samus Returns is severely under valued. For me, I would toss it up between before or after Zero Mission, and personally I do think it's a little bit better.

I also think fusion is a bit overrated personally.

@Infidelphian I agree.

@JuanERdz Agreed

@SeantheDon29 Yeah...

I've only ever played two of them, and one of those was the pinball.

I came here to see super metroid, metroid prime and zero mission at the top of the list, was not disappointed.

I have a soft spot for Metroid 2. Like many of the Nintendo franchises I experienced it first on the Gameboy. But there's really no denying that Super Metroid is the king!

I'll go on record and say I actually loved Other M and Federation Force wasn't all that bad. That said, I'm team Zero Mission all day though I can't say I dislike any of the Metroid games.

My first love was obviously with the original Metroid but as the franchise evolved so did my taste, my heart is torn between super Metroid and fusion 💔

I've played every Metroid, with the exception of the installments on the GameCube/Wii. I DO agree with this list and having Prime in the top 5 tells me that I've been missing out.

Thing is, I've always appreciated games that expand on thier original design; Metroid II & Super Metroid and just about every handheld version (being 2D). Games that drastically change in design aren't really my thing. Back in the 90's, when every single franchise switched from 2D to 3D, without the players asking for it, I felt that they abandoned the older gamers, only to include a new audience that didn't have a history with those games. They should have just created new franchises and IP's. While I didn't agree with the everything moving from 2D to 3D, just because the tech was there; fast forward and here we are: developers going back to thier roots: what made the games great to begin with.

On that note, I hope I continue to see this as a trend and hopefully Nintendo includes the Legend of Zelda in the mix...and not some remake of a game that I've already played. For all of those old school gamers out there...can you imagine LoZ and Metroid, with gigantic immersive worlds with all of the graphical enhancements and upgraded controls, providing a 50 hour plus experience? I can.

Dang this list is flawed. Ignoring pinball and Federation Force:

2D games:
Zero Mission
Samus Returns
Super
Fusion
Return of Samus
Metroid

3D:
Prime 2
Prime 1
Prime 3
Hunters

If I interlace them, Prime 2 after Zero Mission, Prime 1 after Samus Returns, Prime 3 after Fusion.
Everything Prime 3 and above is a must-play. Return of Samus remains EXCELLENT if played with a map.
Other M goes above Metroid 1 because the OG is nigh unplayable tbh, and it is visually impressive with satisfying combat.

I don't get all this love for Super Metroid. I find it to be an OK game. Hasn't aged well in my opinion. My number 1 is Metroid Prime 3.

Metroid Prime Trilogy is way better than the other Metroid Prime games. Instead of getting just one on a disc, you get all three. Now that's value. Thank you NintendoLife for confirming my long held suspicions that Metroid Prime Trilogy is, in fact, a superior product to a single instalment of the Metroid Prime series.

It was silly to include Prime Trilogy as its own option. It just messed up the entire balance of the ranking.

Ok, I can see some nostalgia playing a role here...I've only played through Super Metroid once...and it was ok. Mind you the ending was spoiled for me long before I played it. I top game has to Metroid Prime with Zero Mission afterward that and then Fusion. Then Metroid Prime 3.

Really hard to choose between Prime and Super. At one point Super Metroid was my favorite game of all time. But Metroid Prime is a damn masterpiece. Well, they both are! But I think I will give it to Prime for how much it blew me away back in 2002.

@N8tiveT3ch "I can see some nostalgia playing a role here" is a load of crock to dismiss people's opinions. Super Metroid was the best game of it's generation, and gave birth to a sub-genre. Don't downplay it's greatness, importance, and history just because you played later games that were built on it's back first.

Prime series was overrated for me. I'm in the minority but I dont think Metroid translated into 3D that well at all. The backtracking with the exact same enemies respawning at the exact same places just didn't work in 3D and just wasn't that enjoyable to me. I did like the Prime series but each game was probably only an 7 or 8/10 for me. In fact ... My top 5 would all be 2D sidescrollers.
1. Super Metroid
2. Fusion
3. Zero Mission
4. Samus Returns 3DS
5. AM2R

I also actually really enjoyed Other M. Its seems to have suffered the same fate as Skyward Sword . . . great reviews at the time but now everyone's embarrassed to admit that they ever liked it at all.

I started playing these games during last year's lock down and after having finished Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion and Zero Mission I can say it has become very dear to me

Other M was a good game with a bad story. Please can you explain to me how a bad story makes a bad game. It’s the only Nintendo game that I’ve bought for a fiver and I really enjoyed it.

Metroid 2 on the original Game Boy is fantastic. Needs to be higher up on the list. I am playing through the first three games for the first time for Dread and I preferred it over Metroid and Super Metroid.

This is a correct list. Carry on, everyone.

@XinnieThePooh

I don't know where to start. In the late 90's, I had my own place, a decent job and money to spend. Being a child at heart, what did I do? Bought' an entertainment center, a 4 channel stereo receiver and a recliner to sit in.

Having at that point, only played Metroid on the Nintendo and Gameboy...Super Metroid was a must buy. While primitive by today's standards, that was a submersible experience.

Controversial opinion, but Samus Returns is a better game than Super Metroid. I'm playing the 2d games in chronological order to get ready for Dread. So far I beat Zero Mission and Samus Returns (because the remakes are better than the originals) and now I'm partway through Super. Going from those games with the improved controls into Super Metroid just highlights how comparatively clunky a game it is. Don't get me wrong, I grew up on NES, Gameboy and SNES. I played Super Metroid a ton. I love the music, the ambience, the story telling. But from a strictly game play point, Samus Returns has better controls and was just more fun to go through. Super Metroid was great in it's time, but that doesn't make it better than stuff that has come out since. It definitely needs a remake to get it to the same level as Zero Mission and Fusion at least.

@Refurin I agree 100% . Samus Returns is one of my favorite games of all time.

While it doesn't really matter, Prime Trilogy is 3 games. If Super, Zero and Fusion were put on one cart, they would be number 1. My list (which won't be very popular) would be
1) Super
2) Other M
3) Fusion
4) Zero Mission
5) Samus Returns
6) Prime 3
7) Prime 1
8) Prime 2
9) Federation Force (would be a good game if I had 3 people willing to play it with me)
Original Metroid and The Gameboy one are nice for nostalgia but I can't play them.

I may well be on the hype train, but I think there is a slim but real possibility that Dread could become the new No1, even surpassing the excellence that is Super Metroid. Fingers crossed.

@Refurin I suppose it depends on how we evaluate the value of the games. Someone could argue that the original Metroid is the best because it established the franchise (not me). Personally I prefer D-Pad to thumb stick so I think the best controls were in Fusion and Zero Mission. I rate Super over Samus returns because it seems to have more variety in enrichments and enemies.

Other M is my favorite. Then Super Metroid, then Fusion. Then Zero.

@fluggy Agreed! Other M gets way too much hate.

Honestly, I enjoyed it. I mean, I would enjoy it more if you didn't have to play it on a sideways Wiimote, but still. Unlike some people out there, I actually really appreciate that they showed Samus as an actual human being with real emotions under that suit. Of course she's a bad-ass, but being a two dimensional character who is essentially just the Terminator is unappealing to me.

Seeing her be the bitch on wheels she is after understanding a bit more about what makes her tick makes her that much more compelling. As if Samus having an emotion aside from being a cold hearted bitch means she can't still be tough?!

But, it ruins some people's smutty headcanon, I guess. Wouldn't be sexy to have choke you out if there's a person in there.

But no, she could choke me any time.

Bit unfair to include the Metroid Prime Trilogy!

My personal fav (besides Prime Trilogy) is Prime 1. Then Super Metroid, then Prime 3. I suspect Metroid Dread will be no.4 after I am done playing with it....

This number one is odd af. It's not a new game just because they slapped 3 together. If I asked someone their favorite Metroid and they told me "the trilogy" I'd ask them to be more specific. Do they like all 3 together better than any one of them on their own? Because that's how this comes across.

So essentially it is:
1. Metroid Prime
2. Super Metroid
3. Metroid Dread

Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion are my favourites by far. While Prime games are fine, they aren't even close to the quality of 2D Metroids in my opinion.

Played Metroid Dread for a couple of hours and I'm enjoying it so far, so I think it would rank pretty high on my list as well.

But Metroid prime Trilogy isn't A game

@BananaMetallurgica How so?

Metroid Prime 1 for me 😁

@BananaMetallurgica I agree. Its an amazing collection for sure. But if we are judging each individual Metroid game, it doesn't seem fair if that one is in the running.

Federation Force is a great spinoff and I think it's only run down because it was a spinoff rather than a mainline game. I also like Other M though, which most people seem to dislike. Aside from a few story moments I found it pretty fun.

I hate fps games in general but i think the prime games are the best in the series

I'm loving Dread so far, and that immediately throws it into my top 5 ranking. Currently would be Prime, Prime 2, Fusion, Dread, Samus Returns. I could definitely see Dread surpassing at least Fusion and possibly the Primes as well, I'm having a lot of fun

@Snoyflake I am not doubting your history, but I had the opposite experience. I only rented NES Metroid and never finished it.

When I bought a used SNES, Super Metroid was the first game I bought. And it was fantastic. So nostalgia plays a big part, but it is a great game.

Súper Metroid isn’t perfect. The wall jumping mechanic is difficult to do. And I think It was the GBA games that introduced grabbing cliff edges, so the platforming is more forgiving.

I haven’t purchased Dread yet. I look forward to it. I really enjoyed Samus Returns on 3DS.

Metroid Prime Trilogy being number 1 is a joke. The first Prime is the first of the 3, while the the other two only managed to make things much more confusing and uglier. Prime is the best Metroid game, followed by either Fusion and Zero Mission. Dread, we'll see where it seats.

Prime trilogy should not be on this list. It doesn’t count.

@Tandy255

Eventually I'll have to give Super another go, but I didn't enjoy my recent attempt at playing it

I agree with the ranking of Metroid Prime Hunters above Metroid Prime: Federation Force, but as #1 over #2 not as #14 over #15. They're never going to be at the top of a general Metroid list. That said, both games are rated extremely, extremely low here. With all of these games being generally good at what they are, just on a technical level Metroid II should be rated last being monochromatic. I've only put an hour into Metroid Dread so far, and it's at least on track to be better than Samus Returns which is my 6th favorite currently.

It’s hard to say what Metroid is the best I say they’re mostly all so good prime and zero mission may be my top two. Metroid is like the Bo Jackson of video games, it’s good at first person or as a 2d scroller. I haven’t finished dread yet to say, but it’s shaping up very well so far. My only gripe with it is I wish there was a bit more to the music and the colors are a little drab but I think that’s the look it was going for.

@Gon_Gon_Stan 3 games. Like if I say that super Mario 3d all star is the best super Mario because there are Mario 64 and Mario galaxy inside

I think Dread belongs at number 1-no question. Choosing anything else at this point I think would be heavily biased on nostalgia. Dread nails everything.

So the best game is a compilation of games that were already on the list?
Is the trilogy version of a game so much better that it deserves a number 1 spot?
So if they did a new compilation of the original games, but then added super metroid for fun, then that would be number one?

@BananaMetallurgica yeah that's fine: Metroid prime trilogy added different aiming controls for 1 and 2, and there's an argument to be made that 3d all stars is better than the best Mario game in the collection because the other are such good companion pieces for it, like you could say for MP trilogy

1) Prime
2) Super Metroid
3) Dread
4) Fusion

I haven’t finished Dread, but it’s really fun so far. It could flip flop with Super Metroid once completed and time sets.

A game so perfect as super Metroid it's the measure against every other game has to be compared to regardless of genre. such perfection and balance between music, graphics, plot, controls, difficulty, replayability, and it's technical development are what makes this game such a timeless gem. I love it!!

I don't like the practise of putting collections as separate entries in lists like this! The Prime Trilogy shouldn't be #1, because the Prime games are already listed separately. (Similar things happened with the Top Gamecube games list recently)

So the Top 3 is actually:
1) Super Metroid
2) Metroid Prime
3) Metroid Dread

Jesus that number one spot was stupid as hell

Keep saying it: Prime Trilogy shouldn't be in this list, Nintendolife.

I guess then it should be Metroid Prime first, then Super Metroid, then Metroid Dread (damn, I want to play it!), then Zero Mission and Fusion.
The 2D Metroids are still dominating, but hopefully Prime 4 will make it to the podium soon!

@GOATboy One other thing g to account is, Metroid prime gc had different controls than Metroid prime wii. Some may think the Wii version superior as well as Metroid prime 2, so I can see how it’d be here.

Hunters being below Other M seems wrong. Hunters for the online play alone puts it clear above Other M which I've never felt like going back to. Playing that online with a DS Lite back in the day, that was epic.

Ah, poor federation force. Doesn’t deserve to be bottom of the list.
But the internet in general tends to hold a grudge, whether or not it’s justified.
Unless of course every other Metroid game is just, Y’know, superior in terms of gameplay. I wouldn’t know.

It wasn’t a smart move to make this game when they did, but the game itself isn’t a 6/10… apparently. I haven’t played it.
Which is probably the same qualifications as many giving negative review scores.

@NeonPizza Same here. I remember watching reviews at the time and thinking people were exaggerating when they said the controls were amazing. Then I got it and I couldn't believe how great the controls actually are. Metroid Prime Trilogy does deserve to be at the top because they implemented the excellent controls of 3 into 1 and 2.

For me the best are metroid prime 2 and metroid dread.

@NeonPizza I only ever played Wii on a CRT Tube TV and it always look great to me. The pointer controls never ceased o amaze me. Even in Super Paper Mario, which is a criminally underrated game, I loved using Tippi to scan the screen all the time.

For me the Wii era was just something else. Best Mario, best Zelda, best Metroid (in my opinion), Mario Kart Wii and Brawl coming out one month apart. Hundreds of hours poured into Wii Sports. Man I miss those days.

That number 1 spot cheated!

I've only played Dread (newcomer to the series, didn't have a SNES, 3DS or Wii ) but if Prime is really better than Dread actually is then goddamn I can't wait to play them.

@Spoony_Tech
Corruption is better then Echoes as well

Eek... I'm gonna have to disagree there. Metroid Prime 2 Echoes is easily my favorite Metroid game of all time. The areas were so natural like Torvus Bog, the bosses insanely memorable like Quadraxis, the light Aether dark Aether construct made the world even that much more of a puzzle, and the music was absolute perfection.

Probably something like this

1) Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
2) Metroid Dread
3) Metroid Prime

Beyond that, I really have no preference among Super Metroid, Fusion, Zero Mission and Metroid Prime 3. All phenomenal games, but not sure if any stand out as better than the others.

Then there's Other M, followed by Prime Pinball, followed by Federation Force, followed by Hunters.

@Scirocco7
For me the best are metroid prime 2 and metroid dread

^^^ This guy gets it 👏

As someone who never owned a Game Boy Advance, I'm still waiting to play Metroid Zero Mission & Fusion (Hunters & Samus Returns too but that's DS and beyond).

Was hoping Nintendo would allow an easy way to play them and get caught up story-wise prior to Metroid Dread on Switch... thus my hope for the much speculated Game Boy Line Nintendo Switch Online App addition I'm still hoping for.

As such I'm actually less interested and less inclined to play Dread before doing so. Guess I'll keep waiting and hoping Nintendo does the aforementioned.

Also, Remaster Metroid: Other M for Switch with better controls, quality of life improvements and HD and I'm in there like swimwear

... Wun can only hope.

Me clicking on this article: "If the first Prime isn't at number 1, I'll definitely have something to disagree with in this article..." Then I see Prime is at number 2, and Prime Trilogy is at number one...... "Okay, I'll accept that too".

Including trilogy is silly

Personally:
1. Fusion
2. Dread
3. Zero
4. Super
5. Returns

Metroid Prime Hunters and Metroid Prime: Federation Force are the series’ two best games, and it isn’t close. By the way, not much love for Fusion yesterday. I guess it needed to have remaster misinformation to make the rounds and be hyped up like Prime had been leading into yesterday.

1. Metroid Prime Hunters
2. Metroid Prime: Federation Force
3. Super Metroid
4. Metroid Dread
5. Metroid: Other M

For me the 2d Metroids will always be superior to the Prime games. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy those games too, I love all the highly detailed alien biomes you get to explore, it's just all three of them have the same flaw, they just become complete slogs by the end. You have to go around collecting the twelve artifact shards of whatever, to open the final area, it's just tedious. I just find the 2d games way more fast paced a re-playable.

Why are many of the descriptions on this list so negative? Metroid Fusion, for instance, sounds like "well it brings nothing new but it's alright for a portable game".

Almost every game on this list is an absolute masterpiece.

Super Metroid is the best game ever created.

MetP Trilogy NUMBER 1?

That feels a bit cheap as the games are ALREADY in the list so I'll IGNORE that and see second-place as first-place.

So we have actually two lists here!
One where the Prime Trilogy needs to be dropped (more accurate)
Or where the Prime individual version are dropped!

Federation Force is awesome. It might not have all the bells and whistles of the other Metroid games, but it is fun in its own way. Sill waiting on an opportunity to play with my 3 friends so I can play level 2 with them. Blast Ball is also great, like Rocket League but with guns.

Fusion and Zero Mission are still the best. I like most Metroid games, but I don't think you can beat the ones that use d-pad and shoulder buttons (for diagonals) rather than the analogue sticks.

Way late to this conversation. I'll just say that Nintendo does NOT make Metroid games frequently enough for me, BUT it has kept the quality high throughout. Despite some backlash here and there, the quality of the games has remained very solid. Every single game that you've heard is "bad", but didn't give a chance, is likely better than you expect.

Despite its limited financial success, Nintendo has given the franchise a chance, over and over, trying to make it the 3rd pillar next to Mario and Zelda, at least in the US.

Here's hoping Metroid pays off for Nintendo, too, with a one-two punch Dread to Metroid Prime 4.

1. Prime
2. Fusion
3. Prime 2
4. Dread
5. Zero Mission

My top 5 seems to constantly change, same with Zelda. And I think that's a good thing, most of the games are top notch

Would love Samus returns and the prime trilogy on switch... Please nintendo?!

Super Metroid, Metroid Prime, and Metroid Dread all have the exact same user review scores (to 2 decimal places).

They're all the best!

So many amazing games. Super Metroid or Prime will always be my favorite, but I thought Dread was very overrated, while the 3dS remake Samus Returns was underrated... I loooved the music in that one!

Metroid 1 for Famicom Disk System is the best, that or maybe Metroid Prime. The remake of the first game was fun but it changed so much that it felt like a cake walk. What's fun about the first game was that it felt tough like a good roguelike and you needed to learn where everything was, there was no map to help you out or point which way to go, which made the game much more interesting and challenging.

The only problem on the NES was the codes were too long (though the weird codes were fun), but the Famicom Disk System version has saves (and emulator saves) and better audio and it's on Switch. Otherwise, I think maps are fine for the other games, but I just don't think that's how Metroid 1 was meant to be played.