The most popular game in our IGN Deals reporting for 2023 so far is Metroid Prime: Remastered. In fact, no other game this year even comes close. In our Metroid Prime: Remastered review we scored it a 10, saying it "honors a lauded classic and brings it up to code, fixing outdated controls and adding a slick coat of polygons and textures that make this masterpiece of a shooter shine once more." And I agree whole-heartedly with that assessment.
It's truly one of the greatest games of all time, but what if you're new to the Metroid series? Great news: you can play many of the greatest Metroid games right now, on your Nintendo Switch. Should you? Yes, absolutely, are you kidding me? Metroid rules! For the vast majority of Metroid games on Switch, you can play them with a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online, and a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online with Expansion Pack unlocks even more. In fact, Metroid Prime Fusion is now available if you have the Expansion Pack, and man... that is a good game.
- Play the Metroid Series on Switch chronologically
- Play the Metroid Series on Switch in order of release
All the Metroid Games You Can Play on Switch Right Now
- Metroid (NES) (NSO)
- Super Metroid (Super NES) (NSO)
- Metroid II: Return of Samus (Game Boy) (NSO)
- Metroid Fusion (Game Boy Advance) (NSO + Expansion)
- Metroid Dread (Nintendo Switch)
- Metroid Prime: Remastered (Nintendo Switch)
Where to Buy Metroid Prime: Remastered (Physical or Digital)
Getting a physical edition online is tough, but you can get it digitally and start playing as soon as it's downloaded from most retailers. Amazon, even though it still has physical copies of Metroid Prime: Remastered, seems to be taking a little longer than expected with delivery.
Where to Buy Metroid Dread (Physical or Digital)
Metroid Games Available With Nintendo Switch Online
The basic Nintendo Switch Online membership costs $19.99 for 12-months and gives you access to some of the greatest NES and Super NES games, along with other games you might not really care about. But most importantly, Metroid for NES and Super Metroid for Super NES are available, right now, with a base Nintendo Switch Online membership, and you also get access to Metroid II: Return of Samus. Yes, Game Boy is part of the base NSO membership, something I was only recently made aware of.
Metroid Games Available With Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack
For $49.99 a year, you get access to Nintendo 64, SEGA Genesis, and more recently, Game Boy Advance games. Obviously there aren't any Metroid games on N64 or Genesis, but on Game Boy Advance you can now play Metroid Fusion. Metroid Fusion, apart from being amazing, released the same year as the original Metroid Prime.
How to Play the Metroid Games Chronologically
You won't be able to play through the entirety of the Metroid series on Switch, at least not at the time of writing, but if you feel compelled to play through the available Metroid games chronologically, here's how to do it. Does it matter too much if you play them chronologically? Nah. But in case you want to follow the overarcing story:
- Metroid (NES)
- Metroid Prime: Remastered (Switch)
- Metroid II: Return of Samus (Game Boy)
- Super Metroid (Super NES)
- Metroid Fusion (Game Boy Advance)
- Metroid Dread (Switch)
How to Play the Metroid Games on Switch in Order of Release
This would be my pick for how to play through the Metroid games 0n Switch. There's definitely a story to follow along with, but I like seeing how the series has evolved and how much of it retains those same elements from the earliest entry on NES. I put Metroid Prime: Remastered at the end, but the original came out in 2004.
- Metroid (NES) 1986
- Metroid II: Return of Samus (Game Boy) 1991
- Super Metroid (Super NES) 1994
- Metroid Fusion (Game Boy Advance) 2004
- Metroid Dread (Switch) 2021
- Metroid Prime: Remastered (Switch) 2023
Seth Macy is Executive Editor, IGN Commerce, and just wants to be your friend. You can find him hosting the Nintendo Voice Chat podcast.