Guide: Best Metroid Games Of All Time
Nintendo’s Metroid franchise celebrates its 40th anniversary today, marking four decades since the original title debuted on the Famicom Disk System in Japan. The occasion highlights how a bold and experimental adventure game became one of the most influential titles in video game history, spawning an entire genre of games commonly known as “metroidvanias.”
To mark the milestone, Nintendo Life has published a comprehensive ranked list of Metroid games throughout the franchise’s history, based on user ratings from their community. The ranking provides fans and newcomers alike an opportunity to explore the evolution of Samus Aran’s adventures across multiple decades and gaming platforms.
The Metroid series is remembered for establishing exploration-based gameplay mechanics that have influenced countless game developers and inspired numerous imitators. From its origins as one of Nintendo’s many quality adventure titles, Metroid evolved into a genre-defining series that continues to resonate with players today. The anniversary comes at a time when the franchise remains culturally significant, with fans celebrating both classic entries and more recent releases that have kept the spirit of the original alive.