Find the games you're looking for
Metroid Dread
Critics Consensus (Play It)
Metroid Dread brings Samus Aran’s decades long story to a close with excellent level design, fluid combat, and satisfying boss battles.
Game Info
Join intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran in her first new 2D Metroid story in 19 years. Samus’ story continues after the events of the Metroid Fusion game when she descends upon planet ZDR to investigate a mysterious transmission sent to the Galactic Federation. The remote planet has become overrun by vicious alien lifeforms and chilling mechanical menaces. Samus is more agile and capable than ever, but can she overcome the inhuman threat stalking the depths of ZDR?
0%
Recommended
0%
Average Score
Total Reviews: 103
Nom: Best Platformer (2021), Editors' Choice
Gold TIER
42% of scored reviews fell within the range of 86 to 92 / 100
RELEASE DATES:
GENRES:
- Platformer, Adventure
DEVELOPER(S):
- MercurySteam
PUBLISHER(S):
- Nintendo
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- Metroid
GAME MODES:
- Single player
Where to Play
WHERE TO PLAY
** VSG may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
RATING & REVIEWS
Ratings & Reviews
103
Critic Reviews
88
Average Critic Score
Where to Play
CRITIC REVIEWS
All reviews are from professional critics. Learn more about the critics VSG aggregates.
High Score
100%
Median Score
90%
Low Score
50%
What did you think of Metroid Dread?
Player Reviews0 Votes
0
Ben Reeves (Game Informer)
October 6, 2021
9/10
Intense combat and a series of challenging boss fights require a high level of play, but the thrill of victory is incredibly sweet.
Andy Robinson (Video Games Chronicle)
October 6, 2021
5/5 stars
With a near-perfect balance of nods to the past and fresh ideas, Metroid Dread brings cinematic flair, fast-paced action and a surprising story to the side-scrolling classic. This is the comeback fans have been waiting for.
Samuel Claiborn (IGN)
October 6, 2021
9/10
A surprise sequel after nearly 20 years, Metroid Dread brings back the legendary exploration and progression and merges it with excellent modern combat and some of the best boss fights ever.
VSG News
Embracer Group CEO Takes Responsibility for Restructuring, Announces Major Company Split
Assassin’s Creed Jade Release Likely Delayed to 2025 as Tencent Shifts Focus
PlayStation 5 Pro: Leaked Specs Reveal a Major Upgrade, Release Hinted for Holiday 2024
Xbox Games Hit New Platforms: Pentiment, Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves, and Grounded Coming to Other Platforms
Xbox Reaches Beyond Consoles: 4 Games to Rival Platforms, and What It Means
Score Ranges
Read the Reviews (103 total)
| Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33bits | Jesús Díaz-Suelto Berrueco | 95 / 100 | 10-27-2021 | Metroid Dread is without a doubt one of the best Nintendo Switch titles. A return in the form of Samus, and a blow on the table by Mercury Steam that have given birth to a superb game that does not envy any other game of the genre. Well designed, replayable, agile control … Metroid Dread is a must. | Read review |
| 3DNews | Иван Бышонков | 9.5 / 10 | 10-17-2021 | Metroid Dread is a fantastic example of an unbelievably well-paced game. It relies solely on the gameplay and terrific level design to guide you through huge maps and tough bosses in one of the best Metroid games to date. | Read review |
| Areajugones | Juan Linares | 9 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread seems like the perfect mix to me. | Read review |
| Ars Technica | Sam Machkovech | Recommended | 10-06-2021 | If “classic 2D adventure on Switch” puts the same tingle in your spine as it does mine, Mercury Steam will not lead you astray with this impressive sequel. Buy. | Read review |
| Atomix | Alberto Desfassiaux | 96 / 100 | 10-06-2021 | Samus is back, better than ever. | Read review |
| Attack of the Fanboy | Joshua Raymer | 4 / 5 stars | 10-17-2021 | Metroid Dread is hard, but it’s hard in a really good way. The kind of way that makes you sometimes want to toss your controller, but doubles your resolve while doing so. It’s smooth, quick, and makes Samus feel fast and powerful as much as it possibly can without turning into an action platformer | Read review |
| AusGamers | Steve Farrelly | 10 / 10 | 10-07-2021 | Then, once repaired and ready to dare, she moves onto the next fashionista boss withholding this summer’s must-have accessory — a Charge Beam here, a Phantom Cloak there — and takes no guff when procuring whichever suit upgrade it is she needs to get to her final destination. | Read review |
| But Why Tho? | Jason Flatt | 8.5 / 10 | 10-10-2021 | Metroid Dread is not only an excellent game and return of a beloved franchise, it’s emblematic of everything that defined the genre in the first place in a way that many modern Metroidvanias simply aren’t. Its exploration, upgrading, and re-exploration are never spoonfed to you and feel constantly like great accomplishments with great difficulty scaling and thrilling new mechanics and atmosphere. | Read review |
| Cerealkillerz | Gabriel Bogdan | 8.2 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread scores with well-established strengths of the series and delivers exciting bossfights and a well thought through leveldesign. Sadly the attempts of the game to create a tense atmosphere fail most of the time and the technical limits of the Nintendo Switch hold the title back from reaching its full potential. | Read review |
| CGMagazine | Joe Findlay | 9 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread is a wonderful, modern take on a classic game from childhood. It looks as beautiful as any of today’s games, but has a feel of the games of old. The scary tone of the game and its intense foes give you a challenge worthy of the series. | Read review |
| Checkpoint Gaming | Edie W-K | 9 / 10 | 10-07-2021 | A continuation of Samus’ story from Metroid Fusion, Metroid Dread excels as a hybrid of both classic and modern Metroid gameplay. The exploration and combat are top-notch, with satisfying boss fights complete with stunning graphics and mid-action cutscenes. It’s only a few nitpicks that prevent Dread from being a masterpiece, but that still means that it’s a must-have for Metroid fans. The future holds a lot of promise for Samus Aran! | Read review |
| COGconnected | James Paley | 88 / 100 | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread takes small, but significant, steps to expand and innovate upon the established series formula. Metroid and Metroidvania fans alike won’t want to miss this entry. | Read review |
| Cubed3 | Jorge Ba-oh | 9 / 10 | 10-09-2021 | In very a very much Metroidvania move, backtracking back to the start of the review with the question, “Is the new adventure worth the wait?” The answer is a resounding yes. Nintendo and MercurySteam have pulled off a sequel that is classic, essential Metroid with a sprinkling of the new; controls, visual direction and a terrifying new threat that sends a space-aged shiver through the spine. Metroid Dread is the evolution to how side-scrolling Metroid should feel and the conclusion to something truly special. A thrilling chapter for players who have been looking up to the stars for decades, and a compelling tale for adventurers new to the series! | Read review |
| Daily Mirror | James Ide | 4 / 5 stars | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread masterfully combines the atmosphere, classic exploration, boss battles and platforming of the original, with enhanced graphics and a faster, more responsive Samus than ever. While it does follow the Metroid formula to some extent, the refinements and extra layer of added tension make the game the more gripping Metroid game in the franchise. Metroid Dread perfectly blends combat, exploration and pursuit, its brilliant cat and mouse dynamic that adds a welcome addition to the Metroid gameplay. | Read review |
| DASHGAMER.com | Dan Rizzo | 8 / 10 | 11-05-2021 | I’m grateful to have experienced Metroid Dread’s tale on the Switch, given that its initial | Read review |
| Destructoid | Chris Carter | 8.5 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread doesn’t take a lot of big swings, but it rarely bats a foul ball. | Read review |
| Digital Spy | Jess Lee | 4 / 5 stars | 10-21-2021 | Samus Aran’s latest 2D mission boasts consistently high thrills in exploration and combat to provide a worthy sequel to a highly-regarded game that came out 19 years ago. | Read review |
| Digital Trends | Giovanni Colantonio | 4.5 / 5 stars | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread sharpens everything that makes Metroid enjoyable, while more fully realizing its horror ambitions. | Read review |
| Digitally Downloaded | Matt Sainsbury | 3.5 / 5 stars | 10-07-2021 | Dread is fine. It’s not just nearly memorable enough for a game that fans have been waiting for so many years for now. | Read review |
| Easy Allies | Ben Moore | 4.75 / 5 stars | 10-13-2021 | Metroid Dread is the very definition of a must-play title. | Read review |
| EGM | Mollie L Patterson | 10 / 10 | 10-22-2021 | Metroid Dread is a superb mix of action and exploration that brings Nintendo’s classic series into the modern era in a way that feels like a new beginning even as it positions itself as an end to a 35-year saga. Samus, her abilities, and the challenges she faces have changed and expanded over time, but the excitement and satisfaction her adventures provide continue to this day. | Read review |
| Eurogamer | Martin Robinson | Recommended | 10-06-2021 | A stylish, visually sumptuous return for 2D Metroid, and an adventure that proudly sits alongside the series’ best. | Read review |
| Everyeye.it | Marco Mottura | 7.8 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread is an experience that is at times deeply enjoyable yet at the same time imperfect. | Read review |
| Expansive | Laurie Jones | Recommended | 10-13-2021 | I am blown away by just how good Metroid Dread is. I’d been anticipating the game, but this has exceeded my expectations in just about every way possible. | Read review |
| Forbes | Ollie Barder | 9 / 10 | 10-12-2021 | Overall, Metroid Dread brings a narrative close to a decades long story with excellent level design and combat. It also looks great as well. So until Samus Aran is needed once again to save the Galactic Federation, I am happy to just savour the joy of another successfully completed mission. | Read review |
| Game Informer | Ben Reeves | 9 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | Intense combat and a series of challenging boss fights require a high level of play, but the thrill of victory is incredibly sweet | Read review |
| Game Revolution | Jason Faulkner | 4.5 / 5 stars | 10-14-2021 | So far, Metroid Dread is a serious contender for my personal game of the year. It takes all the things that I loved about previous entries and streamlines them into a much more playable game. It’s the most accessible Metroid title to date, and it’s sure to win many new fans for Nintendo. | Read review |
| Gameblog | Thomas Pillon | 9 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | With Metroid Dread, Mercury Steam brings the series back to its roots by delivering a strong, dense and cleverly designed 2D episode, Thanks to its though but balanced curve, Samus keeps getting stronger and more able to decipher many puzzles and fight interesting bosses, only to appear vulnerable when escaping the new EMMI robots. The adventure sure is classic, but all the elements are here pushed to their limits, for the better. What a ride. | Read review |
| GameMAG | Unknown | 8 / 10 | 10-14-2021 | Metroid Dread isn’t a groundbreaking genre piece, and it’s not trying to be one. New game lead by Yoshio Sakamoto is aimed at those players, who can appreciate fine-tuned and deep gameplay. | Read review |
| GamePro | Dennis Michel | 85 / 100 | 10-06-2021 | 25 years after the beginning of the 2D saga, Samus is at his best and has tied us to the Switch for many hours. | Read review |
| Gamersky | 头盖骨莫提 | 8.9 / 10 | 10-15-2021 | Metroid dread carries on the legacy of its prequel very well. Some of the retro designs don’t quite fit the tastes of new players, for that reason, the charm of 2D Metroid has been kept. For hardcore fans of the Metroid series, this is a masterpiece not to be missed. | Read review |
| GamesBeat | Jeff Grubb | 100 / 100 | 10-13-2021 | Its playability matched with MercurySteam doing right by Samus Aran has turned me into even more of a fan of Metroid. Even beyond the context of my own affinity toward the character and world, Metroid Dread is some of the most fun I’ve had with a game in 2021. It’s a contender for game of the year. | Read review |
| GameSkinny | Jason D’Aprile | 9 / 10 | 10-12-2021 | Metroid finally returns with a new sequel, and it’s exactly what we expect from the series. It’s a fine return to form for Samus with a huge world to explore but definitely doesn’t reinvent the wheel | Read review |
| GameSpot | Steven Petite | 8 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | More than anything else, Metroid Dread feels like going back to a place of comfort after a long time away. Though the gameplay is refined and new features have been added to the mix, Dread sticks closely to the formula of its predecessors. In the end, for longtime fans like myself, that’s probably for the best. | Read review |
| GamesRadar+ | Josh West | 3.5 / 5 stars | 10-06-2021 | Frustrating boss battles and cumbersome controls distract from an otherwise fun and isolating adventure | Read review |
| GameXplain | GameXplain | Recommended | 10-05-2021 | Video Review | Read review |
| GamingBolt | Pramath | 10 / 10 | 10-14-2021 | Metroid Dread is a superlative return to one of the medium’s stalwart franchises, and an incredible triumph of design. | Read review |
| GamingTrend | David Flynn | 90 / 100 | 10-11-2021 | Metroid Dread is yet another fantastic return to form for Samus. ZDR is an absolute blast to explore with secrets everywhere and satisfying bosses to fight. However, the game is held back by some strange design decisions, areas that blend together, and controls that are far too complicated. | Read review |
| God is a Geek | Adam Cook | 9 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread is nearly the perfect return for Samus, and only some difficulty spikes rain on the parade. This is a tight, responsive 2D Metroid experience that constantly impresses and surprises in equal measure and is the perfect way to launch the new Switch model. | Read review |
| GotGame | Daniel Ladiano | 10 / 10 | 11-01-2021 | For a series with such a high pedigree, Dread hits all the high notes and leaves very little to be unsatisfied with. Even after experiencing its bombastic finale, it has many secrets to discover that warrant multiple playthroughs. Even if the additions are subtle, it’s the refined sheen of polish that makes Dread not just one of the best games in the franchise, but one of the best games in recent memory. | Read review |
| GRYOnline.pl | Adam Zechenter | 9 / 10 | 10-12-2021 | I won’t be surprised if Metroid Dread gets crowned Game of the Year. If that happens, I’ll be happy. Dread is a furiously frustrating, extremely challenging, and superbly satisfying game, and probably the best Metroid ever. | Read review |
| Guardian | Sarah Maria Griffin | 3 / 5 stars | 10-19-2021 | Samus Aran’s return after 20 years is welcome – but other games have taken up her mantle in the meantime | Read review |
| Hardcore Gamer | Jordan Helm | 4.5 / 5 stars | 10-11-2021 | For as long as the Metroid series has existed in both 2D and 3D planes, it has long been held that Retro Studios are the only team outside of Nintendo to have approached Metroid with such admirable care and passion for the series, while at the same time understanding how best to build on the foundation. | Read review |
| Hey Poor Player | Andrew Thornton | 4.5 / 5 stars | 10-10-2021 | Metroid Dread is a must-own for any Metroidvania fan. Featuring some of the best 2D combat I’ve ever played and a world dying to be explored, I couldn’t put it down until I reached the thrilling conclusion. Its difficulty and atmosphere help it live up to its namesake but never chased me away. There are minor issues, but nothing that stops this from being one of 2021’s best. | Read review |
| Hobby Consolas | Álvaro Alonso | 90 / 100 | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread exceeds all our expectations and has everything we could dream of: exploration, spectacular action, great atmosphere, tension and the “most Samus” Samus ever seen. If we analyze it as metroidvania it does not reach the excellence of the exponents of the genre… But it stays close. | Read review |
| IGN | Samuel Claiborn | 9 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | A surprise sequel after nearly 20 years, Metroid Dread brings back the legendary exploration and progression and merges it with excellent modern combat and some of the best boss fights ever. | Read review |
| IGN Italy | Mattia Ravanelli | 9.1 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | With its slick gameplay and the excellent world design, Metroid Dread stay true to the franchise staples. Even if E.M.M.I.s could have been better integrated in the gameplay, this is still one great, new, entry in the beloved Nintendo saga. | Read review |
| IGN Spain | Álex Pareja | 9 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread is pure love for the franchise. It takes the elements of the classic 2D games and unites them with the evolving essence of Metroid Fusion, introducing many others that work perfectly. It doesn’t give off such a magical aura and there are things to improve, but it establishes itself as one of the best games on the console. | Read review |
| Impulsegamer | Nathan Misa | 4.7 / 5 stars | 10-19-2021 | Another must-have Switch exclusive, and a modern reminder why the mother of the Metroidvania sub-genre still demands attention. | Read review |
| JVL | Kronica Game | 9 / 10 | 11-24-2021 | This new episode still tends to rally new players to its cause. Fans will appreciate the few revelations around Samus Aran and on the universe of the game, neophytes meanwhile, will be delighted to make their weapons on this masterful opus. Metroid Dread is a real success both in terms of its level design, gameplay and atmosphere. I can only recommend this game despite the potential difficulty that may put off some players. An adventure that we will not get enough of doing and redoing while waiting for a sequel. | Read review |
| KeenGamer | Dakota Gordon | 8 / 10 | 10-10-2021 | The wait for the final chapter in the Metroid timeline has expired. Metroid Dread faithfully re-immerses players in the 2D “Search Action” experience that made the franchise so influential to the gaming world. With a newfound emphasis on terror and isolation, what kind of dangers lie in wait for Samus to combat? | Read review |
| Kinda Funny Games | Kinda Funny Gamescast | Recommended | 10-06-2021 | Video review. | Read review |
| Kotaku | Carolyn Petit | Recommended | 10-08-2021 | So here we are. Supposedly, the saga is complete, and I’m left with mixed feelings. I’m glad that Dread really goes for it, that it wants to make you feel hunted and disadvantaged and that it’s willing to feel hostile in order to accomplish that. The result is a feeling that survival itself is a reward more meaningful than all the upgrades in the world, a feeling I rarely get from games anymore. But ZDR never captivated me the way previous Metroid settings have, and as a conclusion to the story arc, Dread seems to misunderstand what made the early chapters resonate. Samus is wonderful, a survivor, an icon, and she endures. But when I think back on my time with her over the past several decades, Dread will forever dwell in the shadows of my favorite Metroid memories. | Read review |
| Luis Alamilla | Luis Alamilla | 10 / 10 | 10-17-2021 | Metroid Dread is one of the best Metroid games ever made, let alone one of the best Switch games ever made. Mercury Steam developed this grand experience from refining and learning from design choices and limitations made in Metroid Samus Returns. This is the best the Metroid series has ever looked in 2D, still maintaining the ambiance and atmosphere the series is known for while refining staple mechanics and adding some new fun ones too. Metroid Dread has raised the bar for 2D action games and I hope it’s not the last we see of these two companies collaborating because Metroid has never felt so good. | Read review |
| M3 | Raphael Cano Felix | 8 / 10 | 10-22-2021 | Mercury Steam picks up where Nintendo left last, and they do it in style. Metroid Dread offers the same old “Metroidvania” concept as before, but also adds brand new elements and features that surprise. The “just one more time” feeling is also constant and won’t let us go until we really sort it all out. | Read review |
| Merlin’in Kazanı | Ersin Kılıç | 80 / 100 | 10-23-2021 | If you are somehow infected with the Metroid series, you do not need these lines to play this game. No, even if you’re playing for the first time, Metroid Dread can be a good choice to see what kind of dynamism the series has. | Read review |
| Metro GameCentral | Unknown | 9 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | One of the best Metroid games ever made and a thrilling restatement of everything that makes the series, and the genre it inspired, great. | Read review |
| MonsterVine | Spencer Legacy | 4.5 / 5 stars | 10-26-2021 | Metroid Dread lets players see why so many players call the genre “MetroidVania.” The exploration is addictive and remarkably enjoyable, the atmosphere is pitch-perfect, and the boss fights are splendidly difficult. The E.M.M.I. zones could do with some shortening, but overall, Metroid Dread is a can’t-miss Switch experience. | Read review |
| New Game Network | Dylan Blereau | 83 / 100 | 10-31-2021 | Although not without some frustrating moments, Metroid Dread is a great experience, offering up an engrossing journey full of engaging exploration and challenging combat that is proof alone that 2D Metroid is worthy of a renaissance. | Read review |
| Niche Gamer | Fingal Belmont | 8 / 10 | 10-14-2021 | Even without post-game rewards, Metroid Dread is a thrilling entry for the series, and for the Metroidvania sub-genre. It may not have the biggest and most cryptic world, or the best soundtrack, but it’s one of the best paced and varied examples on offer. It introduces new ideas to the series, while putting a new spin on tired concepts; pulling it off confidently with a beautiful presentation. | Read review |
| Nintendo Enthusiast | Ben Lamoreux | 9 / 10 | 10-12-2021 | Each EMMI zone is a carefully crafted parkour course where your movement skills are put to the test. Run, wall jump, and slide to maneuver through the obstacles, carefully avoiding the EMMI’s line of sight. I worried that these sections would be too slow-paced for my liking, but that was almost never the case. I felt rewarded for staying in motion as much as possible, quickly reacting to my surroundings and using them to my advantage. The Phantom Cloak also exists as a stealthy option, but I found that I didn’t have to rely on it excessively. However, when cornered, it came in handy, and it made for some intense moments. You can also counter the EMMI’s one-hit KO during the kill animation, but it’s an extremely narrow window. The timing is tough, but with enough practice, I was hitting it around half the time. | Read review |
| Nintendo Life | PJ O’Reilly | 10 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread is a triumphant return for both Samus Aran and developer MercurySteam. | Read review |
| Nintendo Wire | Amelia Fruzzetti | 9.5 / 10 | 10-11-2021 | While it falls just short of being a masterpiece, Dread proves itself worthy of Metroid’s legacy with high fluidity, some fantastic setpieces, and a few particularly killer robots. | Read review |
| NintendoWorldReport | John Rairdin | 10 / 10 | 10-10-2021 | It is a testament not only to what the genre has always been, but the potential of what it could become. It is a triumphant return of Samus Aran as the undisputed queen of the genre. Long may she reign. | Read review |
| NoesPaisparaFrikis | Impozible Julin | 9.4 / 10 | 10-22-2021 | Metroid Dread es, por derecho propio, tanto para lo bueno como para lo malo, historia del desarrollo de software español, y una compra obligada si tienes una Switch en cualquiera de sus modelos. | Read review |
| NoobFeed | Adam Siddiqui | 95 / 100 | 10-16-2021 | Metroid Dread brings Samus out of retirement with a bang and shows why this franchise is one of the most beloved series in video game history. | Read review |
| Oyungezer Online | Eren Eryürekli | 8 / 10 | 11-11-2021 | Although it lags behind its current peers in the story and characterization sections, Metroid Dread has been a great return to the series with its episode designs and its own development of Metroidvania rules. | Read review |
| PCMag | Will Greenwald | 4.5 / 5 stars | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread for the Nintendo Switch is a worthy holder of the title “Metroid 5,” with a massive, gorgeous planet to explore and conquer. | Read review |
| Player2.net.au | Paul James | Recommended | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread is a truly exceptional return to the spotlight for the franchise and Samus Aran. Having been somewhat lost in the wilderness for the better part of a decade, the pair of Nintendo and MercurySteam has worked wonders for the franchise. Some balancing issues erode at the unbelievable foundation of the game, but dread about the future of Metroid no longer, Samus is back in style. | Read review |
| Polygon | Russ Frushtick | Recommended | 10-06-2021 | There I was, many hours into Metroid Dead, completely stumped as to where I should go. | Read review |
| Press Start | Shannon Grixti | 8.5 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread feels like a celebration of 2D Metroid. It manages to stay true to the original games, whilst also introducing some new elements that keeps things feeling fresh. The game is held back by some questionable level design, the E.M.M.I feeling repetitive and a definite knowledge barrier for series newcomers. | Read review |
| Rapid Reviews UK | Seb Hawden | 4.5 / 5 stars | 10-27-2021 | Oh boy, this one’s a doozie! I remember playing Metroid and Metroid II when I was a wee bairn, all those distant sepia-toned years ago. At the time they were revolutionary. Where am I going? What am I doing? It was all so novel. They were brutally brilliant and I remember scratching my head over and over, working out where to go next. Good times! I have really been looking forward to this one, welcome to my Metroid Dread Nintendo Switch review. | Read review |
| Rely On Horror | Steve Summers | 8 / 10 | 10-11-2021 | Nintendo brings back its classic franchise and gameplay with Metroid Dread, and with a little extra darkness and isolation. How does it fare? | Read review |
| Reno Gazette-Journal | Jason Hidalgo | 9 / 10 | 10-22-2021 | Like meeting an old friend that you haven’t seen in a while, Metroid Dread marks a great return to the franchise’s classic form. From the series’ trademark tension and corridor-based exploration to its hectic 2D action, Metroid Dread checks a lot of the boxes for old-school fans while also introducing its tried and true formula to a new generation of gamers. Here’s hoping this reunion with classic Samus won’t be the last. | Read review |
| Rice Digital | Conor Evans | 4.5 / 5 stars | 10-19-2021 | I praised the gameplay loop to death already, but even just moving around the map is seamless, fast-paced, and with each pass, you find something new thanks to your newfound abilities. Ultimately the game just feels like a perfectly refined, classic Metroid game — and I cannot wait for more! | Read review |
| Screen Rant | Cody Gravelle | 5 / 5 stars | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread is an instant classic. Its seamless blend of exploration, combat, puzzle-solving, and light touches of story creates one of the most engaging experiences on Nintendo Switch. | Read review |
| SECTOR.sk | Matúš Štrba | 8 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread is good, but it could use a lot of gameplay balance to make the game better. | Read review |
| Shacknews | Blake Morse | 9 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread is a sci-fi blast of brilliance that fans and newcomers alike will more than likely enjoy. | Read review |
| Slant Magazine | Justin Clark | 4 / 5 stars | 10-15-2021 | Which isn’t to say that you’re locked into a path getting to your destination. Indeed, the game’s minor tonal shortcomings are eclipsed by all the ways that it perfects the 2D trappings of Metroid’s mechanics and hands players so much freedom when it comes to exploring its environments. All the while, the game is deliberate and quite devilish about taking that freedom away and picking the right time to dare you to fight to regain it. | Read review |
| SpazioGames | Stefania Sperandio | 9 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | It took a bit longer than expected, but Metroid Dread simply is Metroid at its finest: with a smartly crafted level design that explains why this legendary saga became a reference point, this new Samus’ adventure embodies all the features Metroid’s fans love. | Read review |
| Stevivor | Ben Salter | 9 / 10 | 10-07-2021 | Playing as Samus has never felt better, with the bounty hunter’s quick and nimble movement perfectly paired with a blend of action, speedy traversal and stealth. | Read review |
| TechRaptor | Unknown | 9 / 10 | 10-17-2021 | While linear in spots and lacking accessibility options, Metroid Dread manages to excel with responsive controls, thrilling action, and a fitting conclusion to this part of Samus Aran’s story. | Read review |
| Telegraph | Tom Hoggins | 4 / 5 stars | 10-11-2021 | Metroid’s Nintendo Switch debut is an intricate and challenging sci-fi adventure | Read review |
| The Games Machine | Stefano Calzati | 9.3 / 10 | 10-12-2021 | Metroid Dread convincingly shows that Samus Aran is, after so many years, still at the (or very near to) the top of the genre it helped define. MercurySteam’s creation is exhilarating, well balanced and beautiful to look at; even the somewhat atypical E.M.M.I. sections are competently integrated with the rest of the game. | Read review |
| The Outerhaven Productions | Todd Black | 4 / 5 stars | 10-17-2021 | Metroid Dread was a game 15 years in the making, and it was well worth that wait. Full of great visuals, fun enemies, new powers, and a true sense of fear via the E.M.M.I. robots, you’re going to want to try this title for yourself, and then recommend it to others. | Read review |
| TheSixthAxis | Stefan L | 9 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread sees the galaxy’s best bounty hunter return in fine form. It takes the terror of being hunted from Metroid Fusion, the more modern direction of Samus Returns, and the freedom to add to the series’ decades of lore to create something that’s nigh on essential for Metroid fans. | Read review |
| Too Much Gaming | Joseph Choi | 9 / 10 | 10-13-2021 | I can’t recommend Metroid Dread enough, whether to longtime fans or newbies to the franchise. Not only does it deliver on the promise of a fifth 2D Metroid game nearly two decades in the making, it does so while updating the time-tested formula to reduce tedium and bring new players into the fold. Nintendo knocked it out of the park, and while I wish the game were a little longer and the presentation a tad more polished, I can’t find any other faults in this very welcome new addition to the canon. | Read review |
| TrustedReviews | Ryan Jones | 5 / 5 stars | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread is one of the best games I’ve played on the Nintendo Switch. While staying faithful to the Metroidvania blueprint set by Super Metroid back in 1994, it’s also benefited from many improvements that will appeal to a modern audience. | Read review |
| Twinfinite | Rebecca Stone | 5 / 5 stars | 10-15-2021 | Metroid Dread takes risks for the series, but it succeeds in doing so. The ending was completely grand, and the interpretations of the final scenes will leave me thinking about the game for a long time to come. | Read review |
| Unboxholics | Σάκης Καρπάς | Recommended | 11-01-2021 | Metroid: Dread is not only a good game, but it’s also a great Metroid. This is an important moment for one of the longest-running franchises in the history of the medium, which we hope will mark the much-deserved comeback of the series. | Read review |
| VG247 | Alex Donaldson | Recommended | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread is likely to give those that have been counting down the days to its release exactly what they want: a thrilling experience in line with what they loved about past games. | Read review |
| VGC | Andy Robinson | 5 / 5 stars | 10-06-2021 | With a near-perfect balance of nods to the past and fresh ideas, Metroid Dread brings cinematic flair, fast-paced action and a surprising story to the side-scrolling classic. This is the comeback fans have been waiting for. | Read review |
| VGChartz | Paul Broussard | 9 / 10 | 10-08-2021 | Between the rock solid exploration and atmosphere, the incredible boss fights, and the solid tension building of the EMMIs, Dread is probably the definitive 2D Metroidvania of the 21st century. | Read review |
| Video Chums | A.J. Maciejewski | 8.9 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread is one of the best Metroidvania games out there with its awesome collection of abilities and its action-packed E.M.M.I. areas. It may not provide as much challenge as old-school fans would expect but it’s still an undeniably incredible adventure. | Read review |
| VideoGamer | Josh Wise | 8 / 10 | 10-15-2021 | Where the studio succeeds—and where Metroid Dread elevates from noble and flawed effort to inspired riff—is in its embrace of the unreachable. | Read review |
| Washington Post | Gene Park | Not Recommended | 10-06-2021 | As the game industry has proven throughout the years, the Metroid formula is worth iterating and reiterating upon. Now that the formula is back home in the original series that created it, here’s hoping Nintendo remembers this too. | Read review |
| WayTooManyGames | Leonardo Faria | 8 / 10 | 10-11-2021 | Metroid Dread is, well, another 2D Metroid, and that is worth celebrating if you’re a fan of the franchise. It will not, by any means, convert newcomers into die-hard fans of the series, given how it assumes you’ve played its predecessors right from the get-go, but it offers a crap ton of fanservice and excellent level design for those who know what to expect from a Metroid game. If only it didn’t have so many obnoxious stealth horror sections that did nothing but halt my overall enjoyment with it, this could have challenged Super Metroid as to which entry in the series is the greatest of all time. | Read review |
| Wccftech | Unknown | 8.8 / 10 | 10-06-2021 | Metroid Dread proves that the Metroid franchise is still ready to innovate the genre it helped build with exciting new ideas. While it hasn’t taken on all the lessons from newcomers that have filled in since its absence, it doesn’t feel like an outsider looking in. | Read review |
| We Got This Covered | Autumn Wright | 2.5 / 5 stars | 10-20-2021 | Metroid Dread can’t commit to giving players an action-packed power fantasy or a suspenseful adventure against the odds. It’s quick, short, and snappy — all things that can be good when used right, but not at all what Metroid Dread set out to deliver. | Read review |
| WellPlayed | Kieron Verbrugge | 8.5 / 10 | 10-07-2021 | An intoxicating power climb, top-notch level design and a fear-inducing hook make this an incredibly compelling and long overdue side-scrolling Metroid sequel. It struggles with sticking too closely to the roots of its decades-old predecessors and could definitely learn a thing or two from contemporary Metroidvanias, but it’s a blast all the same. | Read review |
| Worth Playing | Chris “Atom” DeAngelus | 9 / 10 | 10-11-2021 | Metroid Dread is a fantastic return to form for the 2D Metroid titles. Building upon the lessons of Samus Returns, it captures the feel of Metroid nearly perfectly. It’s incredibly fun to play, balances the story and gameplay in the way a Metroid game should, and in general, it’s just excellent. Its few flaws stood out more in retrospect than while I was playing the game. It’s easily one of the best 2D Metroid titles, and it’s a fantastic way to close out the ongoing storyline. | Read review |
| Zoomg | محمد صادق تواضعی | 9.5 / 10 | 10-16-2021 | Metroid Dread is a magnificent comeback for the Metroid series and an exciting sequel to Metroid Fusion. | Read review |
| ZTGD | Anthony Mann | 7 / 10 | 10-27-2021 | I simply don’t think this stands as tall as Super Metroid, Zero Mission, Prime, Fusion, or even Samus Returns. But to a Metroid fan it is worth playing and realize that these are problems I found with the game; other people haven’t had the same issues. However, to anyone who has never played a Metroid game before, I don’t think this is the place to start. I think it feels too different from the rest of the series (neither a good or bad thing) and the moments in the story that hit really well only do so because of everything that has happened before in previous titles. | Read review |
Awards & Recognition
RECOGNITION
Metroid Dread Credits
CREDITS
DIRECTOR(S):
Jose Luis Márquez, Fumi Hayashi
PRODUCER(S):
Yoshio Sakamoto
DESIGNER(S):
Jose Maria Navarro Herrera, Carlos Zarzuela Sánchez, Jacobo Luengo
PROGRAMMER(S):
Fernando Zazo
ARTIST(S):
Jorge Benedito Chicharro
WRITER(S):
n/a
COMPOSER(S):
Kenji Yamamoto, Soshi Abe, Sayako Doi
Developed by MercurySteam. All titles, content, brand names, trademarks, logos, artwork, and associated imagery are trademarks and/or copyright material of their respective owners. © All rights reserved.
