The Metroid franchise has seen new life in recent years, partially thanks to the recent release of Dread and the anticipation for Metroid Prime 4. It’s not the most widespread series from Nintendo’s collection, but it has millions of fans eager for more stories surrounding the bounty hunter Samus Aran. With how much each game has influenced the series, it’s interesting to note which Metroid games are considered to be the best in terms of sales and popularity.
All sales information was taken from
The 10 Best Metroid Games of All Time Ranked by Copies Sold
10. Metroid: Other M 9. Metroid Prime: Hunters 8. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes 7. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption 6. Super Metroid 5. Metroid Fusion 4. Metroid II: Return of Samus 3. Metroid 2. Metroid Prime
- Metroid Dread
10. Metroid: Other M — ~800,000 Copies Sold
Metroid: Other M attempted to bridge the gap between Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion. It put a greater focus on story and action than other games, letting players explore the relationships between Samus and Adam. Unfortunately, this relationship soured the experience for many fans, restricting the bounty hunter’s options during gameplay and making her seem too passive and cowardly in cutscenes. The unique style of combat is still something to praise, but Other M is far from the first recommendation fans would give to those that haven’t tried the franchise before.
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9. Metroid Prime: Hunters — ~1.08 Million Copies Sold
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8. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes — ~1.1 Million Copies Sold 
Metroid Prime 2 offered its own unique style, letting players explore different dimensions of a strange new world. It also lets players battle against Dark Samus for the first time, giving them a taste of a doppelganger battle outside of Fusion’s 2D style. It never managed to reach the same notability or success that its predecessor — and eventual successor — ended up receiving. But it’s still a fine addition to the catalog of first-person Metroid titles, especially for anyone that gets their hands on the Prime Trilogy.
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7. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption — ~1.41 Million Copies Sold
“Corruption” is the theme of Metroid Prime 3, introducing allies-turned-enemies throughout the game and forcing Samus to endure the pain of an alien virus. This is one of the most action-packed games of the franchise, letting players traverse different worlds as they fight against other bounty hunters and put an end to the ambitions of Dark Samus once and for all. One can only wonder what will come of Corruption’s influences when Prime 4 eventually releases, but this is certainly a title that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
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6. Super Metroid — ~1.42 Million Copies Sold
Arguably the greatest Metroid game of all time, Super Metroid is beloved by pretty much every Metroid fan out there. It’s the basis for pretty much every 2D game after it, giving players hundreds of options for exploration — including sequence breaking. It also let players face off against iconic foes like Kraid, Ridley, and Mother Brain in compelling new ways, providing an experience that would stay with them for decades to come. While it can be tricky for a modern player to get into, it’s still not hard to see why Super Metroid has been such a popular title for so long.
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5. Metroid Fusion — ~1.6 Million Copies Sold
Metroid Fusion was, for a time, the final episode in Samus Aran’s journey. After a freak accident involving the deadly X parasites, she was given Metroid DNA to enhance her abilities. This leads to an exploration aboard a space station infested with the aforementioned parasites, forcing her to evade and defeat plenty of nightmarish foes. It hasn’t been able to enjoy as many re-releases as Super Metroid, but Fusion is still a fine journey for those that wished to see where Samus would go next.
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4. Metroid II: Return of Samus — ~1.72 Million Copies Sold
Metroid II is a bit of an odd title. It stripped the gameplay of the first Metroid down to allow the Game Boy a chance to handle it while also giving players a new objective: eliminate every Metroid they find. It was the second game of the entire series while also being the first to appear on a handheld console, so its overall success isn’t very shocking. Still, anyone interested in the series would be better off checking out its remake, Samus Returns, instead.
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3. Metroid — ~2.73 Million Copies Sold
The original Metroid introduced the concept of a large, open-ended map for players to explore. It might not have been the first game ever to use that concept, but it’s one of the most notable for spawning such a massive franchise afterwards. It’s certainly primitive compared to the previous items on this list, but it’s hard to deny the many influences it had on the series. Most fans would benefit more from checking out its own remake, Zero Mission, but the classic NES title is still worth a second look for anyone that wants to really see where it all began.
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2. Metroid Prime — ~2.84 Million Copies Sold
Perhaps part of why the Prime games are so well-regarded is because, for a time, the first one had sold better than every other Metroid title out there. Metroid Prime allowed players to explore a massive world from the view of Samus herself, letting them truly feel like they were discovering ancient ruins and defeating powerful foes. Once more, exploration lets fans visit areas early and take full advantage of new abilities, making the journey through Prime feel extremely robust. If it wasn’t for the most recent game, Prime might have continued to overshadow the main series in terms of sales.
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1. Metroid Dread — ~3 Million Copies Sold
Metroid Dread, the latest game in the franchise, is a dream come true for millions. It gave fans a closer look at the backstory surrounding both Samus Aran and the Chozo while refining gameplay and exploration more than ever before. Following some free updates, it even has tougher difficulty selections and a boss rush mode! While it lacks some series staples like a Ridley battle or some of the more iconic music tracks from previous games, there’s no question that Dread is — and deserves to be — the best-selling Metroid game yet.
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Final Thoughts
The Metroid series hasn’t been this popular since two decades ago, and it seems like the franchise will only continue to grow. If Prime 4 is successful, then who knows how much exploration and depth players will be able to enjoy in the future? With more Metroid games seeming like a greater possibility than ever, it’s clear that fans should continue to show their love. Your support has not gone unheard!