Standard Edition
StandardUS$59.99 at launch
In the box
- Game card
- Case with cover art
Switch
Metroid Dread
Metroid Dread is a 2021 action-adventure game developed by MercurySteam and Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. Released on October 8, 2021, Dread is the ninth main Metroid game following Metroid: Other M (2010), and a sequel to Metroid Fusion (2002).
ShooterPlatformAdventure
- Time to beat
- about 9.6 hours
- Plays offline
- Yes
Overview
Metroid Dread is a 2021 action-adventure game developed by MercurySteam and Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. Released on October 8, 2021, Dread is the ninth main Metroid game following Metroid: Other M (2010), and a sequel to Metroid Fusion (2002). It retains the side-scrolling gameplay of previous Metroid games and incorporates stealth elements. Players control the bounty hunter Samus Aran as she investigates the source of a mysterious transmission on the planet ZDR.
The Metroid producer, Yoshio Sakamoto, conceived Dread for the Nintendo DS in the mid-2000s, but development ended due to technical limitations. Industry commentators expressed interest in a new 2D Metroid game, and listed Dread in their "most wanted" lists. After their work on Metroid: Samus Returns (2017), Sakamoto appointed MercurySteam to develop Dread. It was announced at E3 2021.
Metroid Dread was named one of the best games of 2021 by multiple outlets. At the Game Awards 2021, it received two nominations, including Game of the Year and winning for Best Action/Adventure Game. It became the fastest-selling Metroid game in Japan, the UK and the US, and has sold more than three million copies, making it the best-selling Metroid game. A sequel, Metroid Ravenous, is scheduled for 2027 for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Official trailer
Trailer. Watch on YouTube
Gameplay
Metroid Dread Nintendo Switch Gameplay, Nintendo Life. Watch on YouTube
Screenshots
Game details
- Genres
- Shooter, Platform, Adventure
- Developer
- Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development, MercurySteam
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Series
- Metroid
- Engine
- Mercury Steam Engine
- Platforms
- Nintendo Switch
- Age rating
- ESRB T
- Modes
- Single player
- Yes
- Local multiplayer
- No
- Online multiplayer
- No
- Co op
- No
- Age ratings
- ACB
- M
- CLASS IND
- 10
- USK
- 12
- PEGI
- 12
- CERO
- B
- GRAC
- 12+
- ESRB
- T
Release dates
| Platform | Region | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch | Europe / PAL | 2021-10-07 |
| Nintendo Switch | Worldwide | 2021-10-08 |
Editions
Special Edition
Limited or specialUS$89.99 at launch
In the box
- Game card
- Steelbook case
- 190-page art book
- Five holographic art cards with the covers of the 2D Metroid games
DLC
No DLC. Extra difficulty modes and a Boss Rush came later as free updates.
Playable today
Playable offline todayYes
Single player only, with no online features.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Price at release | US$59.99, 8 October 2021 |
| Ever released on disc | Yes, on a Nintendo Switch game card |
| Ever released in the store | Yes, 8 October 2021 |
| In the store to buy today | Yes, US$59.99 |
| Can be downloaded again if you already bought it | Yes |
| Disc runs with no patch | Yes Boss Rush and the extra difficulty modes need the latest update. |
| Disc runs with the final patch | Yes The update is free on the console. |
| Has online features | No Single player with no online features. |
| Online servers running today | Does not exist |
| Playable offline today: campaign | Yes |
| Playable offline today: local multiplayer | Does not exist Single player only. |
| Playable offline today: online multiplayer | Does not exist No online multiplayer. |
| Playable offline today: DLC | Does not exist No DLC. |
Online
Plays offlineYes
Reception
- Aggregates
Outlet Platform Score Scale Metacritic Switch 88 100 - Critics
Outlet Score Scale IGN 9 10 GameSpot 8 10 Game Informer 9 10 Nintendo Life 10 10 Destructoid 8.5 10 Nintendo World Report 10 10 VentureBeat 5 5 GamesRadar+ 3.5 5
Staff and cast
- Staff
Role Name Developers MercurySteam, Nintendo EPD Publisher Nintendo Directors Jose Luis Marquez, Fumi Hayashi Producer Yoshio Sakamoto Designers Jose Maria Navarro Herrera, Carlos Zarzuela Sanchez, Jacobo Luengo Programmer Alfonso Valladolid Ferrandez Artist Jorge Benedito Chicharro Composers Kenji Yamamoto, Soshi Abe, Sayako Doi
Notes for collectors
- The first new 2D Metroid story since Metroid Fusion in 2002, and its direct sequel.
- Samus and E.M.M.I. amiibo came out with the game.
- Won Best Action/Adventure Game at The Game Awards 2021 and was nominated for Game of the Year.
- The best-selling Metroid game, at 3.07 million copies by December 2022.
- The Special Edition sold out before launch and resold for over US$200.
Credits
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Developer
- Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development, MercurySteam
- Director
- Jose Luis Marquez, Fumi Hayashi
- Released
- 2021-10-08
- Age rating
- ESRB T
- Region
- US
- Time to beat
- about 9.6 hours
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