Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Play Metroid Fusion if you want the next story chapter. It is the game immediately before Metroid Dread in Nintendo’s 2D chronology. Choose Super Metroid for classic, largely self-directed exploration; Metroid Prime Remastered for the series’ 3D, first-person perspective; Metroid: Zero Mission to revisit the beginning; or Metroid: Samus Returns to revisit the second chapter.
There is no universal “best” follow-up. The right choice depends on whether you want continuity, a particular perspective, a specific era of exploration, or the version you can actually play on your hardware and in your region.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What Metroid game should I play after Dread?
Use this decision table before choosing. It separates story order from play style, because the game that follows Dread chronologically is not necessarily the one that feels most similar to it.
| If you want… | Play… | Why it fits | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| The immediate story lead-in | Metroid Fusion | Dread takes place after Fusion, making it the direct preceding chapter in the 2D saga. | It began on Game Boy Advance; present-day access depends on your platform, region and subscription catalog. |
| Classic 2D exploration | Super Metroid | Its sprawling Zebes labyrinth, route-finding and ability-based progression represent the classic exploration formula. | Its older presentation and controls may feel less guided than Dread. |
| A 3D change of perspective | Metroid Prime Remastered | It is the first Prime entry and presents Samus’s exploration in first person, with remastered graphics, sound, unlockable art and updated control schemes. | It is not a side-scrolling sequel; movement, looking and navigation feel different. |
| An updated version of the first mission | Metroid: Zero Mission | It remakes and expands the original Metroid, including a stealth sequence. | It is an origin-story revisit, not an event after Dread. |
| An updated version of the second mission | Metroid: Samus Returns | It remakes Metroid II: Return of Samus and adds Chozo story material. | It is a Nintendo 3DS game rather than one of the titles listed in the cited Nintendo Switch Classics catalog. |
Nintendo describes Metroid as exploratory action rather than a sequence of linear stages. You investigate maze-like worlds, obtain weapons and abilities that open routes, and use your map to decide where to go next. That shared structure is why all five recommendations can follow Dread, even when their camera, age or story position differs.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
The 2D story order, and where Dread fits
The main 2D chronology is:
- Metroid
- Metroid II: Return of Samus
- Super Metroid
- Metroid Fusion
- Metroid Dread
Nintendo’s official Dread material describes the game as the conclusion of this story arc and places it after the events of Fusion. The saga had already spanned more than 35 years when Nintendo published its Dread report, and that report also noted a 19-year gap since a brand-new 2D entry in the saga. Those figures explain why Dread can feel like both a finale and a reunion with an unusually long-running formula.
Zero Mission and Samus Returns are remakes of the first two entries, not additional chapters inserted after Dread. They are useful when you want context for the beginning of Samus’s journey, but they should be labeled as revisits when you plan your play order.
1. Metroid Fusion: choose this for story continuity
Why it is the closest follow-up
Metroid Fusion is the clearest answer to “What comes next after Metroid Dread?” in terms of narrative chronology. Nintendo’s story page places Dread after Fusion, so Fusion supplies the immediate lead-in rather than merely sharing the same broad setting or mechanics.
Recommended Free Tools
Play it when your main question after finishing Dread is “What earlier events does this ending build on?” The value is sequential context: you move from the preceding 2D chapter into the concluding chapter, instead of jumping backward to an origin remake or sideways into the Prime branch.
What to expect from the transition
Fusion is a Game Boy Advance-era game. Its presentation, screen layout and controls come from that hardware generation, so do not treat it as a game with the same convenience features or feel as a modern Switch release. The shared 2D exploration identity remains the reason to choose it, while the older design is the adjustment you should make before starting.
Because access is not identical everywhere, check the Nintendo service or storefront available in your country. Nintendo UK’s catalog page, dated 19 January 2026, lists Fusion among the Nintendo Classics games available to Nintendo Switch Online members. That is UK evidence, not a guarantee for every region; membership requirements and catalogs can change.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Who should skip it for now
Skip Fusion as your first post-Dread game if you specifically want modern controls, a 3D camera, or a game that introduces the series from its beginning. In those cases, Prime Remastered, Super Metroid or Zero Mission better matches the requested experience.
2. Super Metroid: choose this for classic 2D exploration
Why it remains the reference point
Super Metroid comes before Fusion and Dread in the 2D chronology, but it is often the best practical choice for a player who wants the classic form of the formula. Nintendo describes its world as a sprawling Zebes labyrinth built around exploration, abilities and discovering routes. That is the core loop many players recognize in later 2D games.
The important distinction is not simply age. Super Metroid asks you to read the map and infer where a newly acquired ability might open a path. If you enjoyed deciding where to investigate in Dread, that self-directed structure is the reason to try it. If you relied on modern presentation and immediate feedback, expect to spend more time interpreting the environment and your map.
How to approach its older design
- Use the map as a planning tool, not just a record of rooms you have visited.
- When a new ability changes what Samus can do, revisit suspicious routes instead of assuming the next objective is marked for you.
- Allow for a different control rhythm from Dread; familiarity with the setting does not make the two games identical.
- Judge it as a classic exploration game rather than expecting every modern quality-of-life convention.
Nintendo UK lists Super Metroid among the Nintendo Classics titles available to Nintendo Switch Online members in the UK catalog dated 19 January 2026. Verify your own region’s catalog and membership terms before relying on that route.
Where it fits in a story-focused order
If you have not played the earlier 2D entries, a chronological catch-up can run Zero Mission, Samus Returns, Super Metroid, Fusion and then Dread. That sequence uses remakes for the first two chapters while preserving the original order of events. It is a different goal from finding the next game after Dread, so choose it only if you want the whole arc from the start.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 113. Metroid Prime Remastered: choose this for a 3D perspective
Why it is the strongest change of pace
Metroid Prime Remastered is the first entry in the Prime branch and the clearest way to see how the series’ exploration works outside a side-scrolling view. Nintendo’s UK catalog describes it as a remastered presentation with revamped graphics and sound, unlockable art and updated control schemes. Those updates make it a practical first sample of the 3D branch for Switch-family players.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
The central change is perspective. Instead of reading a 2D room and its exits from the side, you explore in first person, using looking and movement to understand space. The underlying ideas—investigating a maze-like world, finding abilities and opening new routes—remain recognizably Metroid, but the act of navigation has a different physical and visual feel.
When to select it
- Choose it when you want another complete game rather than the next 2D story chapter.
- Choose it when a first-person view sounds more appealing than another side-scroller.
- Choose it when you want a modernized presentation and updated control options on a Switch-family system.
Do not select it on the assumption that it continues the immediate events of Dread. It is a perspective and branch change, not the next numbered 2D chapter. Nintendo’s catalog also lists Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for Switch 2 and Switch, but Prime Remastered remains the sensible starting point when you want a complete, available introduction to the 3D series rather than a later branch entry.
4. Metroid: Zero Mission: choose this to revisit the beginning
What the remake adds
Metroid: Zero Mission remakes and expands the original Metroid. Nintendo identifies the added material as including a stealth sequence. That makes it more than a visual replacement: it is an updated way to experience the first mission while retaining its place at the beginning of the story.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIt is the right recommendation when you have finished Dread and want to understand the earliest chapter without committing to the presentation of the original release. It is not the right label for a sequel, however. Starting it means moving backward in chronology, deliberately.
How to fit it into a replay plan
For a compact chronological route, begin with Zero Mission, continue to Samus Returns, then play Super Metroid, Fusion and Dread. For a post-Dread refresher, play it only when your priority is the origin story rather than narrative continuation.
Nintendo UK lists Zero Mission in its Nintendo Classics selection for Switch Online members. The cited page is a UK catalog snapshot dated 19 January 2026; availability, subscription tiers and regional listings can differ.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
5. Metroid: Samus Returns: choose this to revisit the second chapter
Why it belongs between Zero Mission and Super Metroid
Metroid: Samus Returns remakes Metroid II: Return of Samus, the second game in the core 2D chronology. Nintendo also notes additional Chozo story material. If you want to see the chapter that precedes Super Metroid in an updated form, this is the targeted choice.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →It is especially useful for readers who want to complete the story order with modernized versions of the earliest missions. It is not a direct continuation of Dread, and its availability is different from the Switch Classics route described for several other 2D games.
Hardware and access caveat
Samus Returns is a Nintendo 3DS title. The Nintendo UK page cited for the Classics catalog lists Metroid, Zero Mission, Super Metroid, Metroid II and Fusion, but does not list Samus Returns in that Switch Classics selection. Check the hardware and legitimate regional purchasing options you have before choosing it as your next game.
How the five choices compare
| Game | Story position | View | Best for | Access notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fusion | Immediately before Dread | 2D | Direct narrative continuity | Originally Game Boy Advance; Nintendo UK lists it for Switch Online Classics members as of 19 January 2026. |
| Super Metroid | Before Fusion | 2D | Classic, open-ended exploration | Nintendo UK lists it in Switch Online Classics; regional catalogs may differ. |
| Prime Remastered | Prime branch; not the next 2D event | 3D first person | A modernized perspective change | Presented by Nintendo for Switch-family players with updated controls and remastered audiovisuals. |
| Zero Mission | Remake of the first chapter | 2D | An updated origin story | Nintendo UK lists it in Switch Online Classics; region and membership matter. |
| Samus Returns | Remake of the second chapter | 2D | An updated pre-Super Metroid story | Nintendo 3DS; not listed in the cited Switch Classics selection. |
Compare them on four questions: Does the story need to continue or go backward? Do you want 2D or 3D? How much guidance do you want while navigating? Can you access the game legally on your current hardware in your region? The first three are relatively stable characteristics; the fourth can change with catalogs, subscriptions, editions and local availability.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Recommended play paths after Dread
Path A: continue the story first
- Play Metroid Fusion as the immediate preceding chapter.
- Return to Dread if you want to compare how the 2D arc develops across the two games.
- Only then branch into Super Metroid, Zero Mission or Samus Returns for earlier context.
Path B: experience the classic 2D lineage
- Start with Zero Mission as the remake of the original mission.
- Continue with Samus Returns for the remake of the second mission, if you have compatible 3DS access.
- Play Super Metroid.
- Play Fusion.
- Finish with Dread as the conclusion of the listed 2D story arc.
Path C: change perspective immediately
- Start Metroid Prime Remastered.
- Expect first-person navigation and updated control options rather than side-scrolling movement.
- Return to Fusion later if you still want the direct narrative connection to Dread.
Access, subscriptions and regional availability
Nintendo Switch Online is a membership-dependent access route for classic games, not a universal guarantee that every title is available in every country. The Nintendo UK catalog dated 19 January 2026 names Metroid, Zero Mission, Super Metroid, Metroid II and Fusion among its Nintendo Classics offerings. Confirm the catalog shown for your Nintendo Account’s country and the subscription level required before planning a playthrough around it.
The US Nintendo store identifies Metroid Dread as a Nintendo Switch game, gives its release date as 8 October 2021, and lists Rookie Mode, Dread Mode and Boss Rush. That page also lists Metroid Prime Remastered among related games. Store pages and physical stock are market-specific, so a listing in one country should not be read as proof of stock or an identical edition elsewhere.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
For a purchase decision, verify three details at the time you buy: the supported hardware, whether the listing is a complete game or a membership-based classic, and whether the edition is sold in your region. Prices, catalog membership and physical availability can change even when the chronology does not.
Do you need to play Fusion before Dread?
No. You can understand and finish Dread without first playing Fusion. You should play Fusion beforehand if experiencing the 2D story in order is important to you, because Nintendo places Dread after it. If you have already completed Dread, Fusion is still the most relevant earlier game for narrative continuity; it is not mandatory homework.
Which game is the safest recommendation?
Choose Fusion when “after” means the next story event. Choose Super Metroid when it means the classic exploration style that established the 2D template. Choose Prime Remastered when you want a polished 3D introduction and a different way to read a Metroid map. Choose Zero Mission or Samus Returns only when your goal is to revisit the first or second chapter in updated form.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →That approach avoids forcing one ranking onto players with different goals. The series’ consistent appeal is exploration—finding abilities, opening routes and learning a maze-like world—but the story position, camera, controls and current access route determine which game will feel like the right next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Metroid game should I play after Metroid Dread?
Play Metroid Fusion for the direct story lead-in, Super Metroid for classic 2D exploration, or Metroid Prime Remastered for a first-person 3D change of perspective.
Is Metroid Prime Remastered a sequel to Dread?
No. It is the first entry in the separate Prime branch and changes the series to first-person 3D exploration. It is a complementary choice, not the next 2D story chapter.
Are the classic Metroid games included with Nintendo Switch Online everywhere?
Not necessarily. Nintendo UK’s 19 January 2026 catalog lists several classic games for members, but catalogs, regions and subscription requirements can differ. Check your local Nintendo account and service page.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
