If you play just one game first, choose Metroid Prime Remastered. It is the first entry in the Prime series and the closest optional introduction to the 3D exploration and scanning style of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Prime 4 has already been released; none of the games below is established as a required prerequisite.
Which Metroid game should you play first?
For the most direct preparation, play Metroid Prime Remastered. The Prime games are the series’ first-person 3D branch, while the mainline 2D games offer a different perspective and a connected story arc. You can enjoy Prime 4 without completing that arc—or any earlier Metroid game—but a previous Prime entry is the most relevant way to sample its subseries.
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![Metroid Prime Remastered Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41WaOVAna-L._SL160_.jpg)
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Metroid Prime Remastered Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $39.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Metroid Prime Remastered - Compatible with Nintendo Switch | $47.75 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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NIN Metroid Prime Remastered 12 | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.82 | Buy on Amazon |
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Nintendo describes Metroid Prime Remastered as “the first entry in the Metroid Prime series.” The Switch version updates the presentation and includes control schemes, making it a straightforward way to get familiar with Prime’s format. Nintendo’s game page has the official details.
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The best games to play before Prime 4
Metroid Prime Remastered: best single pick
Choose this if you want to know what a Prime game feels like before starting Prime 4. It introduces the 3D branch’s first-person exploration and scanning approach. This is a format-based recommendation, not a claim that Prime 4 depends on its story.
#1 Best Overall
- Become intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran and explore an alien planet in this critically-acclaimed first-person adventure
- Use and upgrade abilities like the Morph Ball, Missiles, and an array of beams to survive the harsh environments and lethal creatures of the planet Tallon IV
- Gain abilities and revisit areas to uncover the different routes and secrets hiding in a beautiful-yet-threatening interconnected world
- Scan your surroundings to gather information about the planet’s history and the creatures that call it home or to reveal enemies’ weak points
- Choose from multiple control options and experience revamped graphics, sound, and unlockable art in this remastered classic
Super Metroid: best classic 2D companion
Choose Super Metroid if you want a landmark example of the side-scrolling games. Samus returns to Zebes after Space Pirates take the last remaining Metroid. It gives you a feel for the exploration foundations of the 2D series, but it is not a Prime 4 prerequisite.
Metroid Fusion: best guided 2D story
Metroid Fusion is a good option if you prefer a more guided, story-forward 2D adventure. Samus confronts the X parasite after being cured with Metroid DNA. It is more linear than earlier 2D entries, so it may suit players who want clearer direction as they move through the game.
Rank #2
- Become intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran and explore an alien planet in this critically-acclaimed first-person adventure.
- Use and upgrade abilities like the Morph Ball, Missiles, and an array of beams to survive the harsh environments and lethal creatures of the planet Tallon IV.
- Gain abilities and revisit areas to uncover the different routes and secrets hiding in a beautiful-yet-threatening interconnected world.
- Scan your surroundings to gather information about the planet’s history and the creatures that call it home or to reveal enemies’ weak points.
- Choose from multiple control options and experience revamped graphics, sound, and unlockable art in this remastered classic.
Metroid Dread: best modern 2D action
Pick Metroid Dread for modern side-scrolling action. It is the fifth mainline 2D game in the series chronology and the culmination of that 2D saga. It is a satisfying endpoint for players following that storyline, but Prime 4 belongs to the separate Prime branch.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Metroid: Zero Mission: best retelling of the original
Metroid: Zero Mission retells the original game’s story with redesigned environments and added features. It is a useful starting point if you want to follow the 2D story in sequence and have access to it; it is not necessary to understand Prime 4.
Rank #3
- 10009824
Choose a route by how much Metroid you want
| Your goal | Suggested route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One-game introduction | Metroid Prime Remastered | It is the first Prime game and the closest match to the 3D subseries’ format. |
| Try both major formats | Metroid Prime Remastered and Super Metroid | You get one Prime-style 3D game and one classic 2D game without committing to the full chronology. |
| Follow the 2D story | Zero Mission, then Super Metroid, Fusion and Dread | This route follows the 2D saga’s progression; completing it is optional before Prime 4. |
| Sample 2D without starting at the beginning | Super Metroid or Dread | Choose the classic exploration foundation or the later modern action game, depending on your preference. |
Where to play the games
Nintendo’s UK and Australia platform guides list Metroid Prime Remastered and Metroid Dread for the Switch family. They also list Metroid, Zero Mission, Super Metroid, Metroid II: Return of Samus and Fusion as Nintendo Classics for Nintendo Switch Online members. Catalogs and subscription terms can vary by region, so check the local Nintendo service page for current access details. These listings do not establish current physical-store inventory or prices.
For the official platform and catalog information, see Nintendo UK’s Metroid guide and Nintendo Australia’s Metroid guide.
Rank #4
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Do you need to play anything before Metroid Prime 4?
No earlier game is established as mandatory. If you have limited time, start with Metroid Prime Remastered for Prime-series familiarity. If you are more interested in Samus’s 2D storyline, follow the 2D route instead—or simply play the entry that best matches the kind of game you enjoy.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was released in 2025 for Switch and Switch 2, according to GamesRadar+’s release information. The recommendations here are optional ways to get more context, not a checklist you need to finish before playing.
Quick Recap
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