Play Metroid Fusion if you want the next story chapter. Choose Super Metroid for the definitive classic 2D exploration experience, Metroid Prime Remastered for a first-person 3D take on the series, Zero Mission to revisit Samus’s first mission, or Samus Returns to revisit the second.
There is no single objectively best follow-up. The right choice depends on whether you want story continuity, another maze-like 2D adventure, a new perspective, or an updated version of an earlier chapter.
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Quick recommendations
| What you want after Metroid Dread | Play this | Why it fits | Important caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| The next story chapter | Metroid Fusion | Dread follows Fusion in Nintendo’s 2D story chronology. | It began as a Game Boy Advance game, so current access depends on your platform, region and subscription catalog. |
| Classic 2D exploration | Super Metroid | Its sprawling Zebes labyrinth, ability-gated routes and map-led exploration are the clearest expression of the classic formula. | Its presentation and controls are from an older era and may feel less guided than Dread. |
| A 3D change of perspective | Metroid Prime Remastered | It is the first Prime entry and presents exploration through a first-person view with updated visuals, sound and control options. | It is a substantial change from side-scrolling rather than a direct continuation of Dread. |
| An updated version of Samus’s first mission | Metroid: Zero Mission | It remakes and expands the original Metroid, including an added stealth sequence. | It revisits the beginning of the saga instead of moving the post-Dread story forward. |
| An updated version of the second mission | Metroid: Samus Returns | It remakes Metroid II: Return of Samus and adds further Chozo story material. | It is a Nintendo 3DS release, not one of the games listed in the cited Nintendo Switch Classics selection. |
Where Metroid Dread sits in the story
Nintendo’s core 2D order is Metroid, Metroid II: Return of Samus, Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion and then Metroid Dread. Nintendo’s story material places Dread after the events of Fusion and describes Dread as the conclusion of that particular story arc.
That makes Fusion the closest thing to a direct “next game,” even though it is technically the chapter immediately before the one you have just finished. Playing it after Dread works as a look back at the setup and context that lead into the latest 2D entry. The other recommendations are either earlier points in that order or part of the separate first-person Prime branch.
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The series is built around exploratory action rather than a sequence of strictly linear stages. You search maze-like environments, acquire weapons and abilities, and use them to open routes that were previously inaccessible. Map reading, recognizing landmarks and deciding where to backtrack are therefore more important similarities than a shared camera angle or identical control scheme.
1. Metroid Fusion: the closest story follow-up
Why choose it
If your main question is “What happens around the events that lead to Dread?” start with Metroid Fusion. It occupies the immediately preceding place in Nintendo’s 2D chronology, so it supplies the narrative context that Dread assumes without requiring you to jump to an unrelated era.
Fusion is also useful as a contrast. Dread is the modern conclusion of a long-running arc, while Fusion shows an earlier interpretation of the same broad ingredients: isolated environments, ability-based progression, environmental clues and a constant need to decide which route to investigate next. Expect a more compact, older presentation rather than a modern remake.
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What will feel different from Dread
- The Game Boy Advance-era presentation is built for a smaller screen and a simpler visual language.
- Movement and combat are less elaborate than in a 2021 release, so the game can feel more deliberate when you return to it.
- Its progression is still based on finding upgrades and using them to open new paths, but the spaces and guidance reflect an earlier design period.
Approach it as a historical chapter, not as a version of Dread with fewer features. Its value is the story position and the opportunity to see how the 2D formula developed.
How to access it
Nintendo UK’s catalog information dated 19 January 2026 lists Fusion among the Nintendo Classics games available to Nintendo Switch Online members. That is UK-specific catalog evidence. The game’s availability can differ by country, subscription tier and the catalog active when you read this, so check the Nintendo Switch Online listing for your own region before subscribing or planning a playthrough.
2. Super Metroid: the classic 2D choice
Why it remains the best fit for exploration purists
Choose Super Metroid when what you loved in Dread was not the plot but the feeling of learning a world. Nintendo describes its version of Zebes as a sprawling labyrinth in which new abilities change the meaning of previously visited areas. The game expects you to observe the map, notice suspicious walls or platforms and remember locations that you cannot yet reach.
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It comes before Fusion and Dread in the 2D order, but it is not merely a historical curiosity. It is the clearest example of the series’ core loop: explore, find an upgrade, test what that upgrade changes, and revise your route through the planet.
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What to expect when moving back from Dread
- Less modern convenience: The interface, movement and feedback are from an earlier generation. Give yourself time to learn the rhythm instead of expecting every action to have Dread’s responsiveness.
- More self-directed navigation: The game gives you a map, but it does not always point you toward the next objective as clearly as a contemporary adventure.
- A different combat tempo: Encounters often reward positioning and equipment choices over the rapid mobility that defines Dread.
If you want a direct mechanical continuation, Super Metroid may feel old-fashioned. If you want to understand why exploration is the series’ defining feature, it is the strongest recommendation.
Access
Nintendo UK lists Super Metroid in the Nintendo Classics selection for Nintendo Switch Online members. The listing is not a guarantee of identical availability elsewhere; Nintendo’s classic-game catalogs are regional and can change. Check your local service page for the current requirement.
3. Metroid Prime Remastered: a first-person 3D branch
Why choose it
Metroid Prime Remastered is the right choice if you want to keep the series’ exploration principles while changing the way you see the world. Nintendo UK describes it as the first Metroid Prime entry, remastered with revamped graphics and sound, unlockable art and updated control schemes for Switch-family players.
The shift from side-scrolling to first-person exploration changes your priorities. Instead of reading a silhouette from the side, you inspect rooms directly, scan environmental details and use your viewpoint to identify routes, hazards and clues. The underlying structure remains recognizably Metroid: abilities and equipment open paths, and returning to earlier areas can reveal new possibilities.
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- Choose it if you want the most substantial change from Dread without abandoning exploration-led progression.
- Choose it if a first-person view sounds more appealing than another 2D campaign.
- Choose it if you want to sample the Prime branch from its beginning rather than entering with a later installment.
Who should wait
Do not choose it expecting the next event in the 2D storyline. The game belongs to a different perspective and branch of the series. Its remaster improves presentation and offers modern control options, but it does not turn the game into a side-scrolling sequel to Dread.
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Platform note
The Nintendo UK catalog page dated 19 January 2026 identifies Prime Remastered as a Switch-family title. The same page lists Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for Switch 2 and Switch, but that does not change the recommendation here: Prime Remastered is the complete available entry to use when you want to begin the 3D branch.
4. Metroid: Zero Mission: revisit the beginning with modern 2D design
What it is
Zero Mission is a remake and expansion of the original Metroid. It retells Samus’s first mission while adding material beyond the original release, including a stealth sequence. That makes it a more approachable way to visit the opening chapter than simply starting with the earliest version.
Its position is important: this is an origin-era revisit, not a story continuation after Dread. Pick it when you want to see the foundation of the saga or when you prefer a shorter, more focused 2D campaign before tackling another large exploration game.
Why it suits Dread players
- It preserves the ability-gated exploration loop that connects the 2D games.
- Its remake structure is easier to approach than the original release’s presentation.
- The added content gives returning players something beyond a straight visual conversion.
You should still expect older design priorities. The map, pacing and challenge are shaped around a compact remake of a foundational game, not around the expansive movement set and late-game intensity of Dread.
Access
Nintendo UK lists Zero Mission among the Nintendo Classics games available to Nintendo Switch Online members. Availability is tied to the catalog in your region and can change, so confirm the current listing before relying on that route.
5. Metroid: Samus Returns: an updated second chapter
What it covers
Samus Returns remakes Metroid II: Return of Samus, the second major mission in the 2D chronology. Nintendo also notes additional Chozo story material. It therefore offers a modernized way to visit a chapter that sits well before Super Metroid, Fusion and Dread.
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It is a good choice when you want another 2D game but have already played the more commonly recommended entries, or when the history of the Chozo and the early formation of Samus’s world interests you more than immediate post-Dread continuity.
Why it is a different recommendation from Zero Mission
Both games revisit early missions, but they represent different points in the saga. Zero Mission returns to the first game and expands that origin. Samus Returns moves one step forward to the second mission and adds Chozo material around that story. If you are following chronology, play Zero Mission first and then Samus Returns; if you are choosing by convenience, select whichever premise appeals to you.
Platform limitation
Samus Returns is a Nintendo 3DS title. The Nintendo UK catalog information cited for Switch Classics lists Metroid, Zero Mission, Super Metroid, Metroid II and Fusion, but not Samus Returns. Access therefore depends on owning compatible 3DS hardware and on the availability of legitimate copies in your market.
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If story continuity matters most
Start with Fusion. It is the only recommendation here that directly precedes Dread in the 2D chronology. You are looking backward to the setup rather than forward to a new post-Dread chapter, because Nintendo describes Dread as the conclusion of that arc.
If exploration matters more than story
Start with Super Metroid. Its Zebes labyrinth and ability-driven route finding put the series’ exploratory identity ahead of modern presentation.
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If you want the biggest change without leaving Metroid’s structure
Start with Metroid Prime Remastered. The first-person view changes how you read spaces and solve navigation problems while retaining the loop of acquiring tools and opening routes.
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If you want to play the early story with updated versions
Play Zero Mission for the first mission, then Samus Returns for the second. Treat them as historical revisits rather than sequels to Dread.
Recommended play orders
The shortest path to context for Dread
- Play Metroid Fusion.
- Replay selected sections of Dread if you want to see how its events build on that earlier chapter.
This route prioritizes narrative continuity and avoids committing to the entire back catalog.
The classic 2D route
- Zero Mission
- Samus Returns
- Super Metroid
- Fusion
- Dread
This follows the main 2D story order while using the remakes where they are available. The original Metroid and Metroid II remain historically important, but their remakes are the more practical entry points when you want updated presentations.
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- Play Super Metroid to establish the classic exploration style.
- Play Metroid Prime Remastered to experience the first-person branch.
- Return to Fusion if you want the direct 2D story context around Dread.
This order deliberately alternates perspective rather than following one chronology. It is useful when you want to understand how the same exploration principles work in two different formats.
What to check before buying or subscribing
- Your region: The cited catalog evidence is from Nintendo UK and is dated 19 January 2026. Do not assume the same Classics lineup or subscription requirement applies in every country.
- Your hardware: Dread is a Nintendo Switch game released on 8 October 2021. Prime Remastered is identified for Switch-family systems, while Samus Returns is a Nintendo 3DS title.
- Subscription status: Classic games listed by Nintendo UK require Nintendo Switch Online membership. Confirm the current tier and local catalog before paying.
- Physical availability: Stock, editions and regional packaging change. Verify the edition sold in your market rather than assuming an old listing is still current.
- Replay features: If you are considering another run of Dread, Nintendo’s US store page lists Rookie Mode, Dread Mode and Boss Rush. Those options can provide a different challenge without starting a separate game.
How long the series’ arc has been developing
Nintendo’s Metroid Dread report describes the saga as spanning more than 35 years. The same developer transmission notes a 19-year gap since a brand-new 2D saga title. Those figures explain why the games recommended here vary so sharply in presentation: you are moving through several design generations, not choosing between interchangeable releases from one season.
That history is also why “best” depends on the question. Fusion is the best answer for immediate story context; Super Metroid is the best answer for the classic 2D formula; Prime Remastered is the best answer for a 3D perspective; and the two remakes are the best answers for revisiting the saga’s opening missions with updated versions.
Bottom line
For one recommendation, choose Metroid Fusion if you want the story connection, or Super Metroid if you want the strongest classic exploration experience. Choose Metroid Prime Remastered when you are ready for first-person 3D, and use Zero Mission or Samus Returns when your goal is to revisit the early chapters rather than continue beyond Dread.
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