After a seven-year wait, Metroid Prime 4’s Metacritic score barely edges out outliers Other M and Prime Pinball

An 80% average is commendable for many titles, but Metroid carries a legacy that invites tougher comparisons. Super Metroid established a template that defines the best Metroidvanias even today and remains one of the medium’s most celebrated games. The original Metroid Prime maintains a Metacritic score of 97 — one of the highest on the site — while Prime 2 and Prime 3 sit at 92 and 90, respectively.

By contrast, Metroid Prime 4’s early reception places it closer to the franchise’s more divisive entries. Metroid Prime Pinball — an unusual spin‑off — earned a 79 on Metacritic, and Metroid: Other M — mechanically serviceable but widely criticized for its tone — also garnered a 79 aggregate. Those scores are respectable, but they underline how high the bar is for this series.

These are the best Metroid games of all time.