Space pirates on the planet Zebes are breeding Metroids, energy-draining jellyfish creatures, and bounty hunter Samus Aran is sent alone to stop them. Nintendo R&D1, with Intelligent Systems, released Metroid on the Famicom Disk System in 1986 and on NES cartridge in 1987. Its large interconnected map, where new abilities like the Morph Ball, Bombs, High Jump Boots and Ice Beam unlock earlier areas, helped found the exploration genre now called Metroidvania.
The game is deliberately disorienting, with no in-game map and many similar-looking corridors. Kraid and Ridley guard hidden lairs, and both must be defeated before Tourian, where Mother Brain waits behind Metroids that can only be frozen and blasted with missiles. The ending reveals Samus as a woman when she removes her suit, varying with completion time, which surprised players in 1986. The NES version uses passwords rather than the disk version's save files.
Tips for Metroid
Draw your own map or follow one; rooms repeat their look and it is easy to circle back without noticing.
Find the Ice Beam before Tourian, since Metroids must be frozen before missiles can kill them.
Bomb floors and walls; many items and passages are hidden behind breakable blocks.
How to Play Metroid
Click Play Now to launch Metroid directly in your browser — no downloads or plugins needed. Z jumps and X fires; hold up to aim upward and press down to roll into the Morph Ball. Shift switches between beam and missiles. You can also connect a USB or Bluetooth gamepad for a more authentic feel.
Save states let you save your progress at any point. Create a free account to sync saves across devices. Press F11 for fullscreen mode.
Playing Metroid is easy: press "Play Now" above and the game starts right in your browser window. Our emulator handles everything — no extra software needed.
Is Metroid free to play?
Absolutely! Metroid is 100% free on RetroVault.GG. No subscriptions, no hidden fees — just open the page and play.
What console is Metroid for?
Metroid is a NES title. Our browser-based emulator lets you experience it exactly as it was on the original hardware — no console required.
What genre is Metroid?
Metroid is a action, adventure, platformer game. It was made for the NES.
Can I play Metroid on my phone?
You can play Metroid on any mobile device with a modern browser. The game adapts to your screen size with on-screen touch controls.