Metroid Dread
Games review
As of Jun 23, 2026, Metroid Dread is rated 87/100 on OpenCritic (154 critic reviews), and 88/100 on Metacritic (133 critic reviews). Each source is shown in its own units, never blended into one score.
Is Metroid Dread worth it in 2026?
An 87, 88 on both major aggregators from well over 100 critics each is not a fluke, Metroid Dread is a genuinely excellent 2D action game that delivers tight combat, clever level design, and boss fights strong enough to draw praise from four separate sampled reviews. Those same bosses, however, generate the loudest complaints: difficulty spikes appear in three sampled reviews and frustrating encounters in two, and cumbersome controls, flagged as a distinct issue, compound directly into that frustration in a precision game where input reliability matters. The weak setting and navigation confusion each surface in only one sampled review, so they represent real but narrow dissatisfactions rather than consensus problems. This is a complete, confident game that respects nearly 20 years of series legacy, but it is built for players who are prepared to die repeatedly learning boss patterns and who trust their controls enough to execute under pressure.
Action-platformer veterans and committed Metroid fans who want demanding, rewarding gameplay and are comfortable with a steep learning curve on bosses, lapsed fans should note that nostalgia alone will not carry them through the harder encounters.
Difficulty spikes, frustrating boss battles, and cumbersome controls are the most recurring complaints and they reinforce each other, casual players or anyone with low tolerance for repeated failure in precision combat should treat this as a serious warning, not a caveat.
ReviewPond's conclusion, drawn only from the verified scores and review themes below. Not a paid or editorial opinion.
Different sources measure different things, so each is shown in its own units and never merged into one number.
Pros
- faithful series return5
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- A stylish, visually sumptuous return for 2D Metroid, and an adventure that proudly sits alongside the series' best.
- More than anything else, Metroid Dread feels like going back to a place of comfort after a long time away. Though the gameplay is refined and new features have been added to the mi...
- Metroid Dread is likely to give those that have been counting down the days to its release exactly what they want: a thrilling experience in line with what they loved about past ga...
- excellent level design4
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- A surprise sequel after nearly 20 years, Metroid Dread brings back the legendary exploration and progression and merges it with excellent modern combat and some of the best boss fi...
- Metroid Dread meets - and arguably surpasses - its lofty expectations, with demanding gameplay, clever level design and an ambitious story.
- Overall, Metroid Dread brings a narrative close to a decades long story with excellent level design and combat. It also looks great as well. So until Samus Aran is needed once agai...
- strong boss fights4
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- A surprise sequel after nearly 20 years, Metroid Dread brings back the legendary exploration and progression and merges it with excellent modern combat and some of the best boss fi...
- Frustrating boss battles and cumbersome controls distract from an otherwise fun and isolating adventure
- Intense combat and a series of challenging boss fights require a high level of play, but the thrill of victory is incredibly sweet
- satisfying combat4
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- A surprise sequel after nearly 20 years, Metroid Dread brings back the legendary exploration and progression and merges it with excellent modern combat and some of the best boss fi...
- Intense combat and a series of challenging boss fights require a high level of play, but the thrill of victory is incredibly sweet
- Its playability matched with MercurySteam doing right by Samus Aran has turned me into even more of a fan of Metroid. Even beyond the context of my own affinity toward the characte...
- impressive atmosphere3
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- Metroid Dread suffers from some minor grievances, but overall it is a remarkable achievement in not just resurrecting a dormant and beloved series, proving its authority in the gen...
- So here we are. Supposedly, the saga is complete, and I’m left with mixed feelings. I’m glad that Dread really goes for it, that it wants to make you feel hunted and disadvantaged...
- Where the studio succeeds, and where Metroid Dread elevates from noble and flawed effort to inspired riff, is in its embrace of the unreachable.
- tight responsive gameplay3
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- Metroid Dread meets - and arguably surpasses - its lofty expectations, with demanding gameplay, clever level design and an ambitious story.
- Its playability matched with MercurySteam doing right by Samus Aran has turned me into even more of a fan of Metroid. Even beyond the context of my own affinity toward the characte...
- Metroid Dread is nearly the perfect return for Samus, and only some difficulty spikes rain on the parade. This is a tight, responsive 2D Metroid experience that constantly impresse...
Cons
- difficulty spikes3
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- Frustrating boss battles and cumbersome controls distract from an otherwise fun and isolating adventure
- Intense combat and a series of challenging boss fights require a high level of play, but the thrill of victory is incredibly sweet
- Metroid Dread is nearly the perfect return for Samus, and only some difficulty spikes rain on the parade. This is a tight, responsive 2D Metroid experience that constantly impresse...
Themes and quotes are drawn from 20 sampled reviews with text; the scores above reflect all 287 ratings. Counts are how many of the sampled reviews mention each point.