author: Przemyslaw Zamecki
Metroid Dread. 18 best games for Nintendo Switch
Table of Contents
- Genre: Metroidvania
- Play if: you want to try out the progenitor of the metroidvania genre
- Don't play, because: you'll throw the Switch out of the window in a fit of anger at the difficulty level
- Similar games: Castlevania, Hollow Knight, Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Developer: Mercury Steam Entertainment
- Release date: October 8, 2021
It feels strange to call Metroid Dread a metroidvania, even though this game meets all the most important requirements of said genre, since the original game in the series was in fact one of its main precursors. Sure, the developers have experimented with other genres along the way, but when you think of Metroid, you usually imagine labyrinthine, action-packed platformers.
Dread came a bit out of nowhere - fans were quite surprised at its announcement, but in a good way. Despite the players having a few growing concerns before launch, this title turned out to be a real success and one of the flagship titles available on the Switch. Once again, we do metroid-like things in Metroid - we run, shoot, sometimes we get lost, and other times we discover secret rooms. The overall experience is accompanied by eye-catching visuals and responsive gameplay.
New to the series is the implementation of scenes straight from the horror genre. Opponents that can't be gunned down has been added to the game. You have to resort to running away from them, and if you mess up, you'll have to show off your reflexes (your impending death can be staved off by clicking the correct button in a tight time frame). It seems like a minor addition, but it adds a bit of spice and stress to the fun.