It has been a week now since Metroid Dread, the latest entry in the 2D Metroid series, released exclusively on the Nintendo Switch. One of the regions to see the game’s release is the UK. There, GfK Entertainment has released a couple of charts which shows how the Metroid series is doing in the UK.
The first chart shows the best-selling Metroid games by units, and the second chart is by revenue. So far, Metroid Prime games have done the best on both charts, although the order is rearranged a little bit, depending on which chart you’re looking at. The only exception is Metroid Prime: Federation Force, which is nearly at the bottom of both charts.
As for Metroid Dread, after only being available for a week, is currently the 8th best-selling Metroid game by units, and the 6th best-selling Metroid game by revenue. When comparing to other 2D Metroids, it is still trailing Metroid Fusion and Metroid 2: The Return of Samus on the best-selling Metroid games by units. As for the chart based on revenue, only Metroid Fusion is currently charting higher than Metroid Dread. Both charts can be seen in full down below.
Best-Selling Metroid Games By Units
| Position | Year | Title | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003 | Metroid Prime | Nintendo GameCube |
| 2 | 2007 | Metroid Prime 3: Corruption | Nintendo Wii |
| 3 | 2006 | Metroid Prime: Hunters | Nintendo DS |
| 4 | 2004 | Metroid Prime 2: Echoes | Nintendo GameCube |
| 5 | 2002 | Metroid Fusion | Gameboy Advance |
| 6 | 2010 | Metroid: Other M | Nintendo Wii |
| 7 | 1992 | Metroid 2: The Return of Samus | Gameboy |
| 8 | 2021 | Metroid Dread | Nintendo Switch |
| 9 | 2004 | Metroid: Zero Mission | Gameboy Advance |
| 10 | 2017 | Metroid: Samus Returns | Nintendo 3DS |
| 11 | 2009 | Metroid Prime Trilogy | Nintendo Wii |
| 12 | 1994 | Super Metroid | SNES |
| 13 | 2007 | Metroid Prime Pinball | Nintendo DS |
| 14 | 2016 | Metroid Prime: Federation Force | Nintendo 3DS |
| 15 | 2005 | Metroid (NES Classic) | Gameboy Advance |
Best-Selling Metroid Games By Revenue
| Position | Year | Title | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003 | Metroid Prime 3: Corruption | Nintendo Wii |
| 2 | 2007 | Metroid Prime | Nintendo GameCube |
| 3 | 2006 | Metroid Prime: Hunters | Nintendo DS |
| 4 | 2004 | Metroid Prime 2: Echoes | Nintendo GameCube |
| 5 | 2002 | Metroid Fusion | Gameboy Advance |
| 6 | 2021 | Metroid Dread | Nintendo Switch |
| 7 | 2010 | Metroid: Other M | Nintendo Wii |
| 8 | 2017 | Metroid: Samus Returns | Nintendo 3DS |
| 9 | 2009 | Metroid Prime Trilogy | Nintendo Wii |
| 10 | 2004 | Metroid: Zero Mission | Gameboy Advance |
| 11 | 1994 | Super Metroid | SNES |
| 12 | 1992 | Metroid 2: The Return of Samus | SNES |
| 13 | 2007 | Metroid Prime Pinball | Nintendo DS |
| 14 | 2016 | Metroid Prime: Federation Force | Nintendo 3DS |
| 15 | 2005 | Metroid (NES Classic) | Gameboy Advance |
So if Metroid 3 was the best in Revenue for them, why didnt they work on Metroid 4 immediately after the 3rd was complete? Why wait 17 years?
Probably because they thought Other M would be good.
Which obviously wasn’t the case.
Plus Retro Studios was doing the Donkey Kong games after Prime 3.
“Best in revenue” means literally nothing in terms of actual profit by itself. It doesn’t tell you how much it cost to bring to market, or even how much revenue it actually created.
Guys I hate to be the bearer of bad news, and don’t think me a hater, I really enjoy the core series, especially Metroid 1 and 3, but the Metroid series has never sold very well for a Nintendo IP. Moreover, Nintendo has shown they either don’t know how to, or don’t have any interest in making it. They even tried and failed to make Metroid Prime 4 themselves before handing it off to someone else. Go through that whole list. How many real Metroid games has Nintendo even made themselves? Do you even count Federation Force? Other M?
How many have Nintendo made themselves? You know retro studios is owned by Nintendo right? Out of all the 15 games listed, Nintendo developed at least 10..
You have an error in the dates