Super Metroid at 30+: Why the SNES Classic Still Defines the Metroidvania
Released in 1994, Super Metroid set the template for an entire genre. Here's why it still feels brilliant – and how to play it today.
There's a reason a whole genre carries its name. Super Metroid, released for the Super Nintendo in 1994, didn't invent exploration-based action games, but it perfected the formula so thoroughly that "Metroidvania" became the shorthand for an entire style of design. More than three decades later, it remains one of the best games Nintendo has ever made.
A sequel that rewrote the rules
Developed by Nintendo R&D1 together with Intelligent Systems, Super Metroid arrived eight years after the original Metroid. It came on a then-large 24-megabit cartridge, and it used every bit of it. Director Yoshio Sakamoto has talked about how the Alien films inspired the series' early mood – but by Super Metroid, the series had become something entirely its own.
You play Samus Aran, returning to the planet Zebes after the last remaining Metroid – a baby she spared – is stolen by the Space Pirates. What follows is a lonely, atmospheric journey through a single, interconnected world.
What still makes it great
No hand-holding. There are no on-screen tutorials telling you where to go. The game teaches through its world: a strange wall, an unreachable ledge, a sound in the distance. You remember the places you couldn't reach, and come back when you have the right tool.
A map that changes everything. The in-game map system was a huge quality-of-life leap, making a sprawling, non-linear world readable without spoiling its secrets.
Abilities that open the world. Morph Ball, Varia and Gravity Suits, Grapple Beam, Speed Booster, X-Ray Scope – each upgrade makes Samus stronger and recontextualizes areas you thought you understood.
Freedom to break the rules. Skilled players discovered they could wall-jump, bomb-jump and shinespark their way into areas "too early." Nintendo built a game sturdy enough to survive that, and it became one of the first games to spark a serious speedrunning scene – a scene that's still going strong.
Atmosphere for days. Super Metroid is a game about isolation. Its music, sound design and wordless storytelling create a mood many modern games still chase. And its ending remains one of the most powerful moments in 16-bit gaming.
How it plays today
Remarkably well. The controls are tight and responsive, the physics reward mastery, and the pacing rarely sags. The only friction for modern players is a weapon-switching system that takes a little getting used to, and a few secrets that are genuinely obscure without a guide. Neither stops it from being a joy.
Critics have long agreed: it averaged around 96% on the old GameRankings aggregator, and it still appears near the top of "best games of all time" lists.
How to play it now
The easiest way is through Nintendo Switch Online. Super Metroid is part of the SNES – Nintendo Switch Online library, included with a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership. That version adds handy modern features:
- Rewind – hold ZL + ZR to rewind if you make a mistake.
- Save anywhere – suspend points let you play in short bursts.
- Play anywhere – TV, tabletop or handheld mode.
Over the years it has also appeared on the Wii, Wii U and New Nintendo 3DS Virtual Consoles, and on the SNES Classic mini console.
Who should play it
- Fans of modern Metroidvanias like Hollow Knight or the Ori games who want to see where the ideas came from.
- Anyone who enjoyed Metroid Dread and wants the classic that shaped it.
- Players who like finding their own way without a quest marker in sight.
Super Metroid isn't just influential – it's still one of the most satisfying games you can play. A few hours on Zebes is all it takes to understand why.
Sources
This article was written by AI (Claude) and checked against the sources above. Games are updated regularly, so details may change.