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The original Metroid was released for the NES in 1986, introducing Samus Aran (who at the time was unusual in being a female video game character; in fact, the advertisements and instruction manual described Samus as male in order to surprise players when the truth was revealed) and other characters that appear in the Metroid games.

Featuring a labyrinthine world in which the player chooses which direction to explore, it was notable for providing one of the first highly nonlinear game experiences on a home console. Because of the time required to play through it, a password save system (on the NES) and a saved-game slot system were implemented to let players take breaks and play later.

Metroid was one of the first games with this feature. Subsequent Metroid games removed the password function, relying entirely on battery-backed or memory-card saves. It has remained one of the most popular games from the NES era.

The first sequel, Metroid II: Return of Samus, was released in 1991 for Nintendo's portable console, the Game Boy. Unlike Metroid, the goal is not primarily to collect items but to locate and kill Metroids. Metroid II contributed to the series' development by providing a set of new weapons and items, and also revealed some details about the Metroid species. Although it initially received positive reviews, its legacy has not been as enduring as that of either its predecessor or its successor in the series; possibly due to its grayscale graphics and relatively linear gameplay. Retro players should note that this game plays in full color on the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance (including SP) systems.

The third game in the series, titled Super Metroid, was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1994. It returned to a gameplay style closer to that of the first game, however expanding the arsenal of power-ups available to Samus. Super Metroid is set on the same planet as the original game, but with help from the capabilities of the SNES (and an unusually large cartridge at 24 megabit) features larger and more diverse environments, as well as a more detailed in-game plot than was found in the first two games. Super Metroid was one of the most popular games for the SNES when it debuted, receiving praise for its graphics, sound, and size. It has remained popular, frequently occupying top positions in "greatest game of all time" lists, including a first spot awarded by Electronic Gaming Monthly.

Despite much speculation, no Metroid game was developed for the Nintendo 64, and some lost hope that the Metroid trilogy would be expanded. Nintendo however announced in 2000 that Retro Studios was developing a new Metroid game for Nintendo's next-generation console, the GameCube, and in 2001 that Nintendo itself was creating Metroid IV for the Game Boy Advance. Both games were released in 2002, Retro Studios' effort titled Metroid Prime and Metroid IV renamed Metroid Fusion. Fusion took place some years after Super Metroid ended, whereas Prime is an interquel between the series' first two installments. Released nearly simultaneously, the games also feature connectivity bonuses: players who beat Metroid Prime can play through Prime with Samus wearing the new Fusion suit; beating Fusion allows unlocking the original Metroid as a fully playable extra. Although much-hyped, Prime was controversial before its release. The first Metroid game to be set in three dimensions, using a first-person shooter perspective, some worried that its gameplay would not preserve the qualities associated with the 2D platform action of the first three games. Although Nintendo had previously successfully transformed its two biggest franchises into 3D with Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, fears were reinforced by the fact that Prime was created by a second-party developer instead of an internal Nintendo team. Some pre-emptively complained that the game would simply be a Halo-esque "run and gun" shooter. Nintendo countered this by referring to Metroid Prime exclusively as a "first-person adventure".

When released, most journalists and fans found Prime to have preserved and developed the Metroid theme and gameplay, and it is among the most highly rated games of all time among game critics. Contrarily, Fusion is unpopular among some Metroid fans due to the unusually linear nature of the game, although others have praised it for its cinematic qualities.

A second Metroid game for the Game Boy Advance, Metroid: Zero Mission, was developed by Nintendo and released in 2004. It is an enhanced remake and re-telling of the original NES Metroid story, featuring areas and gameplay elements from previous games as well as entirely new ones. The story, which sheds a little more light on the character background of Samus Aran, is much more detailed than in Metroid. Also of note is the fact that Zero Mission marks the first time two Metroid games were released for the same platform.

The third Metroid game for the Game Boy Advance is a direct port of the original Metroid. It was released as Famicom Mini: Metroid in Japan, and Classic NES Series: Metroid in North America.

The GameCube title Metroid Prime 2: Echoes was also released in 2004. Like its predecessor, Metroid Prime, it was developed by Retro Studios. It is a first-person adventure in the style of the first Prime, but introduced a new device: the concept of the light and dark worlds, somewhat similar to that seen in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past but in terms of different dimensions rather than magical worlds. It also introduced a new ammo system, but many fans of the series didn't like the addition.

Metroid Prime Pinball, a pinball video game for the Nintendo DS, deviates significantly from previous game installments. Although it is not part of the official Metroid timeline, the game borrows many story and graphical elements from the Prime series.

Metroid Prime: Hunters, a Metroid game on the Nintendo DS, was the first 3D Metroid game for a portable console. Metroid Prime: Hunters and its earlier demo was developed by Nintendo Software Technology Corporation. A demo dubbed Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt was bundled with the first shipment of the Nintendo DS system, featuring the gameplay modes "Regulator", "Morph Ball", "Survivor", and "multiplayer". This demo was considered a technical demonstration and advertising gimmick for the Nintendo DS, as it offered very little gameplay value. The final version of the game released in the United States on March 20, 2006, [2] boasting a single player adventure and a multiplayer mode (Compatible with Nintendo's online multiplayer service, Nintendo WiFi Connection). The retail version of Metroid Prime: Hunters features Samus adventuring in an unknown galaxy named the Alimbic Cluster to find the ultimate power, while competing with other bounty hunters. This game has received mixed feelings from Metroid fans, primarily because it focuses more on first person shooting rather than adventuring. It also received criticism because its single player experience felt rushed to some fans. The game's multiplayer mode has received excellent reviews, however, and most critics consider it one of the best multiplayer first person shooters on a handheld system.

I enjoys a good game of Metroid, especially the first.

If I had MPH, which I sadly do not, I would be honored to play with any of you.