GameTimeline

Release & story order

Metroid Prime timeline

Every Metroid Prime-branded main chapter in US release order—from 2002 GameCube Prime through Prime 4: Beyond (2025). First-person exploration saga with Hunters and Remastered rows; Federation Force is a co-op spin-off. For 2D Samus (Dread, Fusion, Super Metroid), see the main Metroid timeline.

Updated July 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When Retro Studios and Nintendo shipped each Prime-branded chapter in the US—GameCube Prime (2002) through Switch Prime 4: Beyond (December 2025). Pinball and mobile spin-offs are FAQ-only.

  • Newcomers → Metroid Prime Remastered (2023) on Switch
  • Full trilogy → Remastered → Prime 2 (GameCube) → Prime 3 (Wii or Trilogy bundle)
  • Latest chapter → Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (2025)—playable standalone
  • Skip Federation Force unless collecting every Prime-branded disc
Story order tips

Prime sub-saga on this page: Metroid Prime → Hunters (optional) → Prime 2 → Prime 3 closes the 2002–2007 trilogy. Prime 4: Beyond is a separate first-person chapter—on the full Samus timeline it sits after Other M and before Fusion (see main Metroid Story tab).

  • Trilogy block → Prime → Hunters (optional) → Echoes → Corruption
  • Prime 4 → separate row—full lore places it after Super Metroid / Other M
  • Remastered replaces GameCube Prime for play—not a new story chapter
  • 2D epilogue → Fusion → Dread on the main Metroid Story tab after Prime 4

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Metroid Prime

    Metroid Prime

    GameCubeAction-adventureMainlinePrime

    First-person Tallon IV expedition—Phazon and Chozo ruins.

    Overview
    Retro Studios reimagined 2D exploration in 3D—scan visor and isolation on GameCube.
    In-game setting
    Story set after Zero Mission on the full Samus timeline—starts the Prime block.
    Should you play it?
    Buy Metroid Prime Remastered on Switch instead of GameCube hardware today.
    Release date
    US GameCube launch November 17, 2002—same US day as Metroid Fusion.
  2. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

    Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

    GameCubeAction-adventureMainlinePrime

    Aether light/dark dimension—Dark Samus emerges.

    Overview
    Dual-world puzzles and beam ammo management on GameCube.
    In-game setting
    Direct Prime sequel—Story order after Hunters on this page.
    Should you play it?
    No standalone Switch port as of July 2026—GameCube or Wii via Trilogy.
    Release date
    US GameCube launch November 15, 2004.
  3. Metroid Prime Hunters

    Metroid Prime Hunters

    Nintendo DSAction-adventureMainlinePrime

    DS bounty-hunter race—Sylux and the Alimbic cluster.

    Overview
    Stylus-aim multiplayer focus with a short single-player campaign.
    In-game setting
    Fits between Prime and Prime 2 in chronology—introduces rival hunter Sylux.
    Should you play it?
    Optional but lore-relevant before Prime 4; campaign is brief.
    Release date
    US Nintendo DS launch March 20, 2006.
  4. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

    Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

    WiiAction-adventureMainlinePrime

    Wii pointer controls—Phazon corruption across three planets.

    Overview
    First Prime on Wii with hub-ship travel and motion aiming.
    In-game setting
    Ends the original Prime trilogy arc until Prime 4 eighteen years later.
    Should you play it?
    Finish Prime 1–3 before Prime 4 for full first-person saga context.
    Release date
    US Wii launch August 27, 2007. Included in Metroid Prime Trilogy (Wii).
  5. Metroid Prime: Federation Force
    Optional

    Metroid Prime: Federation Force

    Nintendo 3DSSpin-offOptionalPrime

    Co-op FPS spin-off—Galactic Federation marines, not solo Samus.

    Overview
    Multiplayer-focused side game in the Prime branding.
    In-game setting
    Optional lore ties (Sylux) between Prime 3 and Samus Returns on full timeline.
    Should you play it?
    Skip for Prime story order—listed on Release for historians.
    Release date
    US Nintendo 3DS launch August 19, 2016.
  6. Metroid Prime Remastered

    Metroid Prime Remastered

    SwitchRemasterPrime

    Switch HD remaster of Metroid Prime—same Tallon IV story.

    Overview
    Dual-stick controls and upgraded visuals—not a new campaign.
    In-game setting
    Same story placement as GameCube Metroid Prime.
    Should you play it?
    Start the Prime path here on modern hardware.
    Release date
    Digital US launch February 8, 2023; physical February 22, 2023.
  7. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

    Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

    SwitchSwitch 2Action-adventureMainlinePrime

    Retro's return—unknown planet, Sylux, and psychic abilities.

    Overview
    First Prime since 2007—open-zone exploration and Switch 2 enhanced mode.
    In-game setting
    Standalone-friendly; full Samus timeline places it after Other M, before Fusion.
    Should you play it?
    Latest Prime row as of July 2026.
    Release date
    US launch December 4, 2025 on Switch and Switch 2.

FAQ

Prime trilogy play path, Hunters and Federation Force placement, Remastered vs GameCube, Prime 4 vs Fusion/Dread, and links to the full Samus chronology.

Play order

See the Metroid games timeline for every mainline chapter—2D and Prime—plus Zero Mission, Samus Returns, Super Metroid, Other M, Fusion, and Dread. This page covers first-person Prime entries only.

Same Tallon IV story—Remastered (2023) adds HD visuals and dual-stick controls on Switch. One Release row for the remaster launch; Story order treats it as interchangeable with Metroid Prime (2002). Buy Remastered unless you collect GameCube discs.

Canon & Metroid hub

On the full Samus timeline (main /metroid Story tab), Nintendo places Prime 4: Beyond after Other M and before Metroid Fusion—even though Prime 4 is largely standalone in another dimension. After Prime 4, continue Fusion → Dread on the main page for the 2D epilogue. You can play Prime 4 without Fusion, but not the other way around if you want zero spoilers.

Optional & related

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.