Although she might not be as popular as Mario, Link or Donkey Kong, there’s no denying the impact of Samus Aran. When she began exploring Zebes in 1986, she introduced many gamers to a new type of non-linear adventure that put a focus on exploration and atmosphere above everything else. Metroid may not have been the first adventure game of its type, but it arguably helped define what would become the Metroidvania genre, particularly with the release of Super Metroid in 1994.
While the rest of Nintendo’s iconic mascots have been content to appear in games outside of their main genres, Samus has continued to focus on explorative adventuring. Sure, she’s a mainstay of the Smash Bros series and occasionally pops up for cameos elsewhere, but she’s largely all about the bounty hunting and her core adventures have been consistently acclaimed.
So join us, as we celebrate the numerous exploits of Nintendo’s most famous bounty hunter. We’ll not only revisit every mainline adventure she’s starred in, but also spin-offs like Metroid: Federation Force. If you’ve ever had a passing interest in Samus Aran you’ll find our new guide indispensable.