Metroid Dread has triggered a franchise sales boost across multiple platforms

Metroid Dread has caused a boost in sales for other titles in the series across Nintendo platforms.

As first spotted by Twitter user Spinesparkers, entries from across the history of the franchise have seen a resurgence in sales, thanks to the release and critical success of the latest entry.

The Wii U charts see Metroid Fusion, Metroid Zero Mission, Metroid Prime Trilogy and Super Metroid all make it to the top 10. On the 3DS charts, Metroid: Samus Returns, has climbed to number 3.

Both Metroid and Super Metroid are also playable on Nintendo Switch Online’s NES & SNES service.

This follows the news that Metroid Dread has enjoyed the series’ biggest ever launch in the UK. While boxed copies were slightly short of the biggest launch in franchise history (by less than 1,000 copies), digital sales, which are not accounted for, will likely have pushed this number far beyond the previous record.

Dread has sold three and a half times more copies at launch than the last 2D Metroid Game: Metroid: Samus Returns, which launched on 3DS in 2017, according to Gamesindustry.biz journalist Christopher Dring.

“Metroid is a smaller franchise for Nintendo,” Dring wrote. “It is the fifth biggest Switch launch of the year, behind Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, Zelda: Skyward Sword, Monster Hunter Rise and New Pokemon Snap.”

Metroid Dread’s appearance on the top of the eShop charts certainly indicates that the digital release likely elevated the game’s sales to now rank highest in franchise history. The fact that its launch happened simultaneously with the Nintendo Switch OLED model, also likely helped.

In VGC’s Metroid Dread review, we wrote: “With a near-perfect balance of nods to the past and fresh ideas, Metroid Dread brings cinematic flair, fast-paced action and a surprising story to the side-scrolling classic. This is the comeback fans have been waiting for.”

It’s recently been claimed by various sources that Nintendo plans to release Metroid Prime 1 on Nintendo Switch, instead of the much rumoured trilogy.