The Metroid Game That Takes The Longest To Beat
The "Metroid" series has been a staple of Nintendo for over three decades. From the humble beginnings of the first game, which helped to launch the Metroidvania subgenre, to the bold return to the return of Samus in the most recent game, "Metroid Dread," the series remains one of Nintendo's most enduring franchises.
Of course, that doesn't mean it's easy being a "Metroid" fan. Though the series has a dedicated following, gamers are often forced to wait countless years between new games. For instance, longtime fans will recall that the franchise skipped over notable Nintendo consoles like the Nintendo 64 and the Wii U completely.
However, with the impressive comeback from the series in 2021, fans who are new to the series might be considering going back to play through the "Metroid" franchise from the start. With that in mind, potential players might find themselves wondering which game is going to take them the longest to complete.
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes will likely take you the longest to beat
According to How Long to Beat, the longest game in the "Metroid" franchise is "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes." Long-time fans of the series will recall that the sequel to the intergalactic first-person adventure was released for the GameCube back in 2004 and sees Samus trying to help the Luminoth to rid their planet, Aether, of the deadly scourge of the insect-like Ing while battling her doppelganger, Dark Samus.
Similar to "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past," "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes" allows Samus to travel back and forth between light and dark versions of the planet in order to solve puzzles, battle enemies, and explore her environment. Unfortunately, exploration is hindered in this game more than in others, as Samus takes damage while in Dark Aether for the majority of the game.
Either way, this mechanic of moving back and forth between two versions of the same world, and the requisite backtracking that entails, likely accounts for the extended time required to get through "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes." Still, if you happen to want to take the plunge on the game anyway, you're looking at roughly 17-21 hours of play in order to complete the game, depending on your play style.