Metroid Dreadhas officially been out in the wild for a little over a week now, and it’s already made a big splash with franchise veterans and newcomers alike. Developer MercurySteam has once again proved to be a huge boon to theMetroidfranchise, bringing Samus Aran into today’s age of Metroidvania gameplay in a huge way. After so much time spent in the dark,Metroid Dreadhas brought back one of Nintendo’s most beloved properties with the benefits of almost twenty years of 2D platforming innovations, quickly cementing itself as a must-play game on the Switch.
The future of theMetroidfranchise as a whole looks very bright. Many fans have already begun to discuss some kind of sequel toDreadthat could keep Samus' 2D return going, but there’s just as much potential forDreadto be expanded on before that happens. Nintendo has already had successful DLC efforts with games likeBreath of the WildandSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, and it recently announced ahuge expansion forAnimal Crossing: New Horizons. Looking towards the future,Dreadcould have its own DLC opportunities that give players all-new experiences.
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One ofMetroid Dread’s stronger features was its variety of locations, which challenged players with a wide range of enemies and traversal options. The core of anyMetroidgame is returning to earlier areas later on after getting certain upgrades, and this concept could lend itself to a custom level creator. Players could make highly sophisticated traversal challenges, or intense combat gauntlets, and it could all operate similarly to the dungeon creator inThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakeningon the Switch. This DLC could bring together theMetroidcommunity like never before, givingDreada near endless amount of longevity.
Metroid Dreadhas stirred up a little bit of controversy for its high difficulty compared to many other Nintendo games, but overall it seems to be a welcome feature of the game. Once players complete their first run ofDread, they get the opportunity to ramp up the stakes with a hard mode that adds on to the challenge of traversing ZDR. This proved to be a pleasant surprise for many, and there’s potential for additional DLC to add even more difficult modes. Whether it’s listed as “Extreme” or “Nightmare” difficulty, it could giveMetroidspeedrunnerseven more of a reason to run throughDreadand try to get a new fastest completion time.
TheMetroidseries has built up a long line of iconic bosses that Samus has had to take on over the years, andDreadintroduces more bosseswhile also bringing back some familiar faces. If Nintendo or MercurySteam really want to add a challenging DLC toMetroid Dread, there could be a lot of potential in a sort of boss rush expansion. This would put players through a gauntlet of boss fights that they must complete in one sitting with only one life, awarding players with appropriate upgrades as they progress. While it could be very punishing, this kind of DLC could also give players a chance to really flex theirMetroidprowess.
The return of 2DMetroidon consoles has been very promising so far, and adding DLC to the game would only cement how committed Nintendo is to bringing back the franchise. WithMetroid Prime 4still in development, keeping theDreadhype going as long as possible could also really helpPrime 4when it comes time for 3DMetroidto return. There’s no official plans forMetroid Dreadto receive DLC just yet, but it’s hard to deny how much potential could be found in expanding Samus Aran’s latest adventure.
