Metroid II: Return of Samus

メトロイドII RETURN OF SAMUS (Metoroido Tsū Ritān Obu Samasu)Game Boy, Nintendo 3DS, Switch1991

  1. JP1992
  2. NA1991
  3. EU1992
  4. RU—

Metroid II: Return of Samus came out in North America first and kept its English subtitle in Japan as メトロイドII RETURN OF SAMUS. Since 8 February 2023 it has been playable in the Game Boy library of Nintendo Switch Online.

Metroid II: Return of Samus was released for the Game Boy in North America in November 1991 and in Japan on 21 January 1992. Nintendo R&D1 developed it, with Hiroji Kiyotake and Hiroyuki Kimura directing, Gunpei Yokoi producing and Ryoji Yoshitomi composing the music.

Samus must wipe out the Metroids on planet SR388 before the Space Pirates can use them. There are 47 of them, and a detector shows how many remain; along the way they evolve through the Alpha, Gamma, Zeta and Omega stages. Save points and a battery-backed cartridge let players keep their progress, and new abilities include the Spider Ball, Spring Ball and Space Jump. Samus spares a newly hatched Metroid that imprints on her, the origin of the baby Metroid. Because the screen was monochrome, the Varia Suit got round shoulder pads, which stayed in Samus's design for good.

Kiyotake said SR388 was named after the Yamaha SR400 motorcycle. An official remake, Metroid: Samus Returns, came out for the 3DS on 15 September 2017.1

Names and releases

RegionTitle on the boxPlatformDatePublisherSrc
NA Metroid II: Return of Samus Game Boy November 1991 Nintendo 1
NA Metroid II: Return of SamusVirtual Console; same day in Europe; the 3DS eShop has since closed Nintendo 3DS Nov 24, 2011 Nintendo 1
JP メトロイドII RETURN OF SAMUSMetoroido Tsū Ritān Obu Samasu Game Boy Jan 21, 1992 Nintendo 1
EU Metroid II: Return of Samus Game Boy May 21, 1992 Nintendo 1
JP メトロイドII RETURN OF SAMUSMetoroido Tsū Ritān Obu SamasuNintendo Power rewritable cartridge service Game Boy Mar 1, 2000 Nintendo 1
JP メトロイドII RETURN OF SAMUSMetoroido Tsū Ritān Obu SamasuVirtual Console Nintendo 3DS Sep 28, 2011 Nintendo 1
WW Metroid II: Return of SamusNintendo Switch Online (Game Boy library) Switch Feb 8, 2023 Nintendo 2

Also known as: メトロイドII RETURN OF SAMUS JP3Metoroido Tsū Ritān Obu Samasu JP3

Box art by region

  • Metroid II: Return of Samus box art, North America release
    NA Metroid II: Return of Samus
  • Metroid II: Return of Samus box art, Europe release
    EU Metroid II: Return of Samus

Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: libretro-thumbnails.

Version differences

  • GraphicsSuper Game Boy

    Although the game predates the Super Game Boy, it has limited support for it and is shown in four set colors, with Samus in red and yellow tones.3

Translations

  • Japanese Official

    Nintendo1992Game Boy · North American versionReleased · complete

    The Japanese version was released in January 1992, after the North American release.1

Where to play legally today

  • Nintendo Switch Online Subscription

    Metroid II: Return of Samus

    Game Boy version

    Checked: 2026-10-132en.wikipedia.org

Reception

By late 2003 the game had sold 1.72 million copies worldwide. Reviewers praised the story, setting and improved gameplay but criticized the graphics and audio; Famitsu scored it 6, 7, 7 and 5 out of 10, while Entertainment Weekly gave it an A+.1

Sources

  1. 1en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2en.wikipedia.org
  3. 3ja.wikipedia.org

Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13

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