Video game arcades were once an institution for teenagers and young adults looking for a place to relax, hang out, and unwind. Heroes were born, legends were made, and memories were created in front of those arcade machines.
Now, players can return to the iconic 2D run-and-gun campaigns of Metal Slug with the Metal Slug Ultimate Collection, celebrating the franchise’s 30th anniversary.
The anniversary collection brings together memorable Metal Slug titles from the past 30 years and is planned for an early 2027 release, according to SNK.
What We Need to Know
- The Metal Slug Ultimate Collection will include 10 games in total from the Metal Slug series, including Metal Slug 1–7, Metal Slug Advance for the Game Boy Advance, and the rare Location Test Version, which has rarely been seen, played, or made available to the public.
- SNK’s 30th anniversary collection will also include an online ranking system, allowing players to compare their scores against players from around the world.
- For fans interested in the lore and history of the Metal Slug series, the collection will include a gallery/museum mode featuring logos, artwork, and other content related to the franchise.
- Quality-of-life improvements will also be included, such as quick save, quick load, and rewind. Score Attack and Time Attack modes will be available after completing the main campaigns.
- For newcomers and veterans who have not played in a while, Metal Slug will offer a Combat School mode to help players learn and test gameplay mechanics while getting reacquainted with the series’ controls.
The Titles Included
- METAL SLUG (1996 / NEOGEO MVS)
- METAL SLUG 2 (1998 / NEOGEO MVS)
- METAL SLUG X (1999 / NEOGEO MVS)
- METAL SLUG 3 (2000 / NEOGEO MVS)
- METAL SLUG 4 (2002 / NEOGEO MVS)
- METAL SLUG 5 (2003 / NEOGEO MVS)
- METAL SLUG ADVANCE (2004 / Game Boy Advance)
- METAL SLUG 6 (2006 / PlayStation 2)
- METAL SLUG 7 (2008 / Nintendo DS)
- The legendary METAL SLUG Location Test Version (Never officially released)
Price & Availability
MSRP: TBD
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC
Release: Spring 2027
The Bottom Line
SNK’s Metal Slug Ultimate Collection gives both seasoned veterans and newcomers an opportunity to jump into the Metal Slug franchise.
The iconic series has inspired gamers and the video game industry for three decades. Having so much of the franchise collected in one place, alongside its story, characters, and gameplay, is a welcome bonus.
Metal Slug Ultimate Collection gives players another opportunity to reminisce and enjoy the fun of an over-the-top 2D side-scrolling adventure.