30 Years of Bullets, Explosions, and Chaos: Metal Slug's Ultimate Collection Is Coming to Switch

Lock and load, because one of gaming's greatest run-and-gun legacies is finally getting the send-off it deserves. Nintendo and SNK have officially announced the Metal Slug Ultimate Collection, a jam-packed celebration bringing 10 games from the beloved 30-year-old series to both Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

The lineup reads like a love letter to arcade history: Metal Slug 1 through 7, plus Metal Slug X and Metal Slug Advance, are all making the jump. But the real headline-grabber is a genuine piece of gaming history that's never been available on a home console before — the long-mythologized Metal Slug Location Test Version. For decades, this elusive build has existed largely as arcade lore. Now, for the first time ever, players will be able to get their hands on it without hunting down rare original hardware.

Built for Chaos — Now Built for Friends

Metal Slug has always been at its best when played shoulder-to-shoulder with a friend, dodging bullets and blowing up everything in sight together. The Ultimate Collection embraces that spirit fully with the addition of online co-op, finally letting players team up remotely instead of needing to be crammed onto the same couch. A gallery mode rounds out the package, giving fans a deeper look into the history and development of each title in the collection.

Mark Your Calendar — Eventually

There's no exact release date locked in just yet, but Nintendo and SNK have confirmed the Metal Slug Ultimate Collection is set to storm onto Switch and Switch 2 sometime in 2027. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, it's shaping up to be one of the most essential retro collections in years — a jam-packed tribute to three decades of running, gunning, and never taking cover.