Metroid

Originally released on the Famicom Disk System in 1986, Metroid is a side-scrolling action-adventure developed by Nintendo. Players control bounty hunter Samus Aran as she infiltrates the underground labyrinths of Planet Zebes to pursue Space Pirates and the ultimate boss, Mother Brain. Acquiring upgrades — the Morph Ball, Long Beam, Missiles, Ice Beam, and others — progressively unlocks new areas of the sprawling open-ended map, laying the groundwork for what would become the Metroidvania genre. The twist ending revealing Samus as a woman and Hirokazu Tanaka's atmospheric score have both become iconic moments in gaming history.