- Metal Slug Ultimate Collection game list includes ten entries from the franchise.
- Core lineup covers the original arcade games through Metal Slug 7.
- Handheld highlight is Metal Slug Advance, originally released for Game Boy Advance.
- Rare archival entry is the previously unreleased Metal Slug Location Test Version.
- Modern features include rewind, quick save, online rankings, and Combat School Mode.
Metal Slug Ultimate Collection Game List
Metal Slug Ultimate Collection game list coverage centers on ten playable entries, combining the series’ major arcade releases, one handheld title, and a rare Location Test Version. The lineup is arranged below in release order, making it easy to see how the run-and-gun series developed across different eras.
Video Highlights:
- The collection includes ten total games and versions.
- The lineup reaches from the original Metal Slug through Metal Slug 7.
- Metal Slug Advance represents the handheld side of the franchise.
- The Location Test Version is a rare archival addition with limited historical availability.
| Order | Included title | Role in the collection |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metal Slug | The original arcade foundation |
| 2 | Metal Slug 2 | Second mainline arcade entry |
| 3 | Metal Slug X | Reworked arcade edition |
| 4 | Metal Slug 3 | Mainline arcade sequel |
| 5 | Metal Slug 4 | Later arcade installment |
| 6 | Metal Slug 5 | Mainline arcade installment |
| 7 | Metal Slug Advance | Handheld series entry |
| 8 | Metal Slug 6 | Later mainline installment |
| 9 | Metal Slug 7 | Nintendo DS-era mainline entry |
| 10 | Metal Slug Location Test Version | Rare, never officially released version |
The important distinction is that this is not simply a package of the most familiar arcade games. Metal Slug Advance expands the collection beyond arcade hardware, while the Location Test Version provides historical value for longtime fans who want to examine an early form of the franchise.
Treat the Location Test Version as a historical bonus rather than a standard campaign entry. Its inclusion is one of the collection’s biggest archival features.
Lineup Categories and Original Formats
The ten entries can be divided into three practical categories: classic arcade releases, the handheld entry, and the archival Location Test Version. This breakdown helps newcomers understand why the collection feels broader than a conventional numbered compilation.
| Category | Titles | Original format context | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcade foundation | Metal Slug, Metal Slug 2, Metal Slug X | NEOGEO MVS | Establishes the core run-and-gun formula |
| Arcade progression | Metal Slug 3, 4, 5, and 6 | Arcade-focused mainline releases | Shows the series’ continued mechanical development |
| Handheld entry | Metal Slug Advance | Game Boy Advance | Adds a portable interpretation of the franchise |
| Later handheld entry | Metal Slug 7 | Nintendo DS | Extends the numbered lineup into a later handheld generation |
| Archival version | Location Test Version | Early arcade test material | Preserves a rare version seldom available to the public |
The collection’s structure is especially useful for players who normally encounter Metal Slug through a single arcade release. Instead of choosing between isolated ports or separate entries, fans can move through the mainline sequence and then compare the handheld designs with the archival test material.
The official SNK announcement for Metal Slug Ultimate Collection confirms the ten-entry lineup and identifies the original formats associated with the included titles.
Arcade Core
Metal Slug through Metal Slug 6 form the main historical backbone of the compilation.
Handheld Variety
Metal Slug Advance and Metal Slug 7 add portable perspectives to the series list.
Archival Value
The Location Test Version gives the collection a preservation-focused attraction.
Chronological Play
The listed order provides a natural route for exploring the franchise’s evolution.
The original hardware labels describe each game’s historical release context. They do not indicate that every included title uses identical features in the new compilation.
Modern Features and Collection Modes
The game list is the main attraction, but the compilation also adds modern options intended to make older run-and-gun titles easier to revisit. Feature availability can vary by title, so players should expect some differences between entries rather than one identical feature set across all ten.
| Feature | Purpose | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Quick save | Saves progress at a convenient point | Useful during longer sessions |
| Quick load | Returns to a stored save state | Helps retry difficult sections |
| Rewind | Rolls the action back several seconds | Corrects mistakes during practice |
| Score attack | Focuses on points and performance | Good for leaderboard competition |
| Time attack | Measures completion speed | Supports route optimization |
| Combat School Mode | Teaches controls and techniques | Recommended for new players |
| Online rankings | Tracks competitive scores | Useful for comparing performance |
| Gallery or museum content | Displays music and artwork | Adds historical context |
The strongest quality-of-life tools are quick save, quick load, and rewind. These options can reduce the frustration of replaying earlier sections after a mistake, while still allowing experienced players to pursue traditional score-based challenges.
Combat School Mode is positioned as an onboarding feature. New players can use it to become familiar with movement, shooting, and other basic techniques before committing to harder campaign attempts. Returning players may prefer score attack or time attack when they want a more competitive goal.
Start With Combat School
Newcomers should use Combat School Mode to review the basic controls and understand the pace of Metal Slug’s run-and-gun action.
Play the Mainline Order
Begin with Metal Slug and follow the listed sequence through Metal Slug 7 to experience the collection as a historical progression.
Use Save and Rewind Tools
Activate quick save, quick load, or rewind when practicing difficult sections or learning how a stage is structured.
Move Into Competitive Modes
After learning the campaigns, try score attack, time attack, and online rankings to measure consistency and speed.
For a first session, combine Combat School Mode with the original Metal Slug. This introduces the collection’s controls before you explore later entries and archival content.
How to Explore the Ten-Game Collection
A chronological route is the clearest approach for most players, but the collection also supports different goals. Some fans will want to revisit familiar arcade entries, while others may prioritize the handheld games or the Location Test Version.
| Player goal | Recommended starting point | Suggested follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| New to the franchise | Metal Slug | Continue through Metal Slug 2 and Metal Slug X |
| Arcade-focused replay | Metal Slug 2 or Metal Slug X | Compare later entries through Metal Slug 6 |
| Handheld history | Metal Slug Advance | Follow with Metal Slug 7 |
| Preservation interest | Location Test Version | Explore the standard lineup afterward |
| Competitive scoring | Familiar favorite | Use score attack, time attack, and rankings |
The original Metal Slug is the best orientation point because it establishes the series’ recognizable movement, weapons, vehicles, enemy patterns, and visual identity. Once those fundamentals feel comfortable, the later arcade entries become easier to compare.
Players interested in the franchise’s broader history should not skip Metal Slug Advance or Metal Slug 7. Their inclusion shows how the series adapted outside its traditional arcade setting. The Location Test Version should be saved for a separate archival session because it represents an unusual development snapshot rather than a typical full campaign.
Collection Exploration Checklist:
- Begin with Metal Slug and learn the basic controls
- Play the mainline entries in listed release order
- Try Metal Slug Advance and Metal Slug 7 separately
- Review the Location Test Version as archival content
- Test score attack, time attack, and online rankings
SNK notes that available features, modes, and content may vary by title. Check each game’s menu before assuming every option applies to every entry.
Why the Location Test Version Matters
The Location Test Version is the most unusual item in the lineup. It was never officially released to the public in the normal way and is described as a rare early arcade test version. Its preservation gives the collection value beyond a standard anniversary package.
The test version is also different in structure from the familiar Metal Slug campaigns. Available details indicate a tank-focused experience built around Super Vehicle-001, without the usual on-foot action associated with the broader series. That makes it best understood as an early experiment or development artifact.
| Location Test Version detail | Practical meaning |
|---|---|
| Public status | Never officially released as a standard commercial title |
| Historical role | Early arcade test material |
| Main focus | Tank-based action |
| Player expectation | Archival curiosity rather than a full traditional campaign |
| Collection value | Offers access to rare Metal Slug history |
For collectors and historians, this entry may be the primary reason to follow the collection even if they already own several classic Metal Slug releases. It preserves material that was previously difficult for the public to experience, while placing it beside the finished games that followed.
Approach the Location Test Version as a development snapshot. Its appeal comes from rarity and historical context, not from matching the scope of the finished arcade campaigns.
Metal Slug Ultimate Collection FAQ
Q: How many games are in the Metal Slug Ultimate Collection game list?
There are ten entries in total: nine released games spanning the mainline and handheld lineup, plus the rare Location Test Version.
Q: Does the collection include Metal Slug Advance?
Yes. Metal Slug Advance is included alongside the arcade-focused entries and later Metal Slug 7.
Q: What is the Metal Slug Location Test Version?
It is a rare early arcade test version that was never officially released to the public as a standard commercial game. It is associated with tank-focused action.
Q: Which modern features are confirmed for the collection?
Confirmed features include quick save, quick load, rewind, score attack, time attack, Combat School Mode, online rankings, and gallery-style music and artwork content. Availability can vary by title.
The collection combines the recognizable Metal Slug arcade lineage with handheld entries and rare archival material, making the ten-game list useful for both newcomers and longtime fans.