Metroid Dread
Every fact on this page applies to update 2.1.0, the one version tested. Other versions may behave differently.
No emulator needed: Metroid Dread runs natively on the Apple chip. How nxnative compares with emulators
Running through nxnative
How Metroid Dread runs
Metroid Dread plays on the iPhone. Its Packed app came to about 5 GB when the project developers last published sizes. As on the Switch, gameplay runs at 60 fps and cutscenes at 30.
How it runs
Metroid Dread was one of the first Games to reach gameplay under nxnative. Early on, cutscenes ran slightly slow because the game paces them by a sound timer; that is fixed, and cutscenes now hold 30 fps. In a later test in a playable room on the Mac, the game held about 60 fps with no errors logged.
Controls
The Packed app starts in the 2D touch layout (left stick, face buttons, shoulders, minus and plus). The layout button at the top centre switches layouts in game, and the app remembers your choice.
Good to know
- Tested on update 2.1.0. Other versions may behave differently.
Known issues
None reported
Packing command
Run this in your nxnative folder on the Build Mac. Replace the game folder and the keys path with your own. Add --platform mac-app to get a Mac app instead of an iPhone and iPad app.
python3 scripts/build_ipa_from_nsp.py ~/Games/metroid-dread -k ~/keys/prod.keysFAQ
Does Metroid Dread work with nxnative?
Yes. Metroid Dread is tested with nxnative on update 2.1.0.
Which iPhone, iPad or Mac do I need to play Metroid Dread?
An iPhone 15 Pro or newer (A17 Pro chip or later) or an iPad with an M1 chip or later, on iOS or iPadOS 26 or later, or a Mac with Apple silicon. iPads with the A17 Pro chip (iPad mini) have the iPhone 15 Pro's chip but are untested by nxnative. Packing needs a Mac with macOS 26.6 or later and Xcode 27.1.
Is Metroid Dread included?
No. Neither this site nor nxnative includes any game. You Pack Metroid Dread from your own copy of the game, with keys dumped from your own Switch.
Does online play work in Metroid Dread?
Online play in Metroid Dread is not confirmed to work, so do not count on it.
