Dread retains the side-scrolling gameplay of previous Metroid games, plus free aim and melee attacks feature added in Samus Returns (2017). Samus can also slide and cling to blue surfaces. Dread also adds stealth elements, with Samus avoiding the almost indestructible EMMI robots by hiding, reducing her noise, and using the Phantom Cloak, camouflage that reduces her noise but slows her movement. If an EMMI robot catches Samus, the player has a brief chance to perform a melee counter and escape; if they fail, Samus is killed.