In-situ combustion （ISC），as a low-energy-consumption and low-emission method for heavy oil recovery，faces limitations in application due to the low combustion efficiency and high reaction activation energy. The catalytic methods of different types of metal catalysts，including conventional metal catalysts，nanometal oxide catalysts，and multi-metal composite catalysts，for crude oil combustion and steamflooding cracking were summarized through a systematic literature review. Combined with multidimensional data such as thermogravimetric analysis and combustion tube experiments，the catalytic mechanisms of metal catalysts in heavy oil oxidation reactions were thoroughly analyzed. Key findings reveal that metal salt catalysts significantly reduce reaction activation energy，among which iron nitrate can increase the combustion efficiency of heavy oil by 20%，and cobalt naphthenate can reduce the starting temperature of low-temperature oxidation by 18 °C. Nanometal oxide catalyst exhibits superior activity：Iron oxide nanoparticles reduce the asphaltene oxidation temperature by up to 160 °C and decrease activation energy by 32.4%；nickel oxide nanoparticles not only reduce high-temperature oxidation （HTO） activation energy but also accelerate combustion front velocity. Multi-metal composite catalysts further enhance performance：The TiO₂-ZrO₂ bimetallic catalyst increases light fraction yield by >12% compared to single components，and the Mo-Ni-W trimetallic catalyst achieves 50% oil recovery within just 5 hours，while significantly reducing sulfur content. In summary，metal catalysts markedly improve fuel deposition and combustion efficiency by drastically reducing activation energy and oxidation temperatures. Iron oxide nanoparticles and multi-metal composite catalysts demonstrate exceptional potential，yet overcoming critical challenges，such as hightemperature deactivation，nanoparticle retention，and H₂S generation，remains imperative for industrial-scale implementation.