Pyridyl-selenium compounds have been extensively studied due to their applications in different areas of knowledge, especially in pharmacology, material science and technology. In regards of metal complexes, this review has the intention to provide an overview of the coordination chemistry related to metals from group 3 to group 15 of the periodic table with pyridyl-selenium ligands reported in the literature over the last decade. The synthetic methodologies employed for the preparation of pyridyl-selenium ligands are described. The structural characterization of the obtained complexes, by spectroscopic methods and single crystal X-ray diffraction is discussed. Finally, relevant direct applications of these metal complexes covering preparation of nanomaterials, catalysis in organic synthesis, photocatalytic production of H₂ from aqueous solution and activation of molecular oxygen is presented.