Metroid Ravenous Announced for Switch 2 as a Side-Scrolling Metroid Dread Sequel

Nintendo has announced Metroid Ravenous, a new side-scrolling entry starring Samus Aran and a direct sequel to Metroid Dread. The game is scheduled to launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on January 28, 2027, continuing the long-running 2D branch of the Metroid franchise after the events of Samus's most recent adventure.

The reveal arrived during a Nintendo Direct presentation, accompanied by footage that established a more threatening tone for Samus's next mission. In the trailer, Samus is attacked by unfamiliar enemies that drain or disrupt her energy. Her response frames the game's central mood succinctly: "It's eat or be eaten." Between the title, the hostile new creatures, and the energy-focused attack shown in the announcement footage, Metroid Ravenous appears ready to build an adventure around survival, predation, and a new kind of pressure on the series' iconic bounty hunter.

While the announcement leaves many story and gameplay details unanswered, it confirms an important point for fans who have waited for the next major 2D chapter: Metroid Ravenous is not a remake, remaster, or side project. It is a full continuation of Metroid Dread, the acclaimed 2021 game that concluded a major stretch of the franchise's internal chronology.

A new 2D mission for Samus

Metroid's side-scrolling games are known for their combination of exploration, gradual empowerment, environmental puzzles, hidden routes, and tense combat. Samus typically begins an adventure with restricted access to a hostile world, then reclaims or discovers abilities that let her reach previously inaccessible locations. New beams, mobility upgrades, suit functions, missiles, and other tools change not only her combat options but also the player's understanding of the map.

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Metroid Dread modernized that structure with fast movement, counterattacks, carefully designed boss encounters, and the persistent danger of E.M.M.I. pursuit zones. It also pushed the central narrative forward in major ways, particularly through its connection to Raven Beak. Since Ravenous has now been identified as a sequel to that game, the expectation is that its new threats will emerge from the consequences of that confrontation rather than simply launching an entirely disconnected mission.

Nintendo has not yet detailed the complete set of abilities, locations, bosses, or systems that will distinguish Ravenous from its predecessor. The trailer's energy-draining attack, however, suggests that Samus may face enemies whose danger goes beyond ordinary damage. If these encounters affect resource management, upgrades, movement, or the rhythm of exploration, they could provide the game with a distinct mechanical identity while preserving the familiar foundations of a 2D Metroid.

The meaning behind Ravenous

The game's title had surfaced earlier through a Brazilian ratings board listing that was removed quickly. At the time, fans noticed the apparent connection between "Ravenous" and Raven Beak, the principal antagonist of Metroid Dread. The official announcement has now made that link clear: the name does indeed point back to Raven Beak and the events surrounding him.

That connection is especially notable because Metroid Dread was built as a pivotal installment rather than a self-contained detour. Its revelations affected Samus herself as well as the broader lore around the Chozo, the ancient civilization that has shaped the series from its earliest games. A sequel has the opportunity to explore what remains after the finale of Dread, whether that means direct consequences from Raven Beak's actions, new enemies tied to his influence, or threats that have taken advantage of the upheaval he left behind.

The word "ravenous" also fits the first footage on a thematic level. The new creatures seen attacking Samus appear capable of zapping her energy, giving the title an immediate visual and mechanical context. Metroid games frequently use isolated alien environments to create unease, but a premise centered on creatures that consume energy could make Samus feel unusually vulnerable even with her powerful Power Suit and arsenal.

MercurySteam appears set to return

Metroid Ravenous appears to be developed by MercurySteam, the Spanish studio that previously worked with Nintendo on Metroid Dread and Metroid: Samus Returns. The latter was the Nintendo 3DS remake of the Game Boy title Metroid II: Return of Samus, while Dread delivered a new mainline entry after a lengthy gap in the series' side-scrolling storyline.

The studio's prior Metroid work gives Ravenous a clear creative foundation. Samus Returns revisited an older formula with free aiming, melee counters, and a more contemporary presentation. Dread then expanded on the approach with a more fluid Samus, intense chase sequences, sophisticated map progression, and bosses that demanded quick reactions and close attention to attack patterns.

For Ravenous, that experience may prove especially valuable. A sequel needs to preserve the speed and responsiveness that made Dread stand out while finding room for new surprises. The energy-draining enemies revealed so far could be one route toward that goal, but the larger question will be how the game handles the essential Metroid balance between controlled isolation and player mastery. The strongest entries make players feel lost and exposed at first, then steadily transform them into experts who can cross the same spaces with confidence and speed.

How Ravenous fits into Metroid's timeline

Nintendo's Metroid franchise contains two prominent gameplay traditions: the side-scrolling games centered on exploration and progression, and the first-person Metroid Prime series. Both belong to the same overall universe, but they tell stories in different parts of the chronology and generally follow separate immediate plotlines.

Metroid Ravenous follows the 2D storyline and sits at the current end of the series timeline. That is significant for players wondering whether it will directly continue the events of Metroid Prime 4. It will not. Ravenous takes place years later, after the events covered by the newest Prime-era chapter, and it continues the narrative path established by the side-scrolling games.

This separation does not mean the two branches cannot share familiar ideas, species, technology, or larger lore. Metroid has always been one franchise, and Samus remains its unifying figure. But players should not approach Ravenous expecting an immediate follow-up to the first-person storyline. Its most direct point of reference is Metroid Dread, including its ending and the implications surrounding Raven Beak.

Why a Dread sequel matters

Before its release, Metroid Dread had an unusually long history as a rumored and delayed concept. Its eventual arrival was treated as a major moment for the franchise, and the final game was praised for bringing the classic 2D Metroid formula forward with crisp controls, demanding combat, memorable boss battles, and a strong sense of momentum.

A sequel therefore carries considerable expectations. Fans will likely be watching for the return of the series' labyrinthine world design, the density of its secrets, and the exhilarating sequence in which Samus becomes stronger enough to turn formerly dangerous spaces into opportunities for fast traversal. They will also be looking for a fresh hook comparable to the E.M.M.I. units of Dread--not necessarily another chase mechanic, but a new source of tension capable of changing how exploration feels.

The announcement trailer indicates that Ravenous will bring its own identity rather than merely repeat the prior game's setup. Strange enemies attacking Samus's energy establish an immediate mystery, while the Raven Beak connection promises a story that acknowledges the significance of what came before. Exactly how deeply the game revisits that legacy remains to be seen.

Metroid Ravenous release date

Metroid Ravenous launches for Nintendo Switch 2 on January 28, 2027. Nintendo has confirmed the game as a side-scrolling sequel to Metroid Dread, with Samus returning for another chapter at the far end of the franchise's current timeline.

More information is still needed on the new world Samus will explore, the identity and motives of the energy-draining enemies, MercurySteam's precise involvement, and the gameplay systems that will define the sequel. For now, the announcement delivers a substantial promise: the 2D Metroid story is moving forward, and it is doing so by confronting the aftermath of one of its most consequential villains.