Metroid Ravenous Brings Samus Back to 2D Action on Switch 2 in January 2027

Nintendo has unveiled Metroid Ravenous, a new 2D entry starring Samus Aran that is scheduled to arrive on Nintendo Switch 2 on January 28, 2027. Revealed during the September 2026 Nintendo Direct presentation, the game marks the first newly released side-scrolling Metroid adventure since 2021's Metroid Dread.

The announcement comes not long after the launch of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, but Ravenous occupies a very different corner of the long-running series. Rather than a first-person exploration game, it returns Samus to a side-on perspective built around navigating an interconnected alien environment, gaining upgrades, uncovering new routes, and confronting dangerous creatures and bosses.

Its reveal trailer mixed cinematic sequences with gameplay, introducing familiar movement and combat elements while also teasing abilities linked to the unusual state Samus was left in at the conclusion of Metroid Dread. Nintendo has yet to lay out every story and gameplay detail, but the footage and accompanying material point toward a direct continuation of that chapter's aftermath.

Metroid Ravenous release date and platform

Metroid Ravenous will launch on January 28, 2027. Nintendo confirmed that date as part of the game's September 9, 2026 reveal. The release will arrive more than five years after Metroid Dread, which launched on October 8, 2021.

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The game is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive. It will not be playable on the original Nintendo Switch systems, making it one of Nintendo's major first-party releases designed specifically around the newer hardware. Nintendo has positioned the title among the key Switch 2 games planned for 2027, alongside Pokémon Winds & Waves.

That exclusivity is important for anyone who has remained on the original Switch hardware. While earlier Metroid games have appeared across a range of Nintendo devices, including the Switch, Wii U, 3DS, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Wii, DS, and NES, Ravenous is being built for Switch 2 rather than as a cross-generation release.

A return to the 2D Metroid formula

At its core, Metroid Ravenous is presented as a 2D, side-scrolling action-adventure game. Samus will move through what appears to be a sprawling, maze-like world, gradually opening pathways that were inaccessible earlier in the journey. That structure is one of the defining ideas behind Metroid: progression is not simply about traveling from one stage to the next, but about revisiting and reinterpreting spaces as the player's toolset grows.

The initial gameplay footage indicates that Samus retains many of the fundamentals fans would expect. The series' fast movement, platforming, ranged combat, and exploration-driven pacing are all visible. Screenshots released alongside the announcement also show a combination of story-oriented moments, hostile environments, returning techniques, and unfamiliar powers.

As with other modern 2D Metroid games, the appeal will likely rest on the relationship between action and discovery. A new ability can alter combat options, but it can also transform the map itself by allowing Samus to cross a hazardous surface, reach an elevated tunnel, break through a barrier, or return to a previously explored region with a new solution in hand.

Nintendo has not yet provided a complete mechanical breakdown for every power shown in the trailer. Still, the footage makes clear that Ravenous is not intended as a simple nostalgia exercise. The game appears to build from the foundation established by Metroid Dread while giving Samus a set of abilities shaped by the story's central transformation.

What the story may continue after Metroid Dread

Metroid Ravenous seems to pick up shortly after the events on planet ZDR in Metroid Dread. That makes the new game especially significant for players invested in the series' broader narrative, as the ending of Dread left Samus in a dramatically altered condition.

Spoilers for Metroid Dread follow.

During Metroid Dread, Samus's Metroid DNA manifested in a striking way, giving her the capacity to directly absorb energy through her hands. The material revealed for Ravenous suggests that this development will not simply be ignored. Instead, Samus appears to be grappling with an ongoing transformation into something increasingly Metroid-like.

That premise offers both a narrative conflict and an obvious route for the game's upgrade system. The emerging Metroid side of Samus may provide a new collection of skills alongside classic equipment and techniques. The early footage hints that the consequences of her DNA could be a central element of the adventure, rather than a one-off power reserved for a final encounter.

There is still considerable room for uncertainty. Nintendo has not fully explained the new setting, identified the major enemies, or confirmed the exact nature and limits of Samus's transformation. It is also too early to say whether the title will focus primarily on internal conflict, a fresh planetary threat, the Chozo, or another force tied to Metroid's extensive history. For now, the strongest clue is that ZDR's finale matters, and that Ravenous will explore what follows.

MercurySteam is expected to return, though not confirmed

Nintendo has not officially named the development team behind Metroid Ravenous. However, MercurySteam is widely expected to be handling lead development again following its past work with Nintendo on two major 2D Metroid projects.

The studio developed Metroid: Samus Returns, the 2017 Nintendo 3DS remake of the Game Boy title Metroid II: Return of Samus. It then collaborated with Nintendo on Metroid Dread for Switch. Those games updated the series' classic side-scrolling structure with modern movement, cinematic boss encounters, detailed animation, and a more immediate sense of pursuit and danger.

Because of that history, MercurySteam would be a natural fit for Ravenous, particularly if Nintendo intends the new game to continue both the story and design direction of Dread. Until Nintendo makes a formal announcement, though, the studio's involvement should be treated as an expectation rather than confirmed information.

Trailer and screenshots offer the first clues

The first Metroid Ravenous trailer debuted on September 9, 2026 during the Nintendo Direct showcase. It served as the official confirmation of the project after prior rumors that a new 2D Metroid could be in development.

Beyond confirming the title, the video offered the first look at Samus's new adventure in motion. It features both cinematics and side-scrolling gameplay, demonstrating that the series is again embracing the clean visual readability of a 2D Metroid while using a more detailed contemporary presentation. The footage also highlights a mixture of returning moves and unexplained new powers.

Nintendo has additionally released more than 20 gameplay screenshots. Taken together, the images provide a better look at environmental variety, enemy threats, narrative scenes, Samus's recognizable equipment, and the abilities that may define this chapter. They are not enough to reveal the full scope of the game, but they reinforce the impression that exploration, mobility, and power progression will be central.

Special edition and new amiibo plans

Pre-orders for Metroid Ravenous are not yet available in the US or UK. Nintendo has nevertheless confirmed that there will be both a standard release and a special edition when the game launches on January 28, 2027.

The limited special edition will include a copy of the game, a Steel Book case, and a special amiibo depicting Samus in her green Metroid Suit. Nintendo also plans to sell additional amiibo separately: a Samus figure and a Chozo Statue.

Pricing has not been announced in the available details, and Nintendo has not outlined whether the figures will unlock in-game content, provide bonuses, or function solely as collectibles. Those specifics, along with pre-order timing, will likely be shared closer to launch.

Why Ravenous matters for Metroid

Metroid Ravenous arrives at a notable moment for the franchise. The series has recently maintained momentum across its distinct styles, with the first-person Metroid Prime line and the side-scrolling mainline games both occupying active space in Nintendo's release plans. For fans of the latter format, though, the announcement represents the long-awaited next step after Dread.

Most importantly, it does not appear to be a detached side story or a remake. Everything shown so far points to a new 2D adventure with consequences for Samus herself, following up on one of the boldest endings in the franchise's history. How deeply Ravenous follows through on that idea remains to be seen, but its premise gives the game a clear identity from the outset.

With a January 28, 2027 launch date set and more details still to come, Switch 2 owners can expect Nintendo to gradually reveal more about the world, antagonists, upgrades, and creative team behind Samus Aran's next mission.