Samus Aran is heading somewhere hostile, and this time survival may depend on becoming the predator. Nintendo’s next 2D Metroid adventure, Metroid Ravenous, launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on 28 January 2027. Its first official details suggest a striking shift in how Samus fights, recovers and survives.
A crash landing and five dangerous enemies
After crash-landing on an unfamiliar moon, Samus is ambushed by a mysterious group of assassins and left severely wounded. Nintendo describes an underground labyrinth in which she must acquire abilities, fight her way back to the surface and ultimately confront the five Space Ninjas responsible for the attack.
That premise keeps the series’ familiar sense of isolation, but gives the journey a particularly personal edge. Rather than simply exploring ruins and discovering their history, Samus has identifiable adversaries waiting for her.
The hunter becomes the hunted, then the hunter again
The headline mechanic is Samus’s latent Metroid power. Nintendo says she can stun enemies by countering their attacks and then drain their energy. It’s a fascinating extension of the series’ long-running relationship between Samus and the creatures whose name it carries. The interesting question is how often the game expects players to take risks in close combat rather than rely on the safety of a distant arm cannon.
We haven’t played Ravenous, so the balance between exploration, ranged combat and these aggressive new abilities remains an open question. But the announced system gives us a clear reason to follow the game beyond its release date.
A Switch 2 exclusive with a collector’s edition
Nintendo has confirmed individual Samus and Chozo Statue amiibo figures alongside a special edition that includes the game, a steel case and a Samus (Metroid Suit) amiibo. Nintendo also lists handheld, tabletop and TV play, HDR support on compatible displays and a PEGI 12 rating.
Why we’re watching
Metroid works best when its world feels dangerous enough to make each new ability meaningful. Ravenous has the ingredients for that tension: an isolated setting, powerful hunters and an ability system that turns defeated enemies into a lifeline. Whether those pieces come together is something only hands-on play can answer.
Release: 28 January 2027 | Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 | Status: Official-information preview, not a hands-on review.
Source: Nintendo UK official game page. Image: Nintendo promotional gameplay screenshot.