Announced during the Nintendo Direct stream on Wednesday (September 9, 2026), Metroid Ravenous is a new 2D entry in Nintendo’s long-running Metroid series of exploration-focused platformers, which is set for release on Nintendo Switch 2 on January 28, 2027.
The series’ most recent 2D entry was 2021’s Metroid Dread on Nintendo Switch, which was developed by MercurySteam. And while Metroid Ravenous’s developer has not yet been announced by Nintendo, it seems a safe bet that MercurySteam will be returning for the new game.
The first Metroid game was released on the Famicom in Japan in 1986, with a North American NES release following in 1987, and a European NES release in 1988.
Of course, Metroid would prove to such an influential game that its name would later be used to define a whole genre, along with part of the name of its contemporary, Castlevania, which also has a new 2D entry in the offing, as we reported previously.
Pre-orders for Metroid Ravenous are open now on the Nintendo Store/eshop.
A selection of Metroid Ravenous Amiibo will be released alongside the game, with in-game functionality yet to be confirmed.
Metroid Ravenous will also be available to purchase as a Special Edition, which will include the physical version of the game, a SteelBook case, and the Samus (Metroid Suit) – Metroid Ravenous Series amiibo figure.
