Metroid Ravenous Announced: Samus Returns to 2D on Switch 2 in January 2027

Nintendo has announced Metroid Ravenous, a 2D side-scrolling sequel to Metroid Dread launching exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 on January 28, 2027. It seems the universe's most efficient bounty hunter is back to doing what she does best: getting stranded on a hostile celestial body with nothing but a high-tech suit and some severe nutritional improvisation.

In the game's reveal trailer, Samus outlines a surprisingly grim survival plan. "I was attacked by unknown assailants and sustained grave injuries," she says, noting her slim chances of escape. "Still... I will survive. And I will make it home. Even if I have to feed on my enemies to do so. It's eat or be eaten."

The announcement marks the return of Nintendo's premier sci-fi franchise to the side-scrolling format that defined its legacy, moving the series onto Nintendo's next hardware generation as publishers begin opening pre-orders for Nintendo's next console.

The details

• Release date: January 28, 2027
• Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 (exclusive)
• Standard Edition: $69.99 physical / $59.99 digital
• Special Edition: $119.99 (includes steelbook and exclusive amiibo)
• Standalone Amiibo: Samus ($24.99), Chozo Statue ($44.99)

How does the physical copy work?

Nintendo is positioning Metroid Ravenous with two physical tiers, starting with a standard physical edition at $69.99. Per usual for recent Nintendo releases, this physical option costs $10 more than the $59.99 digital version. There is, however, a silver lining: the game will actually be printed on the cartridge. While that used to be the default, recent Switch 2 releases like Pokémon Pokopia have proved that physical media is no longer a given.

For collectors with deeper pockets, the $119.99 Special Edition bundles the game with a steelbook case and an exclusive "Metroid Suit" Samus amiibo. Nintendo confirmed that this specific figure will not be sold separately, ensuring that anyone who wants the complete set will have to spring for the triple-digit box.

What is the deal with the standalone amiibo?

For those who prefer to buy their plastic figures à la carte, Nintendo is launching two separate amiibo alongside the game on January 28. The standalone Samus amiibo is priced at $24.99, while the Chozo Statue amiibo comes in at $44.99. Neither of these standalone figures is the same as the Metroid Suit variant locked behind the Special Edition gate, meaning dedicated collectors have some budget math to do before January.

Why it matters

With Metroid Ravenous, Nintendo is establishing a clear pattern for its next-generation software strategy. Maintaining the $10 physical cartridge premium signals that tangible games are increasingly treated as a luxury tier, while anchoring high-value amiibo to the Special Edition continues to lock collectors into physical retail. By launching Samus into a brutal, cannibalistic survival setting right at the start of 2027, Nintendo is ensuring its next console has a highly anticipated, high-stakes first-party exclusive to anchor its early lineup.