Nintendo Announces Metroid Ravenous, A New 2D Game Releasing In January

During today’s Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo officially announced Metroid Ravenous, the next thrilling chapter in the legendary 2D action-platformer franchise. Chronologically following the gripping events of Metroid Dread, the title strands iconic bounty hunter Samus Aran on a desolate, uncharted alien moon, introducing a groundbreaking mechanic that allows her to drain vital energy directly from adversaries.

“I was ambushed by mysterious assailants and suffered severe trauma,” Samus narrates in the riveting teaser. “My current coordinates are unknown. Ascending back to the surface will be an uphill battle, and the odds of escaping this desolate satellite are virtually nonexistent. Even so, I will endure. I will find my way home—even if I must consume my enemies to survive. It is absolute: eat or be eaten.”

The preview showcases Samus confronting an enigmatic quintet of cloaked figures sporting wide-brimmed hats that shroud their expressions. Following a brutal confrontation, Samus plummets into the shifting dunes of an alien wasteland, forced to fight her way upward. Fresh gameplay mechanics take center stage, featuring a phase-dash capable of tearing through solid barriers, fluid water-surfacing traversal, the triumphant return of Metroid Dread’s precise melee counter, and the titular life-siphoning power. In one striking sequence, Samus absorbs an enemy’s essence until they dissolve entirely into nothingness.

Fans won’t have to wait long to dive into the action, as Metroid Ravenous is scheduled to launch globally on January 28, 2027. For more stellar cosmic exploration, be sure to revisit our in-depth critiques of Metroid Prime 4 and Metroid Dread.