Metroid Ravenous Launches January 28, 2027 Exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo has officially revealed Metroid Ravenous, a new 2D adventure starring Samus Aran that will launch exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on January 28, 2027. Revealed during the September Nintendo Direct, the game places Samus on an unfamiliar moon after her ship crashes and she is ambushed by a mysterious group of assassins, leaving her severely wounded and trapped beneath the surface.

While Ravenous retains the exploration focused 2D structure associated with modern Metroid, combat appears noticeably more aggressive. Samus must navigate labyrinthine underground environments, recover weapons and abilities, hunt powerful bosses and use newly awakened Metroid instincts that allow her to absorb energy directly from enemies. Players can stun opponents by countering their attacks before quickly draining their energy, giving the familiar Metroid combat loop a more predatory direction built around Nintendo's "eat or be eaten" concept.

Nintendo has also revealed that 5 Space Ninjas are responsible for the attack on Samus. These assassins remain scattered throughout the underground world and will confront her through dedicated one on one encounters using different weapons and fighting styles. This corrects early descriptions of the reveal that suggested only 3 attackers were involved. Nintendo's official game information specifically identifies 5 Space Ninjas.

The official Nintendo listing currently estimates a 20.2 GB file size and confirms support for HDR output, 120 Hz output, amiibo and Save Data Cloud. A Special Edition will also launch on January 28 and includes the game, a SteelBook case and a Samus Metroid Suit amiibo. Separate Samus and Chozo Statue amiibo figures are also planned alongside the game.

Metroid Ravenous looks like Nintendo taking the speed and tension of modern 2D Metroid and making Samus considerably more aggressive. The ability to actively feed on stunned enemies changes the rhythm of encounters and gives her Metroid powers a direct gameplay role rather than treating them purely as story history. The 5 Space Ninjas are equally interesting because recurring rival encounters could give the campaign a stronger sense of pursuit and personal conflict.

With a firm January 28, 2027 release date, Ravenous also gives Nintendo Switch 2 a major exclusive immediately at the beginning of the year, while 120 Hz support suggests Nintendo intends to take advantage of the new hardware for the series' fast combat and movement.

Does Samus absorbing energy from enemies feel like the right evolution for 2D Metroid, or would you rather Ravenous stay closer to the gameplay formula of Metroid Dread?