Ethan Crossfield 
Nintendo has announced Metroid Ravenous, the next 2D game in the Metroid series. The reveal trailer sends Samus to a hostile alien moon, where survival depends on exploring a dangerous desert, overcoming unfamiliar enemies, and using a new ability that siphons energy from defeated foes. Metroid Ravenous is scheduled to launch on January 28, 2027, giving fans a clear reason to follow the project while more details remain unavailable.
What changed in Metroid Ravenous?
The trailer introduces a more desperate situation for Samus than a routine mission. She has been attacked by unknown assailants, badly injured, and stranded somewhere on an alien moon. Reaching the surface will be difficult, and escaping the moon appears even less certain. The footage frames the adventure around endurance: Samus must recover, navigate the environment, and use whatever resources her enemies provide.
The game appears to take place after Metroid Dread, although the reveal does not establish the exact timeline in detail. Its setting is notably different from the familiar corridors and laboratories often associated with the series. Samus is shown falling into the sands of an alien desert and fighting her way upward, while a group of five mysterious figures watches from beneath cloaks and wide-brimmed hats that conceal their faces.
What should players expect from the gameplay?
Metroid Ravenous retains the exploration-focused 2D structure associated with the series while adding several mobility and combat tools. The trailer shows Samus using a dash that can warp her through walls, running across water, and parrying attacks with a mechanic that returns from Metroid Dread.
The most distinctive addition is an energy-siphoning power. Samus can drain life force from at least one enemy, causing the target to disappear after the attack. The trailer presents this ability as more than a standard weapon upgrade: it is tied directly to the game’s survival premise and may influence how players approach encounters. Nintendo has not yet explained the power’s full limitations, upgrade path, or role in exploration.
When can you follow or play Metroid Ravenous?
Metroid Ravenous is set for release on January 28, 2027. The announcement confirms the date but does not provide additional details about platforms, editions, pricing, or pre-orders. That makes the release window the main practical takeaway for now.
For players deciding whether to keep the game on their watchlist, the reveal offers a clear mix of familiar and new elements: classic 2D Metroid exploration, Dread’s parry system, unusual traversal options, and a central mechanic built around draining enemies. The story also raises immediate questions about the cloaked figures, Samus’s attackers, and the moon’s role in the wider series. Those answers will have to wait for future updates.
What players should know
- Metroid Ravenous is a new 2D entry starring Samus.
- The story appears to follow the events of Metroid Dread, though the exact placement is not confirmed.
- Samus explores an alien moon and an expansive desert environment.
- A new energy-siphoning ability lets her absorb power from enemies.
- The trailer shows wall-warping dashes, water-running, and the return of Dread’s parry mechanic.
- The announced release date is January 28, 2027.
- Nintendo has not yet shared platform, price, or edition details.
Expert View
Metroid Ravenous makes a strong first impression by pairing recognizable 2D exploration with a genuinely different survival mechanic. The energy-draining power gives the reveal a clear identity, while the unfamiliar moon and masked figures create useful story intrigue. However, the trailer leaves important questions unanswered, including how much freedom the new abilities provide and how closely the final game will connect to Metroid Dread. It is a promising announcement, but the January 28, 2027 release date is the only firm launch detail so far.
