Metroid Ravenous Release Date, Price and Special Edition

Metroid Ravenous, the next 2D side-scrolling adventure starring bounty hunter Samus Aran, launches January 28, 2027 exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo confirmed the release date when it unveiled the game during its September 9, 2026 Nintendo Direct, and pre-orders are open now for a standard edition and a Special Edition that bundles a SteelBook case with an exclusive amiibo figure.

Metroid Ravenous release date

Metroid Ravenous arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on Thursday, January 28, 2027. The date is listed directly on Nintendo's own product pages for the digital edition and the physical edition, and it was reiterated in Nintendo's own announcement following the September Direct. The game is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive; there is no listing for original Nintendo Switch hardware on Nintendo's storefront.

Nintendo's product pages do carry a standard caveat for pre-order listings: information related to the game, "including ratings and download size, may not be finalized at time of preorder." The release date itself, however, has been stable across Nintendo's US and international storefronts since the announcement.

How Metroid Ravenous was announced

Metroid Ravenous was revealed during Nintendo's Direct presentation on September 9, 2026. Nintendo followed the broadcast with its own news post describing the game as "an intense new 2D action adventure" starring Samus Aran, using the tagline "It's eat or be eaten." That framing has carried through to Nintendo's storefront listings, where the same line introduces the game to shoppers, and pre-orders opened the same week as the announcement.

Nintendo's announcement post confirmed the release date, the Switch 2 exclusivity, and the existence of a standalone amiibo collection alongside the game itself, with Samus and Chozo Statue figures sold separately from the software. Nintendo has not published a separate press release with additional story or development details beyond what appears on its own news post and product pages, so claims about voice acting, specific environments, or plot beats that circulate elsewhere should be treated as unconfirmed until Nintendo says more.

The reveal places Metroid Ravenous as Samus Aran's next full side-scrolling outing since Metroid Dread, the 2D Metroidvania that released for the original Switch in October 2021. Samus Aran has been the series' protagonist since the original Metroid on the NES, and Ravenous continues her career as an armored, visor-helmeted bounty hunter navigating a hostile, labyrinthine world — a formula the series has built on for decades across both 2D side-scrolling entries and 3D spinoffs.

What is Metroid Ravenous about?

Nintendo's own product description sets up Metroid Ravenous as a survival story. Samus Aran is ambushed and marooned on an unfamiliar moon, stripped of her usual arsenal. To survive, she has to scavenge weapons, push through tight corridors and ruins, and take down powerful bosses — all while adapting to "newly awakened Metroid instincts" that let her devour enemies for power. A second line of Nintendo's marketing copy frames the stakes bluntly: players must "survive against vicious assailants to escape labyrinthine ruins."

Combat, per Nintendo's listing, centers on the series' familiar toolkit of beams and missiles, with an emphasis on "fast, aggressive" play rather than a slower, stealth-driven pace. Nintendo has not published story specifics beyond this framing — there's no confirmed villain roster, world map, or runtime on the official pages, and anything beyond what Nintendo itself has said should be treated as unconfirmed.

Genre and gameplay style

Metroid Ravenous is a 2D side-scrolling Metroidvania in the tradition of the Metroid series: exploration-driven progression, backtracking unlocked by new abilities, and boss encounters that test whatever gear Samus has recovered. That genre label comes from decades of Metroid games establishing the template — a connected, non-linear map where new items (a missile upgrade, a movement ability, a new beam type) open previously inaccessible rooms, encouraging players to retrace their steps as the moon's layout is gradually revealed.

Nintendo's official description leans into a more aggressive spin on that formula than past entries. Rather than framing Samus purely as a stealthy survivor, Nintendo's copy emphasizes "fast, aggressive" combat and the new mechanic of consuming defeated enemies through "newly awakened Metroid instincts." Beyond that framing, Nintendo has not detailed specific abilities, upgrade trees, map size, or estimated playtime, so side-by-side gameplay comparisons to prior entries like Metroid Dread or Metroid: Samus Returns aren't yet possible from official sources.

On the technical side, Nintendo's storefront confirms the game supports TV, tabletop, and handheld play on Switch 2, with HDR and 120 Hz output on compatible displays, surround sound via linear PCM, and Save Data Cloud support tied to a Nintendo Switch Online membership. The estimated download size listed by Nintendo is 20.2 GB, and the game supports a single player on a single system — there is no mention of local or online multiplayer on Nintendo's product pages.

The listing also confirms broad language support at launch, including English, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Dutch, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and regional variants of French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Nintendo notes that this information, like the download size, may still be adjusted before launch.

Metroid Ravenous price and editions

Nintendo is selling Metroid Ravenous in three configurations through its own store:

• Digital edition: $59.99, playable the moment it unlocks on release day with no physical media.
• Standard physical edition: $69.99, a cartridge release with no bundled extras.
• Special Edition: $119.99, which packages the physical game with a collector's SteelBook case and an exclusive amiibo figure (more on that below).

All three are listed for the same January 28, 2027 release date on Nintendo's own storefront.

Metroid Ravenous Special Edition: what's in the box

The Metroid Ravenous: Special Edition is the premium pre-order option, priced at $119.99 on Nintendo's own store. According to Nintendo's product listing, it includes:

• The physical version of Metroid Ravenous for Nintendo Switch 2
• A collectible SteelBook case
• The Samus (Metroid Suit) – Metroid Ravenous Series amiibo figure

Nintendo's listing notes that the bundled amiibo can be tapped for in-game extras, but the company says specific amiibo functionality details "will arrive at a later date." That means that, as of now, Nintendo has not detailed exactly what scanning the figure unlocks in Metroid Ravenous — only that it will do something.

Metroid Ravenous amiibo lineup

Alongside the Special Edition's bundled figure, Nintendo is releasing a standalone Metroid Ravenous amiibo wave at launch. Per Nintendo's own listings, the lineup includes:

• Samus – Metroid Ravenous Series (standalone figure, sold separately)
• Chozo Statue – Metroid Ravenous Series (a larger-than-standard figure that Nintendo says offers secrets and suit upgrades)
• Samus (Metroid Suit) – Metroid Ravenous Series (included only with the Special Edition, not sold standalone according to Nintendo's current listings)

As with the Special Edition's included figure, Nintendo has not yet published exactly what each amiibo unlocks in-game. amiibo support has been a recurring feature in the Metroid series since Metroid: Samus Returns and Metroid Dread, typically granting optional extras like bonus items, difficulty modes, or cosmetic suit variants rather than content required to finish the game, though Nintendo hasn't confirmed whether Ravenous will follow that same pattern.

Collectors should note that Nintendo's own listings currently treat the Chozo Statue and standard Samus figures as separate purchases from both the base game and the Special Edition — none of the three amiibo are bundled together in a single package on Nintendo's store.

ESRB rating and content

Metroid Ravenous carries a Teen rating from the ESRB, with Animated Blood and Violence listed as content descriptors on Nintendo's own product page. That's consistent with recent 2D Metroid entries and reflects the game's combat-focused, action-adventure design rather than anything more graphic.

How to pre-order Metroid Ravenous

Pre-orders for all three configurations — Digital, Standard physical, and Special Edition — are live now directly through Nintendo's online store, with the Special Edition pre-order page linked separately from the base listing. Nintendo's listings carry the standard pre-order disclaimer that game details, ratings, and download size are subject to change before launch. Buyers should confirm current availability and edition contents directly on Nintendo's store before completing a purchase.

Why Metroid Ravenous is a Switch 2 exclusive, and what's still unconfirmed

Nintendo's storefront lists Metroid Ravenous solely under Nintendo Switch 2 software, with no original Switch version offered. Nintendo has not published a stated technical reason for the exclusivity on its product pages, so any explanation beyond "Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive" as listed would be speculation. It joins a growing slate of first-party Switch 2 exclusives arriving in the console's first years; Pandromeda covered another recent example in its look at how Pikmin 4: Switch 2 Edition launched with Dandori Academy.

Because Metroid Ravenous is still roughly two and a half months from release as of this writing, Nintendo's own pages leave several common pre-release questions open. There is no confirmed developer credit on Nintendo's storefront listings, no published runtime or map size, no demo announcement, and no detail on whether the game will receive post-launch updates or downloadable content. Nintendo also hasn't clarified whether the Special Edition will be restocked if it sells out, or whether additional bundles — such as a themed Nintendo Switch 2 system — are planned. Readers should treat any of those specifics seen elsewhere as rumor or speculation unless Nintendo updates its own product pages or news section to confirm them.

Metroid Ravenous adds to a Switch 2 software lineup that's grown steadily since the console's debut, mixing first-party exclusives with ports and new multiplatform releases. Shoppers weighing a Switch 2 purchase ahead of Ravenous's launch, or comparing it against other current consoles, can see how the hardware stacks up on price and specs in Pandromeda's Switch 2 vs. PS5 vs. Xbox Series X breakdown. For those watching for a deal on the console itself before Ravenous arrives in January, Pandromeda also tracked which Switch 2 bundles and accessories were actually discounted over Black Friday 2026. Pandromeda will update this article if Nintendo publishes additional details ahead of the January 28, 2027 launch.

Frequently asked questions

When does Metroid Ravenous release?

Metroid Ravenous releases January 28, 2027, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2, according to Nintendo's own product listings.

How much does Metroid Ravenous cost?

The digital edition is $59.99, the standard physical edition is $69.99, and the Special Edition is $119.99, per Nintendo's storefront.

What's included in the Metroid Ravenous Special Edition?

The Special Edition includes the physical game, a SteelBook case, and the Samus (Metroid Suit) – Metroid Ravenous Series amiibo figure, according to Nintendo's product page.

Is Metroid Ravenous coming to the original Nintendo Switch?

No. Nintendo lists Metroid Ravenous exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on its store.

What does the Metroid Ravenous amiibo do?

Nintendo has confirmed amiibo functionality is planned but has not yet detailed exactly what scanning each figure unlocks in-game.

Where can I pre-order Metroid Ravenous?

Pre-orders for all editions are available directly through Nintendo's online store.

Written byJonah Reyes

Jonah Reyes leads Pandromeda's gaming coverage: console and handheld hardware, release dates, pricing changes, patch notes and the business moves behind the biggest franchises. He sources every date and price from the platform holders and publishers themselves, and says plainly when something is still only a rumour.

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