Five years after Metroid Dread, Samus is back, and she’s in rough shape. The Metroid Ravenous trailer from Nintendo’s September 9 Direct opens with her ambushed, badly injured, and stuck on a moon she doesn’t recognize. Her way out? Eating her enemies’ energy. Metroid Ravenous hits Nintendo Switch 2 on January 28, 2027.
Trailer via Nintendo of America on YouTube.
Metroid Ravenous at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Release date | January 28, 2027 |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2 only |
| What it is | A 2D Metroid that picks up the story after Metroid Dread |
| Collector’s Edition | Samus amiibo and a SteelBook case |
| Also at launch | Samus and Chozo Statue amiibo, sold separately |
This Time, Samus Is the One Being Hunted
Metroid games usually start with Samus showing up to do a job. Not this one. The trailer opens on a flash of wrecked armor and a single line: “I was attacked by unknown assailants and sustained grave injuries.”
From there it’s pure isolation. Samus makes her way through dark tunnels and ancient stone ruins, admitting she has no idea where she is and that her “chances of getting off this moon are slim at best.” It’s a far lonelier, more desperate opening than we’re used to from Nintendo’s toughest bounty hunter.
The Moon Is Full of Things That Want Her Dead
It doesn’t take long for something to come after her. A pink, jelly-like claw reaches out of the dark, and Samus answers the way she always does, with her arm cannon.
The creature design is the highlight here. We get a snarling, dinosaur-like beast, a huge armored thing with a domed shell, and a giant serpent with claws that Samus leaps straight at. This is a bigger, stranger lineup of monsters than Nintendo usually shows in a first Metroid trailer.
“Even If I Have to Feed on My Enemies”
This is where the game gets its name. Near the end of the trailer, a short gameplay clip shows Samus firing on a downed enemy wrapped in a swirl of orange energy. Around it, Samus makes a promise: “I will survive. And I will make it home.” Before the logo, she finishes the thought with the line that sums up the whole game: “Even if I have to feed on my enemies to do so.”
As TechTimes describes it, you stun an enemy, then drain it to refill your own health. Fans of Dread will remember Samus only tapping into that kind of power in the game’s final moments. Now it looks like the core of how you survive, which should make fights feel very different. Being aggressive won’t just clear a room. It’ll keep you alive.
There’s also a creepy moment where a huge creature with glowing eyes fills the screen alongside the words “Brave warrior, become my flesh and blood.” The trailer doesn’t make clear who’s saying it, but it’s a pretty good hint that Samus isn’t the only hungry thing on this moon.
Wait, Why Did Her Suit Change Color?
Sharp-eyed fans will spot it: Samus wears her classic red suit for most of the trailer, but during the fight with the big armored creature her suit looks gold and white. Nintendo doesn’t explain it. It could be a power-up, a new suit, or something tied to the story. For now, it’s a fun mystery to chew on until January.
What We Still Don’t Know
Plenty. None of the bosses are named, there’s no word on how long the game is, and we haven’t seen how the drain ability fits alongside Samus’s usual missiles and beam upgrades. Samus has no allies anywhere in the trailer, so don’t expect co-op. It’s also the first new 2D Metroid since 2021, and Nintendo’s store page lists it for Switch 2 only, with no version announced for the original Switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Metroid Ravenous come out?
January 28, 2027, on Nintendo Switch 2.
Is Metroid Ravenous a sequel to Metroid Dread?
Yes. It continues Samus’s story after the events of Metroid Dread.
What is the drain ability in Metroid Ravenous?
It’s the game’s big new idea: Samus stuns an enemy, then drains its energy to refill her own health.
What comes in the Metroid Ravenous Collector’s Edition?
A Samus amiibo and a SteelBook case. Samus and Chozo Statue amiibo are also sold separately at launch.
Can you play Metroid Ravenous on the original Switch?
Nintendo has only announced it for Switch 2.
More From the Same Direct
Metroid wasn’t the only big news from Nintendo’s September 9 Direct. Catch up on the Legend of Zelda movie’s title and the Ocarina of Time remake date, or read about the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct. And if you like trailer breakdowns, here’s ours for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s “Stranded” trailer.
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