Following the release of Metroid Dread, fans of the series had to wait a few years before stepping back in Samus Aran‘s suit again, as the long-anticipated Metroid Prime 4: Beyond only launched last year on Nintendo Switch systems. Thankfully, the wait for the next entry in the series is not going to be as long, as a new game called Metroid Ravenous is launching early next year exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.

Announced during the September 2026 Nintendo Direct, the new 2D entry in the series will see Samus stranded on an unknown planet after being attacked by three mysterious figures who seem to be on the hunt for her. While the game seems to be similar to Metroid Dread on the surface, the next entry in the series seems to be considerably more fast-paced, with more visceral and intense combat, as the trailer’s music clearly suggests.

Besides wielding her weapons, Samus will also be able to harness the power of her enemies in some capacity. “It’s eat, or be eaten,” the space bounty hunter herself says at the end of the trailer, setting the stage for this intense adventure that will launch on January 28.

The next few months are going to be great for fans of Metroidvania games, as new main entries in the two franchises that gave the genre its name are launching in rapid succession. Before Metroid Ravenous, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse will mark the return of the KONAMI series with what I believe has the potential to be one of its best entries yet.

About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack.

After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi “Suda51” Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA’s president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3.

When he’s not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.

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