Why Metroid Ravenous Could Be Nintendo’s Biggest Surprise

Nintendo’s packed week included two back-to-back Direct presentations, with the The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for Switch 2 taking much of the attention. Its new visual direction and jump button have already divided fans, but the project is still positioned to become one of the platform’s biggest releases.

For me, the more compelling announcement was Metroid Ravenous. The upcoming 2D adventure is scheduled to begin Nintendo’s 2027 release calendar on 28 January, and its debut trailer showed Samus gaining the ability to eat enemies. That unusual mechanic, combined with a striking visual style, makes it one of the most intriguing Switch 2 exclusives so far.

A remake created the opportunity

The project’s story can be traced back to Nintendo’s decision to remake Metroid 2: Return of Samus. Revealed at E3 2017, Metroid: Samus Returns was a substantial reworking of the Nintendo 3DS title, developed by MercurySteam.

At the time, that partnership seemed unexpected. MercurySteam had no established history with Nintendo, although its work on 2010’s well-regarded Castlevania: Lords of Shadow showed that the studio understood the broader Metroidvania tradition.

The gamble worked. Metroid: Samus Returns earned strong critical praise and helped restore momentum to a series that appeared to have stalled. Rather than immediately commission another remake, Nintendo gave MercurySteam the chance to create an original entry.

From Samus Returns to Metroid Dread

The lessons from the 3DS remake became the foundation for Metroid Dread. Its combat and exploration developed ideas introduced in Samus Returns, while its presentation pushed the series further in a cinematic direction. Metroid Dread went on to receive a Game of the Year nomination.

That progression is an important reminder that remakes can serve as practical tests for outside studios. A developer can learn the structure, pacing and expectations of an established series before being trusted with a fresh idea.

Nintendo has used a similar approach elsewhere. Grezzo’s 2019 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening demonstrated the studio’s ability to work within a classic formula. It later developed The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, an original adventure that made Zelda the playable lead and placed greater emphasis on puzzles.

Why Ravenous matters more than another remake

Metroid Ravenous appears to be the next stage of that process. Nintendo has not formally confirmed MercurySteam as the developer, but the studio’s previous work gives the project an obvious context. Samus’ ability to consume enemies suggests an attempt to expand the established formula rather than simply reproduce familiar moments.

That makes the game more exciting than a conservative upgrade of Ocarina of Time, particularly if the Zelda remake leaves its core gameplay largely unchanged. The most valuable remakes are not only polished revisits; they can give development teams the experience and credibility needed to attempt something more ambitious.

The wider lesson for Nintendo remakes

Not every remake needs to be revolutionary to be worthwhile. Velan Studios’ Star Fox remake may feel unnecessary to players who would rather see a new entry, but the project reportedly gave the team an opportunity to demonstrate its grasp of the series’ fundamentals, storytelling possibilities and multiplayer potential. That experience could be valuable if Velan is later trusted with an original Star Fox game.

ArtePiazza’s 2023 remake of Super Mario RPG followed a safer path, but it still illustrates how Nintendo can work with external teams inside established franchises.

For players who follow the latest gaming news, the broader pattern is worth watching. A remake that seems modest today may be laying the groundwork for a much more ambitious announcement several years from now.

That is why Metroid Ravenous has emerged as the most exciting reveal from Nintendo’s busy week. Its January 2027 launch is still ahead, and its success is not guaranteed, but the project shows how revisiting the past can lead to a genuinely new direction.

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