Nintendo Goes Big on Switch 2 With New Metroid and Kirby Adventures
Nintendo has made another major statement about the future of the Switch 2, revealing two brand-new adventures starring some of its most recognizable characters: Samus Aran in Metroid Ravenous and Kirby in Kirby and the World Beyond. Announced during the Nintendo Direct on September 9, 2026, the two games represent very different directions for two beloved franchises, while sharing one important detail: both are being developed exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.
The announcements arrived as part of a much larger presentation designed to demonstrate that Nintendo’s latest console is building an increasingly ambitious software lineup. Alongside the new Metroid and Kirby titles, Nintendo highlighted games such as Monster Hunter Wilds, FINAL FANTASY VII REVELATION, Persona 6, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, and new editions of several existing titles.
For Switch 2 owners, the message is becoming increasingly clear: Nintendo wants the new generation to feel like more than a hardware upgrade. It wants the platform to establish its own identity through exclusive adventures and major third-party releases.
Samus Returns in a Dark New 2D Adventure
The first major reveal was Metroid Ravenous, a new 2D action-adventure game featuring legendary bounty hunter Samus Aran. Nintendo describes the game as an intense survival-focused experience in which players must contend with dangerous enemies and the constant threat of becoming prey themselves.
The presentation immediately set a darker tone for the game. Unlike some of Nintendo’s more colorful franchises, Metroid has always been associated with isolation, exploration and science-fiction tension, and Ravenous appears ready to push those qualities further.
The gameplay footage shown during the Direct featured side-scrolling action, exploration, shooting and evasive movement. The concept also introduces a notable new survival element built around consuming or absorbing energy from enemies, reinforcing the game’s central “eat or be eaten” theme.
Nintendo has scheduled Metroid Ravenous for January 28, 2027, giving players a relatively short wait between announcement and release. The game will also receive a special edition featuring a SteelBook, while Nintendo plans new amiibo connected to the title.
The timing is particularly interesting for fans of the series. Metroid has successfully alternated between first-person and traditional 2D experiences throughout its history, and Ravenous appears to embrace the classic side-scrolling foundation while introducing a new visual and gameplay direction.
For longtime players, that combination could make the game feel familiar without simply repeating what came before.
Kirby Enters a Much Bigger World
If Metroid Ravenous represents a darker and more intense side of Nintendo, Kirby and the World Beyond takes the opposite approach.
The new Kirby adventure is being described as a fully new 3D experience, with players exploring large environments filled with fields, waterfalls, hidden areas and opportunities to use Kirby’s familiar copy abilities. Nintendo says players will be able to freely explore the 3D landscapes and use Kirby’s abilities to move through the world and discover secrets.
The scale is one of the most interesting aspects of the reveal. Kirby has already experimented with 3D gameplay, most notably through Kirby and the Forgotten Land, but The World Beyond appears to push exploration considerably further. Rather than simply presenting traditional platforming stages in three dimensions, Nintendo is teasing a world designed around freedom and discovery.
The trailer showed Kirby traveling through expansive environments, finding items, unlocking abilities and encountering mysterious changes to the world around him. At one point, the colorful landscape itself appears to transform dramatically, suggesting that the game’s central mystery could be closely connected to the structure of its world. (GamesRadar+)
Nintendo has confirmed a spring 2027 release window for Kirby and the World Beyond. That date is particularly appropriate because 2027 will mark Kirby’s 35th anniversary, and Nintendo has already teased additional celebrations and information connected to the milestone.
The anniversary could make the game one of the most important Kirby releases in years. A major new 3D adventure arriving during such a milestone gives Nintendo an opportunity to introduce the character to a new generation while celebrating his long history.
Nintendo Is Building a Stronger Switch 2 Identity
The importance of these two announcements goes beyond the individual franchises.
The Switch 2 is entering a crucial stage in its lifecycle, and Nintendo needs a steady stream of software that convinces players that the new hardware offers experiences worth upgrading for. The September Direct demonstrated a strategy built around both recognizable Nintendo franchises and strong support from third-party publishers.
Nintendo’s lineup now includes Metroid Ravenous in January 2027, Kirby and the World Beyond in spring 2027, FINAL FANTASY VII REVELATION in April 2027, Persona 6, Monster Hunter Wilds arriving December 4, 2026, and several other major releases.
This gives Switch 2 a much broader software strategy. Nintendo’s first-party titles provide the iconic characters and franchises that define the platform, while third-party releases help expand its appeal to players who want large-scale RPGs, action games and established multiplatform franchises.
The result is a platform that increasingly looks prepared for a long-term transition rather than a simple continuation of the original Switch generation.
A Big Year Ahead for Nintendo Fans
Both Metroid Ravenous and Kirby and the World Beyond also highlight Nintendo’s willingness to experiment with familiar franchises.
Samus is returning to a more traditional 2D format while receiving darker survival mechanics. Kirby, meanwhile, is moving into a larger 3D environment that appears designed around exploration and discovery. The two games could not be more different in tone, yet they serve a similar purpose: demonstrating what Nintendo’s classic characters can do on new hardware.
For cosplay communities and fan creators, the announcements could also have an impact. New Nintendo games inevitably introduce new character designs, costumes, creatures and visual themes, creating fresh material for photographers, artists and cosplayers once the games begin reaching players.
The biggest question now is whether these projects can live up to the excitement surrounding them. Metroid Ravenous arrives first on January 28, 2027, while Kirby and the World Beyond follows in spring 2027.
For Nintendo, however, the September Direct has already accomplished something important. The Switch 2’s future suddenly looks considerably more crowded, and much more exciting.
With Samus preparing to enter another dangerous mission and Kirby preparing to explore a world far beyond the familiar, Nintendo is betting that its classic heroes still have plenty of new adventures left to offer.
And judging from the early reaction to these reveals, players are more than ready to discover what lies beyond.
