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Sourced analysis

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

A successful return for the series, with new psychic powers, but a desert seen as empty and chatty companions.

Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch
Release dateDec 4, 2025
Sourced analysis

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond: Samus returns, a sourced analysis

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond brings Samus Aran back in first person, eighteen years after Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. A summary of Nintendo’s official information and three reviews of the Switch 2 version; this is not a hands-on TricknFix review.

Game trailer

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Samus on Viewros

Developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launched on 4 December 2025 on Nintendo Switch and in a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. After a clash with Sylux, Samus is transported to the planet Viewros, where she discovers the Lamorn people. The game mixes exploration, combat, puzzles and new psychic abilities, and links its areas through Sol Valley, a vast desert crossed on the Vi-O-La motorbike. On Switch 2, Nintendo lists Joy-Con 2 mouse controls, up to 4K in TV mode, up to 120 frames per second and HDR.

What the press says

On Switch 2, Nintendo Life (9/10) calls it possibly the boldest and most well-realised Metroid yet: it praises enemy and environment design, Vi-O-La traversal, more approachable collectibles and the best soundtrack since the original Prime; it dislikes a companion who chimes in too often in Sol Valley and amiibo-locked features. TheSixthAxis (8/10) calls it a great return, enjoying the psychic powers, the bio-mechanical architecture and the balance of exploration and combat, but finds the desert rather empty, some characters jarring in a usually isolated series, and misses an option to reduce hand-holding. GamingBolt (7/10) praises the sound, visuals, controls and performance, but finds the level design underwhelming and the NPC chatter nagging. Nintendo Life mentions around 10 hours for the main story and over 20 hours to find everything.

Editions and prices

Checked on 12 November 2026 on the French Nintendo eShop: the Nintendo Switch version costs €59.99 and the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition €69.99. An upgrade to the Switch 2 Edition costs €9.99 for owners of the Switch version; it is not listed as an offer because it does not include the game. Nintendo lists a PEGI 12 rating. Physical editions and reseller offers were not checked for this survey.

Who is it for?

Metroid Prime fans and players who enjoy first-person exploration, especially on Switch 2. Those who prefer the isolation of earlier entries may be less won over by the companions and the desert.

Press average

The score block above shows the press average computed from original reviews of the Nintendo Switch 2 version, checked on 12 November 2026: Nintendo Life 9/10, TheSixthAxis 8/10 and GamingBolt 7/10. Each score is converted to /20 and averaged with equal weight. The Switch version is not covered by these reviews. This summary is not a hands-on review.

What to know

A solid, ambitious return for Samus, praised for its exploration and atmosphere, though its open area and companions divide opinion.

Strengths

  • Exploration, enemies and environments praised, says Nintendo Life.
  • Psychic powers that add to puzzles and combat, says TheSixthAxis.
  • Smooth, satisfying Vi-O-La traversal, says Nintendo Life.
  • Top-tier sound, visuals, controls and performance on Switch 2, says GamingBolt.

Things to consider

  • Sol Valley desert feels empty, says TheSixthAxis.
  • Companions and chatter seen as intrusive, say Nintendo Life and GamingBolt.
  • Underwhelming level design, says GamingBolt.
  • Features locked behind amiibo, says Nintendo Life.

Sources and credits

Game gallery

5 images

Game details

Developer
Retro Studios
Publisher
Nintendo
Release
Dec 4, 2025
Genres
Action · Adventure
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Where to buy

Compare by platform, region and format. Prices were observed on the dates shown.

RetailerEdition and platform PriceCheckedLink
Nintendo eShopFRDigital game Édition standard (Nintendo Switch)Nintendo Switch 59.99 EUR Check shipping Nov 12, 2026 End date unknown Source ↗ View offer ↗
Nintendo eShopFRDigital game Nintendo Switch 2 EditionNintendo Switch 2 69.99 EUR Check shipping Nov 12, 2026 End date unknown Source ↗ View offer ↗

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