After almost a decade of waiting,Metroid Prime 4: Beyondhas finally been confirmed to be releasing on the Nintendo Switch family of systems in 2025. The game faced a series of delays, calling into question whetherMetroid Prime 4: Beyondwould release at all, but fans can rest assured knowing that Samus’ story will continue later this year.
The game’s current release window is relatively vague, possibly leaving fans waiting for it to launch for the rest of 2025. Anticipations andexpectations forMetroid Prime 4: Beyondare gradually building, but without a specific date, fans may still be waiting for a while. In the meantime, other games could fill the waiting time while temporarily scratching theMetroid Primeitch.
Best Games to Play While Waiting for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Metroid Prime Remastered
For players hoping to catch up on the series before the new installment or existing fans looking to revisit Tallon IV,Metroid Prime Remasteredis the best place to start. Its stunning HD visuals make it stand out as one of thebest-looking Switch games, perfectly capturing the bleak atmosphere. Compared to its original GameCube release,Metroid Prime Remasteredis the superior choice for gamers looking for impressive visuals and a modern control scheme. This is also the game that sets the story of thePrimeseries in motion, preparing players forMetroid Prime 4: Beyond.
Metroid Prime Trilogy
FollowingMetroid Prime Remastered, players should continue the story inMetroid Prime Trilogy. This game is much more difficult to recommend as it was only available on Wii and Wii U, with the latter being unavailable as a result of the Wii U eShop closing. There’snot much time for moreMetroid Primeremastersprior to the release ofMetroid Prime 4: Beyond, so options to play the rest of the series are limited.
Metroid Dread
Though not directly connected to theMetroid Primeseries,Metroid Dreadstands out as one of the best Metroidvanias in recent years that players should not pass on. Thechallenging gameplay ofMetroid Dreadis unparalleled by the rest of theMetroidfranchise, preparing players for the release of the next title. How this difficulty compares toMetroid Prime 4: Beyondis yet to be seen, but achieving mastery over its mechanics is very rewarding and will keep players prepared for the possible challenges to come.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Stepping away from theMetroidseries,Star Wars Jedi: Survivoroffers a similar 3D Metroidvania experience that will feel familiar to fans of theMetroid Primegames. Players wanting to follow the complete story of this game will need to playJedi: Fallen Orderfirst, but for those just looking for agame with great interconnected level designand pathways restricted by unlocked abilities and player progression, very few achieve this better thanJedi: Survivor.
Control
Another title to consider playing in the waiting period forMetroid Prime 4: Beyondis Remedy’sControl. The level design in the originalControltakes hints from Metroidvanias, though it seems its follow-up will be switching genres. Why this game could help players to prepare forMetroid Prime 4: Beyond,though, is via its emphasis on supernatural powers in a sci-fi setting, aligning with the psychic powers available to Samus. The game is relatively short, so completionists exploring every nook and cranny will be able to see all the content the game has to offer beforeMetroid Prime 4: Beyondlaunches.
Journey to the Savage Planet
Metroid Prime’s isolating and hostile atmosphere all contribute to the game’s tone. The same cannot be said forJourney to the Savage Planet, a game that is inspired by theMetroid Primeseries in all but vibe.Journey to the Savage Planetprides itself on its humorthrough its satirical storytelling, but this never comes at the expense of its gameplay. For fans ofMetroid Primelooking for a familiar gameplay experience without the dour setting,Journey to the Savage Planetfits the bill perfectly. Players who enjoy the game’s world and humor can also play the sequel,Revenge of the Savage Planet, which was released in May this year.
Alien: Isolation
TheMetroidseries has never shied away from including some horror elements, and players looking for an experience that pushes the scares to their limits should tryAlien: Isolation. The gameplay approach is very different, but it is easy to draw comparisons between the tone of both titles.Samus was initially inspired by Ellen Ripley, too, strengthening the connection between the series. The Last Survivor DLC gives players the opportunity to play as Ellen Ripley, and the fear-inducing gameplay ofAlien: Isolationcould make for a great game to play beforeMetroid Prime 4: Beyondempowers players to face formidable foes.
Returnal
The levels of eachMetroidtitle are meticulously designed to encourage map memorization and backtracking when certain abilities are acquired.Returnalflips this concept on its head with randomly generated map layouts, but keeps the upgrades and rediscovery at the core of theMetroidexperience.Returnalcaptures the essence ofMetroidwhile still offering a fresh take on games like it. Fans ofMetroid Prime’s story and combat will get a lot ofReturnal, and they have plenty of time to take all this in beforeMetroid Prime 4: Beyondreleases this year.
