After 18 years of anticipation, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has finally landed on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, bringing Samus Aran back to her first-person exploration roots. The long-awaited fourth entry arrived December 4, 2025, marking the franchise’s triumphant return to a formula fans have desperately missed since 2007’s Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.
The game sold more than one million copies when combining both console versions, though it received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its environments, atmosphere, gameplay additions, and enhanced graphical fidelity on Switch 2. The game holds a Metacritic score of 81 and is rated Strong by OpenCritic after being reviewed by 126 critics.
The critical reception reveals a fascinating split. Reviewers note that annoyances with Beyond are vastly overshadowed by a pristine, rock-solid science-fiction exploration experience, with discovering all Viewros has to offer being incredibly rewarding and delivering an unmatched sense of alien ambiance. However, reception was more divided regarding the non-player characters, and the linear structure and open-world elements were criticized.
The game introduces psychic abilities and the Vi-O-La motorcycle to traverse its hub world, additions that have sparked debate among fans. Reception notes that not everybody is keen on the dialogue from Samus’ Federation Trooper pals. Despite these divisive elements, the core Metroid Prime experience shines through for many players.
What makes this release particularly significant is its availability on both Switch generations, showcasing how it truly feels like the proper showpiece for the Switch 2, with supreme gameplay design beautifully complemented by different input options, gorgeous visuals and spectacular performance.
Are you diving into Viewros, or waiting for Metroid Prime 2 and 3 remasters first? What do you think about the new additions to the formula?
