It’s finally happening. After years of silence, reboots, and rumors, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is real — and it’s already shaping up to be something special.

For nearly two decades, fans have been waiting to see Samus Aran return to first-person exploration. And now that early previews are out, one thing’s clear: this isn’t just a safe revival. It’s a confident, ambitious evolution of everything that made Metroid Prime great.

This feels like the moment Retro Studios has been building toward. A return to the series’ roots — but also a statement that Metroid still belongs among Nintendo’s most important franchises.

The Return of Classic Prime

If you’ve played Metroid Prime before, you know what makes it special — that feeling of isolation, discovery, and quiet mastery as you explore alien worlds. And what excites me most about Prime 4: Beyond is how much of that original spirit has survived.

The previews describe a world that’s alive and interconnected, filled with secrets that tempt you from the edge of your map. Scanning returns — still detailed and deliberate — and the sound design captures that eerie mix of mechanical hums and natural echoes that defined the original trilogy.

But this isn’t nostalgia for its own sake. The lighting, reflections, and particle effects give that old atmosphere a new texture. When Samus steps into a corridor or alien temple, it doesn’t just look like Metroid Prime. It feels like it.

Retro hasn’t forgotten what made this series special. They’ve just rebuilt it with a new sense of scale, power, and confidence.

A Technical and Visual Leap

One of the most impressive parts of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is how it takes advantage of the Switch 2’s hardware.

For the first time, Metroid looks truly cinematic. You can see reflections shifting across Samus’s visor, moisture collecting on her armor, and environmental effects that make each area feel distinct and alive. It’s a level of polish we haven’t seen in a Nintendo first-person game before.

Performance seems smooth, transitions between zones are near-instant, and aiming feels faster and more responsive. The combination of modern controls and subtle haptic feedback turns exploration into something more physical — more immersive.

It finally feels like Metroid has the hardware it always deserved. And if the rest of Nintendo’s lineup follows this standard, the Switch 2 could be an incredible generation for fans.

Smart New Additions

What’s also encouraging is that Metroid Prime 4 doesn’t look afraid to evolve.

The new psychic-style ability changes how you interact with environments, letting you manipulate objects and unlock paths in ways that expand puzzle-solving without breaking immersion. Combat looks sharper too, with more fluid transitions between scanning, shooting, and movement.

What stands out is how clean it all feels. Retro isn’t trying to reinvent Metroid Prime — they’re refining it. Every change seems purposeful, aimed at deepening that flow between exploration and discovery.

This is how you modernize a classic: by adding new layers that feel natural, not forced.

What Might Worry Fans

Of course, not everything has the fanbase completely convinced. One of the biggest talking points is the new companion character — a more talkative ally who seems to guide Samus through parts of the story.

And that’s a big shift for a series built on silence and solitude. Metroid Prime has always been about being alone — about learning, observing, and surviving without anyone to hold your hand.

If that new character talks too much or overexplains objectives, it could chip away at the mood that defines this franchise. There are also hints that the story tone might be lighter or more cinematic, which could clash with the quiet dread fans love.

Still, I think there’s room for cautious optimism. Retro Studios has a good sense of balance — they’ve modernized without losing focus before. If this companion is used sparingly, to add context rather than constant chatter, it could actually strengthen the storytelling.

Metroid Dread showed that Nintendo understands how to update tone without losing identity. If Prime 4 follows that example, this new approach might surprise people in the best way.

Why It Could Be One of the Year’s Best

So why do I think Metroid Prime 4: Beyond could end up being one of the best games of 2025?

Because it’s doing something that very few games manage anymore — it’s respecting its past while pushing forward with intent. This isn’t just a sequel that wants to remind you what Metroid used to be. It’s a game that wants to redefine what Metroid can be.

At its core, Prime 4 feels like the work of a studio that understands the emotional rhythm of this series — that delicate balance between wonder and tension, isolation and empowerment. Every preview points to a team that isn’t just reviving an old formula, but perfecting it.

It also feels like the right game at the right time. Modern gaming is packed with massive open worlds and endless checklists, but Metroid Prime 4 is something different — slower, smarter, and more atmospheric. It rewards curiosity rather than chaos. It’s confident enough to let you get lost, to let silence carry the weight of discovery.

That’s rare today, and it’s exactly why this game stands out.

The technical leap from the Switch 2 hardware only amplifies it. Better lighting and performance mean Retro can focus fully on immersion — on the small details that make this universe feel alive. For longtime fans, it’s validation. For newcomers, it’s the perfect entry point to see why this series has always been so revered.

If Tears of the Kingdom reminded us how creative Nintendo can be in open-world design, Metroid Prime 4 could remind us how powerful focused design can be — how atmosphere, pacing, and mystery can still drive an unforgettable experience.

Everything about this game suggests it’s made with purpose. It doesn’t need to shout for attention or borrow ideas from other franchises. It just needs to be itself — and if it pulls that off, it won’t just be one of the best Metroid games ever made. It’ll be one of the standout releases of the year, period.

Final Thoughts

For me, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond looks like the perfect evolution of a series that’s always done things its own way. It’s darker, smarter, and more deliberate than almost anything else out there — and yet it feels brand new again.

Sure, there are a few unknowns. The companion could be a misstep if it’s overused, and we still don’t know exactly how ambitious the story is. But even with those concerns, everything about this game feels right.

It feels like Metroid — and it feels powerful.

If Retro Studios sticks the landing, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond won’t just be a great sequel. It’ll be a reminder that thoughtful, atmospheric design can still compete with the flashiest games on the market.

And honestly, after this long wait, that’s exactly what fans deserve.