Predictions

1:32 We think Metroid Ravenous comes out on Jan 28, 2027 as dated and turns out to be a story about Samus and a cult of Space Ninjas who both live by eating their enemies, with the Chozo army glimpsed in the trailer belonging to the past, not to a returning Raven Beak.

These are Vi.ki's own predictions and opinions, not reported facts. Each one says what we base it on and when it can be checked. We will mark each one right or wrong when it resolves.

Who is the final boss of Metroid Ravenous?

We think the final boss is the leader of the five Space Ninjas, the one in the red cape with a bandolier of grenade-like charges, fought after the other four.

Confidence: Possible. Check by: Mar 2027.

Why we think so: Nintendo's store pages name no villain but the five Space Ninjas who "lie in wait" for Samus, and GVG picks out the caped one as the likely leader because he stands at the center and never fights in the trailer (Metroid Ravenous Space Ninjas and Bosses). Holding a villain back while his followers fight is how games build a final boss. Dread showed Raven Beak in its opening cutscene and then held the fight with him for the very end (Metroid Dread Ending Explained).

What would prove us wrong: a final boss that is not a Space Ninja, such as a Chozo, a Metroid or a creature of the moon.

Did the Galactic Federation send the Space Ninjas?

We think not: the Space Ninjas act for their own reasons, and the Galactic Federation is not behind the ambush.

Confidence: Likely. Check by: Mar 2027.

Why we think so: the one motive Nintendo has published belongs to the ninjas themselves. Japanese coverage of Nintendo's text says they fanatically believe they gain power by devouring those they defeat, and a cult with its own faith does not need an employer. Nintendo's English text calls them "unknown attackers" and a "mysterious group," not hired hunters. In our view the series already told an evil-Federation story in Other M and Fusion (Metroid Timeline Explained), and Ravenous's theme, eat or be eaten, points at the ninjas and Samus, not at politics.

What would prove us wrong: the game revealing that the Federation hired, built or directed the Space Ninjas.

Is Raven Beak coming back?

We think Raven Beak does not return alive. The winged Chozo among the soldiers in the trailer is part of a memory or vision of Chozo history, and Samus never fights him in the present.

Confidence: Likely. Check by: Mar 2027.

Why we think so: Samus kills and drains Raven Beak at the end of Dread (Metroid Dread Ending Explained), and the shot of a living Chozo army is lit and framed unlike anything else in the trailer (Metroid Ravenous Story and Setting). ThatMetroidGuy's hosts noticed the figure has a katana and gold armor that Raven Beak never had. Dread told its Chozo history through memory scenes, and we expect Ravenous to do the same.

What would prove us wrong: Raven Beak alive in the present day of the story, as a clone, a revived body or himself.

Will the Metroid Suit be playable?

We think the Metroid Suit is mainly a finisher for the big fights through most of the game, and becomes a form you control freely only in the final stretch.

Confidence: Possible. Check by: Mar 2027.

Why we think so: every Metroid Suit shot in the trailer ends a Space Ninja fight, with a blade through one and a flying kick into another (Metroid Ravenous Gameplay and Abilities), and Nintendo's copy talks of tapping into its "overwhelming power" to "emerge victorious", the language of a climax. A power that strong, usable any time, would break a game built on climbing back from weakness. Dread gave Samus the Metroid Suit only in its last fight.

What would prove us wrong: a Metroid Suit Samus can switch into at will before the last area, or none at all outside cutscenes.

Will Metroid Ravenous have Rookie Mode at launch?

We think Ravenous has an easier difficulty, called Rookie Mode or something like it, on day one, with a harder mode unlocked by beating the game.

Confidence: Likely. Check by: Feb 2027.

Why we think so: Dread added Rookie Mode and Dread Mode in a free update four months after launch, so Nintendo already has the mode and knows players wanted it. The trailer shows a Space Ninja taking almost a full Energy Tank in one hit (Metroid Ravenous Gameplay and Abilities), and Ravenous launches on Switch 2 to a wider audience than Metroid usually reaches.

What would prove us wrong: Ravenous launching with only one difficulty, or with no mode easier than its normal one.

Will Metroid Ravenous have Boss Rush?

We think Ravenous gets a Boss Rush that includes all five Space Ninja duels, either at launch or in a free update by July 2027.

Confidence: Possible. Check by: Jul 2027.

Why we think so: Dread added three Boss Rush modes in a free update six months after launch. Ravenous's Space Ninja fights are built like fighting-game duels, with health bars and a fixed arena (Metroid Ravenous Space Ninjas and Bosses), which makes them the most natural boss rush Metroid has had.

What would prove us wrong: no boss rush of any kind by the end of July 2027.

What will the Metroid Ravenous amiibo do?

We think the Samus and Chozo Statue amiibo give small early boosts in the style of Dread's (an extra Energy Tank or missiles, then a daily refill), and the Samus (Metroid Suit) amiibo unlocks something cosmetic or a gallery, not story content.

Confidence: Likely. Check by: Feb 2027.

Why we think so: Dread's two amiibo each added a tank on the first scan and refilled resources once a day after (Metroid Ravenous vs Metroid Dread), and Nintendo rarely locks story behind a figure. Nintendo's Chozo Statue text, statues that "offer secrets and powers Samus can use to upgrade her suit", reads like an upgrade, and the Metroid Suit figure is tied to a $119.99 edition that would draw complaints if it hid part of the game (Metroid Ravenous amiibo).

What would prove us wrong: an amiibo that unlocks a story area, a mode or an ability not otherwise in the game.

Will there be another Metroid Ravenous trailer before launch?

We think Nintendo releases at least one more Ravenous trailer before Jan 28, 2027, but holds no Direct dedicated to the game.

Confidence: Likely. Check by: Jan 2027.

Why we think so: Nintendo usually puts out an overview or launch trailer for a big game in its last weeks, as it did for Dread's overview on Sep 10, 2021 and for Prime 4's overview on Nov 14, 2025 (Metroid Prime 4: Beyond). A dedicated Direct is rarer; as of Nov 8, 2026 nothing new has been shown since the reveal (Metroid Ravenous Trailers).

What would prove us wrong: no new trailer by launch day, or a Direct given over to Ravenous.

Will Metroid Ravenous have a Gravity Suit?

We think Ravenous has a Gravity Suit or an upgrade like it that lets Samus move normally in the purple high-gravity rooms, and that it is the third suit after the Power Suit and Varia Suit.

Confidence: Possible. Check by: Mar 2027.

Why we think so: the trailer's purple rooms drag Samus and her missiles to the floor (Metroid Ravenous Gameplay and Abilities), a hazard that asks for a suit to overcome it, as water and lava did in earlier games. The Varia Suit is already shown in the trailer, and the 2D games since Super Metroid have nearly always had all three.

What would prove us wrong: no suit or upgrade that changes how Samus moves in high gravity.

Will Nintendo credit MercurySteam?

We think the game's credits name MercurySteam as developer with Nintendo, as Dread's did.

Confidence: Likely. Check by: Feb 2027.

Why we think so: MercurySteam reposted the announcement and shared the trailer, and Ravenous shares Dread's counter, Flash Shift and Metroid Suit (Metroid Ravenous Developer: MercurySteam). Nintendo often leaves a partner studio unnamed until launch.

What would prove us wrong: credits naming another studio as the main developer.

What will Metroid Ravenous score?

We expect an OpenCritic Top Critic Average between 86 and 90, close to Dread's 87 and clearly above Metroid Prime 4: Beyond's 80.

Confidence: Possible. Check by: Mar 2027.

Why we think so: Dread holds 87 on OpenCritic and Prime 4 80. Ravenous builds on Dread's design with more variety (Metroid Ravenous vs Metroid Dread), and in our view the press reaction has been warmer than Prime 4's (Metroid Ravenous Previews and Reactions). We stop at 90 because the same team's follow-ups tend to be judged against the game that surprised everyone.

What would prove us wrong: a Top Critic Average of 91 or more, or 85 or less, a month after launch.

How well will Metroid Ravenous sell?

We think Nintendo's results for the year to Mar 31, 2027, published in May 2027, show Ravenous above 1 million copies after about two months on sale.

Confidence: Possible. Check by: May 2027.

Why we think so: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond passed 1 million across Switch and Switch 2 by Dec 31, 2025, less than a month after its Dec 4 launch, and Dread became the series' best seller (Metroid Sales: Best-Selling Metroid Games). Ravenous has no Switch 1 version, but its reveal sent Dread back to number one on the eShop and its Special Edition sold out (Metroid Ravenous Previews and Reactions).

What would prove us wrong: Nintendo reporting under 1 million for Ravenous by Mar 31, 2027, or listing no figure because it did not reach one.

What creators predict

PlayerEssence: Ravenous scores above Dread, past 90

13:49 In his Sep 20, 2026 video, PlayerEssence predicts Ravenous has "a very good chance" of being a game of the year nominee and could "push past what Metroid Dread did in the reviews and be a 90 plus rated game," partly because some critics marked Dread down for the E.M.M.I. chases. We think he is right that the E.M.M.I. cost Dread some points, but we expect a score just below 90, as in our own prediction above.

Check by: Mar 2027.

ThatMetroidGuy: the Space Ninjas are bounty hunters, maybe sent by the Federation

30:12 On his Sep 10, 2026 stream, the host says he is "90% sure the ninjas are bounty hunters" going above their pay grade, and "wouldn't be surprised if they were sent by the Federation." We think he is wrong about the Federation, for the reason in our prediction above: Nintendo's Japanese text gives the ninjas a belief of their own.

Check by: Mar 2027.

ThatMetroidGuy: no Gravity Suit

1:03:00 Later on the same stream, the hosts wonder what Ravenous will do for the Gravity Suit and suggest "there is a chance the gravity suit is skipped because the Metroid suit is so prevalent." We think the high-gravity rooms make a Gravity Suit more likely, not less, so we expect it to be in.

Check by: Mar 2027.

Charlotte Aranea: the Metroid Suit is a cutscene ability

8:07 In her Sep 10, 2026 breakdown, the Dread speedrunner predicts the Metroid Suit "will sort of be a cutscene ability," seen in quick-time finishers for major boss fights, and would be "quite surprised" to play in it for long before the end game. We think she is right for most of the game, and add that the final stretch will let you play in it.

Check by: Mar 2027.

Woodchop Chatterbox: a dedicated Direct for Ravenous

9:48 Closing his Sep 13, 2026 video, Woodchop Chatterbox expects more trailers and "maybe we'll get a dedicated little Nintendo Direct," pointing out that Nintendo did one for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. We think a new trailer is likely but a dedicated Direct is not, because Nintendo has shown nothing new for two months and a 2D game needs less explaining than Prime 4's open desert did.

Check by: Jan 2027.

Nin10doland: the Chozo army is a flashback to Samus's past

11:23 In his Sep 9, 2026 breakdown, Nin10doland is "fairly certain" the scene of Samus among an army of Chozo warriors, with a winged leader he takes for Raven Beak, is a flashback, and hopes it shows her growing up with the Chozo. We think he is right that it is a flashback or memory, but that the winged figure is not Raven Beak.

Check by: Mar 2027.

Our take

We think Ravenous is the most confident Metroid reveal since Dread's, because it found one idea, eat or be eaten, and made the story, the villains, the combat and the name all about it (Metroid Ravenous Metroid Powers Explained). In our view the drain-or-shoot choice after a counter is the best new mechanic the 2D series has had since the counter itself.

We think the risks are small but real. A narrating Samus can go wrong, as Other M showed, and the Space Ninja duels could feel like a separate fighting game bolted on if they are too long or too frequent.

For anyone waiting, we think the right preparation is Metroid Dread, then Metroid Fusion on Nintendo Switch Online for the story of the vaccine (Metroid Games on Switch and Switch 2).

Frequently asked questions

Who is the villain in Metroid Ravenous?

Nintendo names only the five Space Ninjas. We think their caped leader is the final boss.

Will Raven Beak be in Metroid Ravenous?

We think he appears only in a memory or vision, not alive in the present. Nintendo has said nothing.

Will Metroid Ravenous have an easy mode?

Nothing is announced. We think Rookie Mode, or an easier mode under another name, is in at launch.

Sources

• Nintendo Australia: Metroid Ravenous
• Nintendo of America: Metroid Ravenous for Nintendo Switch 2
• Nintendo of America, Sep 9, 2026: Metroid Ravenous - Nintendo Direct 9.9.2026
• Nintendo of America, Sep 10, 2021: Metroid Dread - Overview Trailer - Nintendo Switch
• Denfaminicogamer, Sep 9, 2026: Metroid Ravenous announcement
• Game Informer, Feb 9, 2022: Free Metroid Dread Update Adds Brutal Dread Mode And Easier Rookie Mode
• Game Informer, Apr 8, 2022: Metroid Dread Adds Three New Boss Rush Modes In Free Update
• My Nintendo News, Sep 10, 2026: MercurySteam appears to confirm it's behind Metroid Ravenous
• OpenCritic: Metroid Dread
• OpenCritic: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
• Nintendo Everything, Feb 4, 2026: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has sold over 1 million copies, Nintendo confirms
• PlayerEssence, Sep 20, 2026: Metroid Ravenous gets even BIGGER than expected...
• ThatMetroidGuy, Sep 10, 2026: METROID RAVENOUS ANALYSIS
• Charlotte Aranea, Sep 10, 2026: Dread Speedrunner Analyzes Metroid Ravenous Trailer
• Woodchop Chatterbox, Sep 13, 2026: Every new ability in the Metroid Ravenous reveal
• Nin10doland, Sep 9, 2026: EVERYTHING You MISSED in the Metroid Ravenous Trailer!