Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review

Eurogamer
Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, developed by Retro Studios and releasing on December 4 for Nintendo Switch 2, offers a blend of classic Metroid gameplay with new elements. Players control Samus Aran as she navigates a single expansive world divided into themed dungeons, reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda. While the game features engaging exploration and puzzles, it suffers from narrative shortcomings and a lackluster ending. The game is visually impressive but ultimately feels like a missed opportunity.

2025-12-02 | GameSpot: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Review - Prime, But Not Quite Prime Prime

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond features Samus Aran battling Space Pirates led by Sylux, who controls Metroids. The game introduces new mechanics, including psychic abilities and a motorcycle called Vi-O-La for traversal. While it maintains classic Metroid exploration, the inclusion of Federation characters and a more open world has mixed results. The game excels in combat and visual fidelity but suffers from save system issues and pacing problems in its expansive environments. Overall, it offers a satisfying, albeit uneven, experience.

2025-12-02 | IGN: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Review

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond features Samus exploring the planet Viewros, utilizing new psychic abilities alongside classic gameplay elements. The game balances exploration and combat, with a mix of puzzles and suit upgrades, though some mechanics feel familiar. While the visuals are stunning, the desert hub is criticized for being repetitive. Companions add personality but can be intrusive. Overall, it offers a strong revival of the series, despite some uneven elements and missed opportunities in storytelling.

2025-12-02 | Nintendo Life: Review: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Switch 2) - Samus Returns In Prime Form

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for the Nintendo Switch 2 is praised as a significant evolution of the series, featuring an open-world hub, high-speed motorbike traversal, and new psychic powers. The game introduces the Lamorn race and offers stunning visuals and an impressive soundtrack. Players can choose between performance modes and various control schemes. While the game is accessible for newcomers, it retains classic Metroid elements, with a playtime of around 10-20 hours depending on exploration. Some features are locked behind amiibo, which has drawn criticism.

2025-12-02 | GamesRadar+: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review: "The series' atmosphere has never been better, while being dragged down by a boring overworld and clunky psychic powers"

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, releasing on December 4, 2025, after an 18-year wait, offers a mix of stunning exploration and frustrating gameplay. While the atmospheric level design and first-person mechanics shine, the new psychic powers and open-world structure detract from the experience. The overworld feels dated and cumbersome, leading to tedious navigation. Despite its flaws, the game excels in immersive environments, but struggles with pacing and progression.

2025-12-02 | Game Informer: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Review - Worth The Wait

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond delivers a captivating exploration experience on the planet Viewros, showcasing impressive graphics and atmospheric design. Players control Samus as she aids the Lamorn aliens, navigating diverse environments and utilizing new psychic powers. While the gameplay is familiar and engaging, the narrative conclusion is underwhelming, and a save system limitation post-game is frustrating. Despite these issues, the game offers a rewarding sense of alien ambiance and exploration.

2025-12-02 | Metro: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review – Samus Aran and her amazing friends

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, releasing on December 4, 2025, has garnered mixed reactions from fans after an 18-year wait. While it features impressive graphics and enjoyable boss battles, the game is criticized for its simplistic puzzles, linear gameplay, and lack of depth in character development. Many long-time fans may find it disappointing as it strays from traditional Metroidvania elements. The game is developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo, with a price of £49.99/£58.99.

2025-12-02 | The Verge: Metroid Prime 4 excels when it’s actually being Metroid

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, releasing on December 4th, captures the essence of exploration and isolation that defines the franchise. While it excels in atmospheric level design and engaging gameplay, it suffers from unnecessary additions like chatty companion characters and a tedious hub world that detracts from the experience. The game features new psychic abilities and a mix of exploration and action, but backtracking through an empty desert can disrupt its momentum.

2025-12-02 | Destructoid: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review – Welcome back, Samus

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond marks Samus Aran's return after seven years, showcasing impressive visuals on the Switch 2. While the game offers enjoyable exploration and boss battles, its combat feels lackluster and easy, lacking challenge until Hard Mode is unlocked. The story introduces new elements and characters but lacks depth. Despite its flaws, the game is a solid entry in the franchise, with a review score of 7.5, highlighting its graphics and exploration features.

2025-12-02 | VGC: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Review: Ocarina of Prime

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond attempts to blend nostalgia with innovation, featuring a mix of horror FPS, open-world exploration, and comedic support characters. While it retains the series' core mechanics and offers stunning environments, it struggles with an identity crisis, leaning towards a more casual gameplay style. The introduction of psychic powers and a sci-fi motorbike adds variety, but the game’s hand-holding and diluted challenge may disappoint long-time fans. Overall, it feels like a compromise rather than a true evolution of the franchise.

2025-12-02 | Nintendo Life: Site News: So, Where's Our Metroid Prime 4 Switch 1 Review?

Reviews for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond are now available, focusing on the Switch 2 Edition, with a review for the original Switch version forthcoming. The review was delayed due to lack of access to the older hardware before the embargo. The game, announced in 2017 and re-developed from scratch in 2019, has generated significant anticipation. The NS2 Edition cart is compatible with the original Switch, prompting interest in performance comparisons.

2025-12-02 | Insider Gaming: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Is The Lowest-Reviewed Game In The Series

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is the first new entry in the series in over a decade and has received an aggregate score of 80/100 on Metacritic based on 63 reviews. While this score is considered good, it marks the lowest rating in the Metroid Prime series, with previous titles scoring above 90. The game is set for release on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, but may not be a contender for Game of the Year discussions.

2025-12-02 | Nintendo Life: Round Up: The Reviews Are In For Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has received mixed reviews, with scores ranging from 10/10 by Giant Bomb, praising it as one of Samus' greatest adventures, to 3/5 from VGC and Eurogamer, which criticized its ending and pacing. Game Informer rated it 8.75/10, highlighting its atmosphere but noting issues with the finale. Overall, it holds a Metacritic score of 80 based on 63 reviews, indicating a divisive reception among critics.

2025-12-03 | Nintendo Life: Poll: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Is Out On Switch 2 And Switch This Week, Will You Be Getting It?

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is releasing this week on both Switch and Switch 2. Despite being the lowest-rated mainline entry on Metacritic, it still holds an "excellent" status, with some sites giving it a perfect score. The Switch remaster of the original game received a 94/100 in 2023. A review for the Switch version is forthcoming.

2025-12-03 | The Verge: We played Metroid Prime 4, ask us anything

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has been highly anticipated, with fans waiting nearly a decade for its release. Early previews raised concerns about excessive dialogue from side characters, potentially detracting from the game's traditionally solitary atmosphere. Reviews have varied, generally landing in the "7/10" range, suggesting it has unique qualities despite not being perfect. The authors invite questions about gameplay elements, including new powers and features, while avoiding spoilers.

2025-12-03 | Nintendo Life: Mini Review: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Switch 1) - An Impressive Version If You've Yet To Upgrade

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on Switch 1 offers a solid experience, though visuals suffer compared to the Switch 2 version, with noticeable sub-720p quality in wide shots. Loading screens are longer on Switch 1, impacting gameplay flow. Despite these drawbacks, the game maintains a smooth 60fps performance. While not as visually impressive as the Switch 2 Edition, it remains a worthwhile purchase for those not upgrading soon, provided players manage their expectations.

2025-12-03 | Nintendo Life: Video: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Stuns On Switch 2 In This Side-By-Side Comparison

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launches tomorrow on both Switch 1 and 2. A comparison video highlights the differences, showcasing the enhanced 4K resolution on Switch 2, which significantly improves visual fidelity. While the Switch 1 version runs smoothly at 60fps, the Switch 2's graphics are notably superior, enhancing the game's art direction. The Switch 1 version is still praised for its solid performance, receiving an 8/10 review.

2025-12-04 | The Verge: Metroid Prime 4 doesn’t stand up to Nintendo’s best

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has been released, but it struggles to meet the high standards set by Nintendo's other franchises. The game features open-world exploration that feels tedious rather than rewarding, with a desert hub described as "bare and boring." The illusion of choice is undermined by progression barriers, and the game includes overly helpful companions that detract from the player's experience. Despite some redeeming qualities, it fails to innovate after its lengthy development.

2025-12-05 | GamesIndustry.biz: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond | Critical Consensus

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has been released after 18 years since the last main entry, receiving mixed reviews with a Metacritic score of 80. Critics praise its graphics and nostalgic gameplay but criticize design choices, including chatty NPCs and a sprawling desert overworld. The introduction of psychic abilities and a motorbike, Vi-O-La, received varied responses. While some elements are seen as innovative, others feel outdated, leading to a divisive reception among fans and reviewers.

2025-12-08 | Nintendo Life: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Metroid Prime 4: Beyond?

The article provides a personal review of "Metroid Prime 4: Beyond," highlighting its excellent gameplay and immersive environments. The author notes the vastness of the desert area, minimal NPC chatter, and compares its linear progression to previous titles. While they prefer the maze-like design of earlier games, they appreciate the curated style. The music, ambiance, and boss fights are praised, with the author expressing overall enjoyment of the game.