Nintendo's September Direct Reveals Metroid Ravenous, Kirby's First Open World, and 35 More Games

by Geth Author

Nintendo's September 2026 Direct ran for 45 minutes and packed in over 35 game announcements. Two reveals defined the show: a new 2D Metroid and Kirby's first real attempt at an open world. The rest of the lineup made a strong case that Switch 2 has the library depth to match its predecessor.

Metroid Ravenous: A Sequel to Dread

Metroid Ravenous is a direct sequel to 2021's Metroid Dread, continuing the 2D action-platformer lineage. Samus returns with new environments, new threats, and the same tight movement system Dread perfected. The game launches January 28, 2027 — a winter window that gives it clear air away from the holiday season crush.

Dread took the series back to basics and delivered one of the best-reviewed entries in years. Ravenous signals Nintendo has no intention of abandoning that formula. The early footage showed the same tense pacing and claustrophobic corridors, with a new enemy design language that suggests the threat has escalated meaningfully from where Dread ended.

Kirby and the World Beyond: An Open World

Kirby and the World Beyond goes fully 3D and open world, marking the biggest structural shift for the series in its 35-year history. Copy abilities now function as exploration tools — different abilities unlock different paths through a connected overworld centered on saving a mysterious character. Spring 2027 release on Switch 2.

The 3D Kirby games have had a patchy record. This one looks like a genuine swing at what the series could become — not a spinoff, but a proper new direction. The scale shown in the Direct was notably larger than anything in the series before.

The Rest of the Lineup

Beyond the two headline reveals, the Direct confirmed a dense Q4 into early 2027 schedule:

  • Monster Hunter Wilds arrives on Switch 2 December 4.
  • Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 remakes all land on Switch 2 October 16.
  • Professor Layton and The New World of Steam launches December 10.
  • Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Switch 2 Edition releases December 3.
  • Pikmin 4 Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy launches November 12.
  • Persona 4 Revival arrives May 20, 2027, with a first look at Persona 6 also shown.

Nintendo used the Direct to demonstrate that Switch 2 isn't waiting for a single killer app — the catalog is arriving in waves from now through spring. Metroid Ravenous and Kirby and the World Beyond sit at the top of that stack, and both look like they've earned the slot.