videogamescritic
← all games
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Retro Studios · released Dec 4, 2025

FPSNintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2

One of the greatest bounty hunters in the galaxy. Capable of completing any mission, no matter the danger. Planet Viewros: An unknown planet. Samus suddenly finds herself transported to the greenery of an ancient jungle. Explore the mysterious planet to find a way home. Scan stone statues and ruins for clues on how to move forward. Battle abhorrant alien creatures who inhabit the planet. Psychic
 abilities. Mysterious powers that Samus acquires while exploring the planet. Wield them wisely to clear your path forward. Lamorn: An alien race that once existed on planet Viewros. They make a solemn request of Samus. DEADLY SHARPSHOOTER: Sylux. An enigmatic bounty hunter with a deep-seated grudge against the Galactic Federation, and Samus. [Nintendo]

73
VGC Score
·No trend datamedium confidence
78%
Press
73%
Player sentiment
64%
Backloggd
8,308
Ratings

Screenshots & trailers

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (Metacritic)7840
All-time Steam reviews0
Metacritic user ratings82750
Backloggd ratings64750
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)0
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (116)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 80
    trust 84Dec 9, 2025

    Metroid Prime 4: Beyond took years to arrive, and what we get is a game that remembers the series’ strengths while trying to push into new territory. It may not be the series’ best, but it’s a worthy return, and a promising glimpse of where Metroid Prime can go next.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 80Dec 18, 2025

    Metroid Prime 4: Beyond delivers on all counts with stunning visuals, an outstanding soundtrack, and solid exploration. While not everyone will agree, at face value this is a wonderfully constructed game that has been worth the wait. If you’re on the fence, do yourself a favor and jump into Samus’ latest adventure.

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 78Feb 1, 2026

    Everything good in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is inherited from its illustrious predecessors, while everything bad stems from futile attempts to tamper with the familiar gameplay formula in pursuit of vague, ill-defined trends. Thanks to its finely tuned optimization, the fourth entry may appeal to a less demanding audience, but the obvious lack of fresh ideas and the absence of a clear creative vision lead to a sobering conclusion: the greatness of Metroid Prime seems to have been left far behind in the past.

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 77Dec 10, 2025

    This is a Metroid game infected with elements from modern open-world titles, and every single one is a poor fit.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 76Dec 2, 2025

    After 18 years of waiting, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond manages to replicate that magical sense of discovery from the GameCube original while pushing the series in some incredible new directions. Separating the main biomes with a vast open world sounds ridiculous on paper, but the slick traversal provided by Vi-O-La makes exploration more satisfying than ever…Combine this with the stunning art direction, ferocious new boss characters, and a surprisingly endearing squad of Federation troopers, and Beyond is quite possibly the boldest, most well-realised Metroid game to date. Make no mistake, the long wait has been more than worth it. Welcome back, Samus.

    read full review ↗
  • 82
    trust 75Jan 5, 2026

    Metroid Prime 4 delivers polished combat and stunning visuals, but its linear open structure, diluted atmosphere and lack of bold innovation will probably disappoint long-time fans after a long wait.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 75Dec 9, 2025

    First hours with Metroid Prime 4 were overshadowed by getting to know the controls, the gameplay, the puzzles (I got frustrated!). But after a while everything clicked and all that was left was enjoyment. A lengthy development cycle must have taken its toll on the final game, but if you’re a fan of unique games, Beyond is an interesting, rare genre-bender.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 70Dec 2, 2025

    Metroid Prime 4 Beyond plays it far too safe for a game with almost two decades of anticipation behind it. A beautiful-looking game and a run through of Metroid's greatest hits just isn’t quite enough for the hungry fan base that is here to devour everything on offer, and leaves you wanting more.

    read full review ↗
  • 92
    trust 70Dec 2, 2025

    Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a worthy successor to the original trilogy, fully optimized on Nintendo Switch 2 to take full advantage of its control capabilities. There aren’t many 3D action-adventure experiences like this, and Retro Studios has managed to balance the Metroid Prime formula which, despite innovations you may like more or less, ultimately becomes a memorable space epic.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 70Dec 12, 2025

    Whether it is to try to appeal to a broader audience or to bolster a game whose level design doesn’t match up to the original trilogy, the focus on elements that are unusual for the series leaves Metroid Prime 4: Beyond in the awkward position of being an enjoyable adventure that doesn’t stack up as a top Metroid game. There are the makings of a solid title featuring classic Prime traits, and for that reason alone Beyond can be worth experiencing, but longtime fans may need to brace themselves…and then wash away the taste by replaying Metroid Prime Remastered while praying for the same treatment for Prime 2 and 3.

    read full review ↗
  • 95
    trust 69Dec 2, 2025

    Metroid Prime 4: Beyond marks a triumphant return for Retro Studios delivering a masterfully crafted Metroidvania that captures the atmospheric tension and immersive world design that defined the original trilogy. With intelligent level design, fluid controls, striking art direction, and a strong sense of discovery, the game blends elements from past entries to produce a dynamic emotional experience. Although its slow opening and certain open-area sections slightly hold it back, Beyond ultimately proves that the long wait was worth it.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 69Dec 16, 2025

    It can be difficult to describe how comforting it was to simply go back and have another adventure without the need to reinvent. It's not that Metroid Prime 4 is exactly like any of the other Metroid Primes. Honestly, taken individually none of them are all that similar. Rather, Metroid Prime 4 just feels like another one. It doesn’t expect you to point and clap when Samus walks on screen. Metroid Prime 4 presents a world in which Samus never left.

    read full review ↗

…and 104 more tracked reviews.