Metroid Ravenous is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, and Walmart wants you to know it’s a little cheaper if you preorder the physical version now. The discount is modest, but it’s a discount, and for a franchise that hasn’t had a side-scroller in years, it’s worth noting.
Discount At A Glance
Walmart is selling the physical version of Metroid Ravenous for $59.88 instead of the full price of $69.99. That’s a $10 reduction, which puts the preorder price about the same as what you’d pay for the digital version. The game launches on January 28th, 2027, and it’s not clear how long the discount will last.
The deal is live now, though the source doesn’t say when it started or how long it might run. If history repeats itself, the discount could vanish at any moment, so buyers who want the lower price shouldn’t wait too long.
What The Game Actually Is
Metroid Ravenous is a return to the 2D format for the series. It’s the first side-scrolling Metroid game since 2021’s Metroid Dread for the Nintendo Switch. The game was shown off at Nintendo’s September 2026 Direct, where a trailer cut between cinematic sequences, Samus dashing and rolling across various environments, and battling a number of enemies and bosses.
The trailer also shows Samus absorbing some powerful abilities she gained at the end of Dread. Ravenous seems to be focused on plowing through anyone standing in her way as she tries to escape the planet. The story’s finer details, including any unique new mechanics, are being kept under wraps for now.
Why Preordering Matters Now
The preorder discount is the headline, but it’s worth stepping back and asking why anyone would care about it at all. Metroid Dread is still available at a discount, and that comparison is the clearest argument for waiting.
Samus absorbs some powerful abilities at the conclusion of Dread, and Ravenous seem to be all about plowing through anyone stopping her from escaping the planet.
If you haven’t played Metroid Dread yet, the source recommends it, especially at its $41.99 discounted price at Amazon. The game is part of Nintendo’s “Customer Appreciation” sale running through September 26th, and several other games and accessories are cheaper too.
That’s a useful data point for anyone deciding whether to jump on Ravenous now or hold out. The Dread discount at Amazon is a known quantity, and it’s currently priced at $41.99.
Preorder Pattern At Walmart
Walmart has done this before with Nintendo games. The company has a habit of offering preorder discounts, and those deals often come and go without warning. The source notes that other Walmart preorders “may occasionally disappear,” which is a polite way of saying the discount could vanish at any moment.
That pattern matters for anyone thinking about pulling the trigger. A preorder discount that disappears is a discount that never existed, and buyers who wait too long could find themselves paying full price anyway. The discount could end at any moment, so the prudent move is to act while the offer is still on the table.
Numbers On Paper
Here’s the full breakdown of what you’re comparing:
- Metroid Ravenous preorder at Walmart: $59.88, $10 off the full price of $69.99
- Digital version of Ravenous: About the same price as the preorder
- Metroid Dread at Amazon: $41.99, part of Nintendo’s “Customer Appreciation” sale through September 26th
- Launch date for Ravenous: January 28th, 2027
The gap between the two Metroid titles is stark. Dread is currently $41.99 at Amazon, while Ravenous is $59.88 at Walmart. The difference is real, and it’s the kind of comparison that makes preordering feel like a smaller win than it looks at first glance.
What We Don’t Know
There are a few things the source doesn’t say, and it’s worth listing them before you make a decision:
- How long the Walmart preorder discount will last
- Whether the digital version of Ravenous will ever drop below the $59.88 preorder price
- Exactly what new mechanics Ravenous will introduce beyond the abilities from Dread
- Whether the “Customer Appreciation” sale at Amazon extends past September 26th
None of these are fatal unknowns, but they are information gaps that buyers should keep in mind. The safest path is to treat the preorder as a limited opportunity rather than a permanent fixture.
Verdict On The Deal
The Walmart discount is real, and it’s a reasonable reason to pick up Ravenous early if you’re already sold. The $10 reduction isn’t life-changing, but it’s a small edge over the full price, and it matches the digital price closely enough that there’s no obvious penalty for choosing the physical copy.
The comparison to Dread at Amazon is the more interesting takeaway. Dread is currently $41.99 at Amazon, and that’s a notable price point for a franchise that hasn’t had a side-scroller since 2021. The source’s recommendation to play Dread is a useful prompt for anyone who hasn’t already jumped on it.
For players who want the physical version and don’t mind Walmart as a retailer, the preorder is a straightforward value. For everyone else, the question is simpler: do you want to wait and see if the price drops further, or do you want to lock in now?
The answer depends on your patience and your collection space. If you’re eager to get Ravenous in hand before the launch date, the Walmart discount is a fair trade for the convenience of an early purchase. If you’re happy to wait, you can watch the prices at Amazon and see whether Dread or Ravenous comes down first.
Either way, the Metroid future is looking brighter than it has in a while. Dread was the last side-scroller in the series, and Ravenous is following that path. The preorder discount is just a small bonus on top of that.
“about the same as buying it digitally.”
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