You Don’t Need To Play Previous Games To Enjoy Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Nintendo has confirmed that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond does not require players to be familiar with earlier entries in the series. The publisher released a guide for both newcomers and longtime fans, revealing key story and gameplay details.

The game promises not just a continuation of the series, but the start of an entirely new story that even players who have never played the previous games can understand. In the plot, the protagonist Samus Aran encounters her arch-enemy, Sylux, at a Galactic Federation research facility. A sudden incident transports her to the uncharted planet Buren along with a group of Federation soldiers. Together, the team must join forces to find a way back home.

Unlike earlier games, the story of Beyond is not tied to the events of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption or other entries. This makes the new title ideal for newcomers, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the story without needing prior context.

New gameplay features include Samus gaining psychic abilities, which let her manipulate objects at a distance and alter beam trajectories. Players also get a high-tech motorcycle for fast traversal across deserts and for engaging enemies on the move.

Additionally, the game will offer three difficulty levels: Casual for beginners, Normal for experienced players, and Hard, which unlocks after completing the game.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is set to release on December 4, 2025, for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Some extra content, however, is locked behind a special amiibo figure, which unlocks certain story cutscenes upon 100% completion of the game.