Games by Retro Studios
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Switch 2
- 4th Dec 2025 (UK/EU)
- 4th Dec 2025 (NA)
Metroid Prime Remastered Switch
- 8th Feb 2023 (UK/EU)
- 8th Feb 2023 (NA)
- 22nd Feb 2023 (NA)
- 3rd Mar 2023 (UK/EU)
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Switch
- 16th Jan 2025 (UK/EU)
- 16th Jan 2025 (NA)
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Switch
- 4th May 2018 (UK/EU)
- 4th May 2018 (NA)
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Wii
- 27th Aug 2007 (NA)
- 26th Oct 2007 (UK/EU)
- 6th Mar 2008 (JPN)
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Wii U
- 13th Feb 2014 (JPN)
- 21st Feb 2014 (UK/EU)
- 21st Feb 2014 (NA)
- 18th Nov 2002 (NA)
- 28th Feb 2003 (JPN)
- 21st Mar 2003 (UK/EU)
- 15th Nov 2004 (NA)
- 26th Nov 2004 (UK/EU)
- 26th May 2005 (JPN)
Reviews of Retro Studios Games
Mini Review Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Switch 1) - An Impressive Version If You've Yet To Upgrade
Smooth as a Morph Ball 'round a half pipe
After having completed Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on Switch 2, booting the game up on the original Switch was an immediately familiar, if bizarre experience. The game was almost certainly made with Nintendo’s 2017 system in mind from the off given how long it’s been in development, and yet there’s...
Review Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Switch 2) - Samus Returns In Prime Form
Sy-luxurious
I’ve been waiting a long time for this. Ever since Metroid Prime 3: Corruption ended on a slight cliffhanger (provided you obtained the 100% completion rating) back in 2007, I’ve been wondering where exactly Nintendo and Retro Studios might take the series next. 18 years would follow, and that’s an awful long time to formulate an...
Review Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Switch) - Aping A Retro Classic
That's what you get for not hailing to the chimp
It’s not unfair to say that the gaming landscape was somewhat different when Donkey Kong Country Returns first fell into our laps in 2010; 2D platformers were a rare breed, and ol’ DK himself hadn’t arguably had a mainline entry in his series since 2004’s Jungle Beat. Back then, the title said...
Review Metroid Prime Remastered (Switch) - A Long-Awaited And Stunning Return Of A Legend
Prime example
It’s difficult to believe now, but there was once a time when the notion of a first-person Metroid game seemed unfathomable. Prior to the release of Metroid Prime back in 2002, the franchise had been confined to the 2D realm, with complex environments full of secrets and hidden equipment that bolstered your abilities and combat...
Review Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Switch)
Bogus, or bodacious?
Platformers aren’t quite what they once were; whether they’re 3D or 2D we’ve had a bit of a mini-renaissance with them in recent years, but they hold nowhere near the draw that they did in the '80s and '90s. What a shame then that one of the best and most polished games of the genre happened to not only launch after these...
Review Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)
Ain't no business like monkey business
It says much for the level of expectation placed upon Nintendo and Retro Studios that some questioned the decision to revisit the world of Donkey Kong for Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, yet that initial reaction should be pushed aside. Anyone that discounts this title due to the fact it’s not the exact...
Latest Retro Studios News
Wednesday3rd Dec 2025
Poll Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Is Out On Switch 2 And Switch This Week, Will You Be Getting It?
Go on, tell us!
We've finally made it, folks! This week marks the long-awaited arrival of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. After years of development, delays, and even a restart, Samus Aran's next 3D outing is officially here for the Switch and Switch 2. The critic reviews have also gone live ahead of the big release, and admittedly, the aggregate score...
Tuesday2nd Dec 2025
Site News So, Where's Our Metroid Prime 4 Switch 1 Review?
Samusings
Reviews for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond are live, including ours, although you may have noticed that it's focused on the Switch 2 Edition, and MP4 is also launching on Switch 1. If you're looking for impressions on the original Switch version, they are coming - please bear with us. We weren't able to test on the older hardware prior to the...
News Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Credits Reveal A Plethora Of Assist Devs, Including Next Level Games
And Samus has a brand new voice
When Metroid Prime 4: Beyond landed with Retro Studios back in 2019, we're not sure anybody was truly shocked by this turn of events. Retro is, after all, the original developer of the Prime series, and while many of the veteran team members have since left, the sheer quality of the fourth entry on Switch 2...
Friday21st Nov 2025
News Nintendo Debuts Two Metroid Prime 4 Ads As Eight-Year Wait Nears Its End
Or eighteen years, for many of us
Nintendo has debuted two new ads for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond ahead of its release on 4th December 2025. All things considered, there's not a great deal here that we haven't seen before, with one ad (above) focusing primarily on the Federation Troopers you'll be meeting on your journey (including the beloved Myles...
Friday14th Nov 2025
News Nintendo Quietly Reveals A New Suit For Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Proceed with caution!
Nintendo has finally announced a whole bunch of new information for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond ahead of its launch on 4th December 2025. One thing that's quietly slipped by, however, is the reveal of a brand-new suit for our protagonist Samus Aran. As highlighted by Nintendo Wire in the below post, the suit can be seen in a short...
Thursday6th Nov 2025
Gallery The 'Samus & Vi-O-La' amiibo For Metroid Prime 4 Could Be The Best Yet
Ready to roll
Nintendo has released its first batch of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond amiibo, including 'Samus' and 'Samus & Vi-O-La'. A third, 'Sylux', will launch alongside the game itself on 4th December 2025. We've managed to get our grubby little mitts on Samus & Vi-O-La, and we thought you might like to take a closer look at what this thing looks...
Wednesday5th Nov 2025
Poll Is The Latest Metroid Prime 4 Trailer Teasing Another Legacy Character?
Kan it be..?
Nintendo has released a fresh new look at Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, and while much of the footage is recycled from previous trailers, there were definitely a few interesting new shots to consider. One of these is pretty throwaway at first glance, but a few fans online believe it might be hiding a pretty...
Monday27th Oct 2025
"It took time for us to convey the concept clearly to Retro"
Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective launches this month, and it includes plenty of insight into how Retro Studios and Nintendo worked together on the famous trilogy, as recounted by series producer Kensuke Tanabe. As spotted by our friends over at
Saturday25th Oct 2025
Book Review Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective - Stunning Art, Though Lacking Context
The real logbook
It often feels like Metroid fans are starved for new goodies these days; doubly so for fans of Retro Studios’ Prime series. Yet just over a month before the highly anticipated fourth mainline entry for Switch and Switch 2, you can get your hands on an absolutely stunning hardback art book from Piggyback covering the first three...
Wednesday22nd Oct 2025
News Metroid Prime Remastered Almost Had Completely New Cutscenes
But producer Kensuke Tanabe decided against it
Nintendo is shortly launched Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective, a new art book looking at concept art for the original trilogy on GameCube and Wii (with a small section dedicated to Metroid Prime Remastered). Speaking of the more recent Switch remaster, the book reveals that Retro Studios had...
News Metroid Prime 1-3 Art Book Somehow Teases And Debunks An Echoes Remake
What are you saying, Tanabe?!
The upcoming Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective art book delves into a heck of a lot of information from the original trilogy, primarily from notes provided by long-time producer Kensuke Tanabe. Fans have been speculating about the prospect of a Metroid Prime 2: Echoes remaster/remake for quite some time now,...
Friday3rd Oct 2025
Talking Point Can Metroid Prime 4's Title Screen Go As Hard As The Others?
Beyond iconic
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes has one of the best title screens ever. It starts off with edge-lit glimpses and silhouettes, a bit like a Bond intro. But instead of naked bodies and wait-was-that-a-nipple, there’s something grotesque and alien and impressively FMV in the darkness. There’s those classic Prime-y choir synths, which might...
Wednesday17th Sep 2025
Guide Where To Buy Metroid Prime 4: Beyond For Nintendo Switch 1 + 2, Plus New Metroid amiibo
Prime time
It's been a long time coming, but the time has come: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is out on Switch 1 and 2. You've had years to ponder this next chapter in the Prime series, so let's dispense with the details and get down to things. In this guide, we've rounded up some of the best Metroid Prime 4 deals, including bonus gifts from the biggest...
Tuesday16th Sep 2025
Opinion Metroid Prime 4 Reminds Me Of Gears 5, And It's Making Me Nervous
Skiff it a chance
I’m starting to feel nervous about Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Let me explain. During the most recent Nintendo Direct, the long-gestating game finally received a release date for 4th December 2025 on Switch and Switch 2. That’s not all, though; the accompanying trailer also revealed that Samus would now be rocking her very own...
Friday12th Sep 2025
News Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Finally Gets A Release Date, Open World Confirmed
Sorry, a BIKE?!
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has finally got a launch date, folks! It'll be hitting the Switch and Switch 2 on 4th December, 2025. That's not all though. The trailer seemingly confirmed that the game will be open world, with Samus rocking a new motorbike with which to traverse the dangerous landscape. It's been a long time coming, but...
Thursday28th Aug 2025
Poll When The Heck Is Metroid Prime 4 Actually Launching?
Bounty hunting for a date
Over the last week or so, we here at Nintendo Life have been having a few spirited debates about when Metroid Prime 4: Beyond might actually launch. By all accounts, it's still scheduled for 2025, but time's ticking by quickly, and we're still very much in the dark. Frankly, after literal years of waiting, it feels good to...
Friday25th Jul 2025
News Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Rating Spotted, Fuelling Nintendo Direct Hopes Again
Not beyond comprehension
Of all of Nintendo's big releases for the Switch 2, only two are missing release dates, with one of those being Metroid Prime 4: Beyond — coming to both Switch 1 and 2 — the long awaited entry in Retro Studio's acclaimed series. However, as rumours of a Nintendo Direct continue to build, a rating for the game in South...
Tuesday24th Jun 2025
News Nintendo Fixes Its Metroid Prime 4 Blunder, And It's No Longer "Out Now"
Phaz-on, Phaz-off
Some poor sod over at Nintendo recently made a pretty hefty mistake in creating a huge poster for the upcoming Metroid Prime 4: Beyond: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition with the words "Out Now" printed very clearly for all to see. Nintendo has already stated that the printing was a mistake, but now the company has now ensured that no...
Friday20th Jun 2025
Random Switch 2 Ad Claims Metroid Prime 4 Is "Out Now"
Update: Nope, it's a mistake
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond doesn't even have a proper release date just yet, but according to a Switch 2 ad located at the Oxford Circus tube station in London, it's apparently "Out Now". Before anyone suggests it's a photoshop, the fine folks at VGC have actually seen it with their very own eyes. The same outlet notes how...
Friday13th Jun 2025
News Piggyback's Metroid Prime Art Book Delayed Until October, Pre-Orders Live
Developed in collaboration with Nintendo
Metroid Prime is making a comeback in more ways than one this year, but it seems another delay has surfaced. In this particular case, we're actually referring to Piggyback's upcoming art book 'Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective'. This book, developed in collaboration with Nintendo and Retro Studios,...
Tuesday13th May 2025
News Metroid Prime Dev's Cancelled 3D Platformer 'Harmony' Streamed Online For More Than Four Hours
Before being taken down
Retro Studios might be best-known as the Metroid Prime developer, but over the years it's dabbled in various other series and even some concepts that were never released. One of these was the cancelled 3D platformer known as Harmony. It's believed this "linear 3D" game was in development during the Wii U generation and was...
Thursday8th May 2025
News Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Has Sold Over 1 Million Copies On Switch
Make way for Bananza
Nintendo has confirmed that Donkey Kong Country Returns HD has surpassed 1 million in sales, reaching a total of 1.27 million. Released on 16th January 2025, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD's performance is about what we were expecting, but it's nevertheless an impressive achievement within just a month and a half. That said, it...
Wednesday2nd Apr 2025
News Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Will Be A Cross-Gen Title For Switch 2
4K Metroid!
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has been confirmed as a cross-gen title for the Nintendo Switch 2. You'll be able to play in Mouse Mode for added precision, and it's been confirmed that the game will support two graphical options on Switch 2: 4K at 60fps with HDR, or 1080p at 120fps with HDR in docked mode. Remember, if you don't have a...
Friday28th Mar 2025
News Has Metroid Prime 4 Taken Inspiration From Dread For Its New Suit?
There are unmistakable similarities
At the end of the latest trailer for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, we were bestowed with a brief but tantalising glimpse at a brand-new suit for long-time protagonist Samus Aran. At first glance, the suit looks completely new; something we've not yet seen from the Metroid Series. Or is it..? Well, officially yes, it...
Thursday27th Mar 2025
News Metroid Prime 4: Beyond's Official Switch Box Art Is Absolutely Stunning
Ahhhh we want it
Nintendo has unveiled the official box art for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and folks, it's a beauty. Showcasing Samus wielding her new psychic abilities and flanked by what we assume are friendly indigenous creatures, it's got a distinctly purple tone to it, and we absolutely love it. Samus is also rocking a gem in her helmet which we...
News Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Gets A New Trailer, But No Release Date
Maybe we'll get one next week..?
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has received a new trailer during the latest Nintendo Direct, but there's sadly no confirmed release date at the time of writing. Our prediction..? We'll get one next week when it's revealed to be a cross-gen game with Switch 2. Here's hoping, anyway..! Still, it's an awesome trailer. In it,...
Monday17th Mar 2025
Talking Point Will Metroid Prime 4 Get A Switch 2 Release?
Beyond the realm
It's been 84 years since Nintendo first announced that the next chapter in the Metroid Prime series was in development. Then, in 1957, an apology was issued as the platform holder took things back to the drawing board, restarting development and shifting production from partner dev Bandai Namco back to Prime series founders Retro...
Monday20th Jan 2025
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Donkey Kong Country Returns HD?
Returns returns
Last week saw the Wii's Donkey Kong Country Returns return in HD on Switch. Following the first time it returned on 3DS, the Switch port — helmed by Forever Entertainment this time, with the original devs at Retro getting only a cursory nod in the credits this time — brought the levels of the 2013 3DS port to
Friday17th Jan 2025
News Nintendo Believes In "Giving Proper Credit" After Backlash Over Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
So why the omission?
Nintendo has issued a short statement in response to the backlash following the omission of Retro Studios' staff from the credits of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. In speaking with Eurogamer, Nintendo said that it believes in "giving proper credit for any
Wednesday15th Jan 2025
Monkey Business
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is just around the corner and, now that the embargo on our review coverage has lifted, we can officially confirm that developer Forever Entertainment is responsible for the porting duties on Retro Studios' platformer. However, much like Metroid Prime Remastered before it, Nintendo has opted to omit the...
Wednesday11th Dec 2024
News Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Showcases 'A Barrelful Of Details' In New Trailer
It's almost a month away!
Nintendo isn't holding back on Donkey Kong Country Returns HD details this week, with a second trailer drop arriving... today! The 'barrelful of details' trailer (below) is essentially just an overview trailer, just like every other Nintendo first-party game gets. This runs down all of the things you need to know about the...
Monday9th Dec 2024
"If you're not directly working on the game, go away"
We know that Nintendo can be a little protective of its intellectual properties (now there's an understatement), but it turns out that the company's micromanagement was enough to make one artist on Metroid Prime 3: Corruption leave his position at Retro Studios. That's according to a recent...
Friday29th Nov 2024
News Nintendo Highlights Every 'Donkey Kong Country' On Switch With A New Trailer
Prepare to return... again
Nintendo has released a new trailer taking a look at every Donkey Kong Country game on Switch in preparation for the release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on 16th January 2024. If you've got a subscription to the standard Nintendo Switch Online service, you can play every SNES game from the series right now. That...
Poll So, Will You Be Getting Donkey Kong Country Returns HD For Switch?
Go bananas in early 2025
We're almost in December and that means Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is arriving very soon. Yes, in case you somehow missed it, the 2010 Wii Classic is getting another release. This remaster will not only include a facelift but it also features all of the bonus levels from the 2013 3DS game, bumping up the total amount of...
Wednesday27th Nov 2024
Talking Point Where The Heck Are Those Metroid Prime 2 And 3 Remasters?
We're wait-Ing
So... where is it? When Metroid Prime Remastered launched on 9th February 2023, we were utterly convinced that its sequels, Prime 2: Echoes and Prime 3: Corruption, would follow suit sometime after. Now that 2025 is fast approaching, our certainty has waned, yet we remain confident that Nintendo will complete the saga on Switch...
Thursday21st Nov 2024
News Nintendo Adds Metroid Prime 4: Beyond To Official Metroid Website, Says It's "Coming Soon"
A 2025 release has been locked in
One of the most anticipated games of 2025 is Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and to gear up for the big launch next year, Nintendo has now added this new entry to the official Metroid page on its website. It's apparently "coming soon" with Nintendo also mentioning how fans of Samus Aran will be able to embark on a new...
Wednesday20th Nov 2024
Random Desperate Fans Visited Retro Studios' Building For Info On Metroid Dread
I want answers!
One of the biggest surprises in Nintendo's storied history came in June 2021 when Metroid Dread was finally unveiled for the Switch. Up until that point, the game had fallen into legend, with many fans conceding that it simply didn't exist. One of the most significant catalysts for fan anticipation came via Metroid Prime 3:...
Friday15th Nov 2024
Anniversary 20 Years On, Metroid Prime 2 Represents The Franchise At Its Experimental Best
Crossing worlds
Following up on Metroid Prime was never going to be easy. Although many (this writer included) were sceptical of Retro Studios’ abilities to move Metroid into the 3D, first-person realm, the team not only managed to put its own spin on an established Nintendo franchise successfully, but it also created one of the greatest games of...
Wednesday13th Nov 2024
News Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Nearly Featured Playable Space Pirates
2004 sequel introduced multiplayer
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is celebrating its 20th anniversary this week after an initial Gamecube launch on 15th November 2004. In a new interview with developers Jack Mathews and Zoid Kirsch from Kiwi Talkz, it's been revealed that the game's multiplayer mode nearly featured playable Space Pirates. The Space...
Saturday24th Aug 2024
Guide Metroid Prime: The Story So Far - Everything You Need To Know Before Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
It's just a Phaaze
After several years of radio silence from Nintendo regarding the next instalment in the Metroid Prime series, the company finally revealed Metroid Prime 4: Beyond during the June 2024 Nintendo Direct broadcast. With its release set for 2025, this would mark a staggering 18 years since the last mainline entry: 2007’s Metroid...
Friday9th Aug 2024
News Metroid Prime Samus Gravity Suit Statue Pre-Orders Are Now Open
A new First 4 Figures release
Update: Pre-orders for First 4 Figures' glorious Metroid Prime Samus Gravity Suit statue are now open. The Collector's Edition is available for $179.99, while the Exclusive Edition – which adds a deluxe box and an LED light-up function that illuminates Samus' suit – is currently reduced as part of an Early Bird...
Sunday23rd Jun 2024
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Primed for battle
Hello everyone, and welcome back to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Before we get cracking with this week's battle, let's see how things panned out last time. We looked at Turok 2: Seeds of Evil for the N64 and golly gosh, was it a close one. It seemed many of you weren't too keen on either design, but ultimately, it was the...
Friday21st Jun 2024
News Retro Studios "Thrilled" To Reveal Its Work On Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Samus returns in 2025
It's been an incredibly exciting week for Nintendo, with this week's Direct broadcast giving Metroid fans a first look at the fourth entry in the Metroid Prime series. It's also a bit of a relief to finally see this game in action after an incredibly lengthy development cycle, including a restart. To mark this special...
Thursday20th Jun 2024
Guide Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Who Is Sylux?
The new big bad in town
If you've been following the development of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond since its initial announcement in 2017, then chances are you've heard the name 'Sylux' mentioned in passing along the way. If you're not completely up-to-date on your Metroid Prime history (and not everyone is, that's okay), then you might not know who this...
Video Here's Everything You Missed In The Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Trailer
Radars! Space Pirates! Vents!
If you're anything like us, you probably watched the debut trailer for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond in a slight daze. Not only were we reeling from the sheer quality of games like The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, and Mario & Luigi: Brothership, but we're still...
News No, The Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Trailer Was Not Running On 'Switch 2'
"All the evidence points to this game running on the original Switch"
Over the last few years, as more and more time passed with barely a whisper from Nintendo or Retro Studios regarding Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, many fans had begun to ask the same question: will it skip the Switch and launch on 'Switch 2'? After all, the game's eventual revival...
Video New Metroid Prime 4 Footage Spotted On Nintendo's Teaser Website
Another look at the game's jungle-like environment
This week's Nintendo Direct went out with a bang, announcing Metroid Prime 4: Beyond would be releasing at some point in 2025. Alongside the title and release date reveal, we got our very first look at the new chapter, which was originally announced seven years ago. If you're hungry for even more...
Wednesday19th Jun 2024
Soapbox Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Won't Be The Franchise's 'BOTW Moment', And That's Okay
Keeping expectations in check
When Nintendo closed out its latest Direct presentation with the full reveal of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, the world briefly got a little bit louder as fans celebrated the glorious return of one of the company’s most revered franchises. Finally, after its initial announcement back in 2017, Prime 4 is scheduled to launch...
Tuesday18th Jun 2024
Gallery Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Is Looking Absolutely Stunning On Switch
Drink it in
Well folks, the wait is over. More than seven years since its initial announcement, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has been fully revealed during the latest Nintendo Direct, and it looks incredible. The trailer doesn't reveal too much, but we've got confirmation that many of Samus' core abilities from the original trilogy return, including the...
News Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Confirmed For Switch, Launching 2025
FINALLY!
Nintendo has finally revealed Metroid Prime 4, and it's now called Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. It's planned for release in 2025 and we've got our first look via a new gameplay trailer. It definitely looks like classic Metroid Prime! Scanning makes a return, Sylux is causing trouble again, and all the usual hallmarks, including missiles,...
