Nintendo Direct Shocks Fans With Surprise Metroid Prime 4 Reveal, New Mario Platformer, and Zelda Expansion

In a stunning Nintendo Direct that left fans buzzing, Nintendo dropped several bombshell announcements today — including the long-awaited Metroid Prime 4, a brand-new 2D Mario platformer, and an unexpected expansion for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

After years of speculation and delays, Metroid Prime 4 finally reemerged with a cinematic trailer and a tentative 2025 release window. The footage showcased bounty hunter Samus Aran exploring a mysterious new world, blending the atmospheric tension of the original trilogy with modern visual fidelity. While gameplay specifics remain under wraps, fans are thrilled to see signs of progress after a reboot of the project in 2019 caused major delays.

Just when fans were catching their breath, Nintendo unveiled “Super Mario Odyssey 2D,” a new 2D side-scrolling platformer that blends the visual flair and inventive mechanics of the 3D Odyssey title with classic Super Mario Bros. gameplay. Due out this holiday season, the game features fresh power-ups, musical worlds, and multiplayer co-op — a nostalgic callback to the New Super Mario Bros. series but with a fresh modern twist.

To cap off the show, Nintendo revealed “Tears of the Kingdom: Rise of the Depths,” an expansive DLC for last year’s hit The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The expansion promises new story content set in the ever-mysterious underground regions of Hyrule, delivering new Shrines, weapons, and boss encounters. The DLC is scheduled to release in early 2025, and fans won’t have to wait long for more details, with a dedicated presentation announced for next month.

Between long-awaited returns and innovative twists on classic franchises, today’s Direct was one of the most exciting in recent memory. Nintendo continues to prove its mastery of surprise, blending nostalgia with fresh ideas that keep longtime gamers — and new ones — eagerly watching. Gamers around the world are already dissecting every second of the reveals, but one thing is clear: Nintendo’s 2025 is shaping up to be legendary.