Samus’ side-scrolling adventures are set to continue in 2027 with the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive Metroid Ravenous. Ahead of the anticipated return of the legendary bounty hunter, there’s reportedly been an increase in Metroid Dread sales. This has not only led to the 2021 Switch title trending on the eShop charts in recent weeks, but it’s now also boosted physical sales of the “out-of-print” title.
As reported by GamesRadar+, US online listings for new (and sealed) copies of this title have supposedly gone “well abovethe retail price, surpassing the $100 mark on sites like eBay. And the special edition of the title is apparently going for
even more than that”. “Recent sold eBay listings for Metroid Dread have been creeping higher and higher in price. A few lucky buyers have managed to pick the game up for ‘only’ its original retail price, but other listings – especially for new, sealed US copies – have landed well above $100. A handful have gone for as much as $170. And if you’re looking to pick up the Special Edition these days, you can expect to pay even more than that.” Although Metroid Dread surpassed three million sales and was officially crowned the best-selling game in the entire Metroid series, as the source notes, it’s not exactly like other Nintendo titles that received a seemingly endless print run, so supply is limited. Fortunately, if you are eager to check out this previous (and outstanding) adventure from developer MercurySteam before the next Metroid game arrives, you can always download the eShop version.
Despite the disappointment of Metroid Prime 4, the hype around Metroid Ravenous is building quickly. Samus Aran’s next adventure seems to be picking up exactly where Metroid Dread left off, and that’s had Nintendo fans who missed out on Dread the first time around eager to catch up. How eager? Eager enough to spend over $100 on a physical copy of Dread.
eBay Resale Values Surge Past $100 for Sealed Copies
While many of the best Switch games are still readily available at retail, more ‘underground’ titles tend to go out of print. That may seem like an odd way to refer to Metroid Dread, which sold nearly 3 million copies as of 2022 and got strong reviews, but hey, it’s no Mario Kart in terms of sales.
After the announcement of Metroid Ravenous, hype for the Metroid series has reached an all-time high. It really seems as if seeing Samus back in action during the last Nintendo Direct has inspired many people to check out past entries in the series. Since Metroid Dread is both the latest 2D entry and the game most visually similar to Ravenous, it’s no surprise that it has garnered the most interest. However, that interest has come at a (literal) price. If you were thinking of picking up a physical copy of Metroid Dread, you may want to reconsider, as the game is now selling for around $100 on eBay. While it’s not unusual for Nintendo games to rise in price over time, seeing one appreciate this soon after release is certainly out of the ordinary. This price increase is almost certainly tied to the announcement of Metroid Ravenous. Combined with the fact that Dread is now out of print, it has led to a significant bump in resale value. While there hasn’t been any official statement from Nintendo, hopefully we’ll see a reprint soon to stabilize prices for those still looking for a physical copy.
Digital Charts Climb as Nintendo eShop Sees a Wave of Interest
If you merely want to play Metroid Dread, of course, you can simply buy a digital version from the Nintendo eShop. You’d be in good company, since the game jumped to the top of the eShop charts in the wake of the Metroid Ravenous reveal.
While PlayStation is keen to leave the physical games market behind, Nintendo hasn’t announced any plans to follow suit – even if game-key cards were already a step in that direction. And it’s clear that physical media continues to have a substantial allure for many players.