This is one of the few cases that Im fairly certain that what impacted heavily the game sales was to release on the 3DS when the Switch had already estabilished itself as Nintendo next big thing, especially when it was infinitely better than the 3DS.

Nah, it certainly did below expectations because it released on the 3DS after the Switch launched.

Not saying that Samus Returns would sell more than Prime 4, as Im pretty sure it wouldnt, but 2D games have an audience big enough that it would make it a success of its own.Its not like 2D Mario games sell worse than 3D Mario games, or that any 2d Metroidvania/Platform indie games are commercial failures.

All I can say is that I'm not excited to play Metroid games anymore. The NES Metroid is one of my favorite games of all time, but the others I have tried just don't feel right for some reason.

On a somewhat related note, I think Axiom Verge is great and would recommend it to any classic Metroid fan.

Metroid: Samus Returns was great. It's a shame it hasn't sold well.

Its really simple. Many people left the 3DS and arent interested in going back for a game on top of that, a remake.
I could see most people interested in Metroid have already left the 3DS for the Switch like me. And i dont want To spend 40$ on a game in 240p when i can have HD for 20 more $

I think i bought the game. but df haven't played it. Was there a limited edition 3ds for it also? if so i def got it lol

wont be anyones fault but Nintendo for putting it on a dying handheld instead of the Switch though,so. 

It must have been a Switch game! At that time, Switch was the console that had everyone's attention. By the way, I bought the game on launch day but I have not played it yet. I hope to do it soon.

To be fair, its hard to go all in on a series that has not really moved consoles that particularly well. Even when it released in end of the Wii's life, Zelda: Skyward Sword managed to sell better than the best selling Metroid game, Metroid Prime. Fans called Metroid the third pillar once upon a time and it was hard to argue...from a critical success standpoint. Plus, the series has done poorly in Japan, which is something Nintendo considers even if it does well in the West.

Not saying Nintendo hasn't done anything wrong, but things have not gone the way we'd hope for Metroid over the course of its 30+ year history. Metroid II: Return of Samus could've done well on Game Boy, but it did ok. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption could've done well even if it released about a couple months apart from Mario Galaxy (depending on where you live), but it didn't do as well as hoped. Super Metroid could've done well, especially when it was released months apart from DKC, but it didn't do well enough apparently.

Hopefully, Switch users will respond and pay more attention to Metroid Prime 4 once that releases.

It was planned for 3DS back in 2015. Whether you care or not, that was the situation back then. The Switch (back when it was known as NX) was still in development at that time.