| Kirby Air Riders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | DLC & Pre-Order | Review |
| Release Date | |
|---|---|
| November 20, 2025 More Details |
|
| Genre | |
| Racing | |
| Platforms | Price (MSRP) |
 |
$69.99 |
| Developer | Publisher |
| SORA Ltd. Bandai Namco Studios |
Nintendo |
| Number of Players | Age Rating |
| Local Co-Op (2-8) Online Co-Op (Up to 16 Players) |
ESRB E 10+ PEGI 7 |
| Time to Finish | Cross Platform Play |
| 2 to 20+ Hours | No |
| Official Website | Official Website for Kirby Air Riders |
Kirby Air Riders Latest News
⚫︎ Nintendo has begun removing player-made "Bikini Chef Kawasaki" machine designs from the Kirby Air Riders in-game marketplace after the user-created content—inspired by a 2020 Japanese meme—quickly rose to become the most popular and expensive items. Players are rushing to purchase subsequent versions of the controversial designs before Nintendo can take them down, leading to rapid price increases within the Machine Market.
⚫︎ Kirby Air Riders Global Playtest Announced for November 8th to 9th and November 15th to 16th (GamingBolt)
⚫︎ The Kirby Air Riders Direct presentation showcased the game's wild vehicular action and more on Nintendo Switch 2 (Nintendo)
⚫︎ Kirby Air Riders Direct 8.19.2025 (Nintendo)
⚫︎ Masahiro Sakurai Teases Kirby Air Riders Gameplay and News (Final Weapon)
Kirby Air Riders Overview
Kirby Air Riders is the sequel to the 2003 GameCube title Kirby Air Ride, released on November 20, 2025 for the Nintendo Switch 2. The game reunites Kirby's original creator, Masahiro Sakurai, and the said series as director after more than two decades. It is being co-developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd.
The game builds on the same action-focused premise of its predecessor: players guide Kirby (and other riders) through race courses, using speed, agility, and power-ups to gain the edge. One of the notable features carried over is the City Trial mode, in which players explore a city within a time limit to gather upgrades and compete in randomized mini-challenges, be it a race, a battle, or a gliding contest.
Here, riders still slide forward automatically, with players focusing on steering, boosting, and using Kirby's Copy Abilities—all features originally popularized in Kirby Air Ride. The new game expands on the original by introducing additional playable charaacters. Beyond Kirby, characters like King Dedede, Meta Knight, Bandana Waddle Dee, and even Starman make an appearance. Each of them comes with a unique Special Move.
| Switch 2 |
|||||
| Price | $69.99 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kirby Air Riders Gameplay
Players can select from a sizable roster of characters. This includes Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight, Bandana Waddle Dee, Chef Kawasaki, Magolor, Gooey, Waddle Doo, Knuckle Joe, Susie, Cappy, and Starman. Each of them is accompanied by distinct stats and access to Copy Abilities.
Like its predecessor, gameplay here is streamlined; vehicles automatically move forward, so players will need only to concentrate on steering, activating boosts, and using specials. The control scheme centers on two input buttons: one for a "Boost Charge" used for drifting and speed bursts, and a second for executing character-specific special moves once a gauge is filled.
The Air Ride mode features traditional racing format of up to six competitors navigating single- or multi-lap courses, with options adjust race speed. A secondary City Trial mode unfolds on a large floating island called Skyah, where players have five minutes to gather power-ups. After the time limit, players enter a randomized Stadium challenge, which ranges from drag races to aerial gliding.
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