Probably no one expected Kirby Air Riders for Switch 2 to be announced. We take a look at this action-packed game in which players can take part in fast-paced races featuring Kirby and other familiar characters on land, at sea, and in the air.
Nobody expected Kirby Air Riders to be announced at the unveiling of the Switch 2. This new game is based on Kirby Air Ride, a Nintendo GameCube game released in Europe in 2004. It is being developed by Sora and Bandai Namco Studios, who are also responsible for the Super Smash Bros. series on the Switch, Wii U and 3DS consoles. Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of both the Kirby and Super Smash Bros. series, is directing the new game.
Kirby Air Riders is an action-packed game in which players can take part in fast-paced races featuring Kirby and other familiar characters on land, at sea and in the air. Players can choose from a variety of riders, each with their own unique characteristics and abilities. Combining these with the chosen machine's forms and characteristics results in noticeable differences in aspects such as weight, special techniques, and melee attacks.
Kirby Air Riders; Nintendo
An important game mode is the City Trial. Here, players can drive around freely, collecting power-ups and attacking opponents in order to damage their machines, steal power-ups, or force their opponents to drop them. Players start out with a small, weak vehicle, but can upgrade it by finding power-ups, attacking opponents and swapping to different machines. After that, it's on to phase two. Players take their upgraded vehicle to a stadium and compete to be crowned the winner. Each stadium features a unique challenge.
Of course, there are also classic modes such as Air Ride, in which up to six riders race to the finish line. When riders attack each other, they collect little stars that increase their speed. Attacking does not slow them down - quite the opposite, in fact. Then there is Top Ride, where races are held from a bird's-eye view on tracks based on the Air Ride courses. City Trial, Air Ride and Top Ride can be played alone or with multiple players, either locally or online. There is also a single-player story mode called Road Trip. As Kirby Air Riders features numerous riders, diverse machines and different manoeuvres and game modes, the driving school also plays an important role.
Developed by Sora and Bandai Namco Studios and published by Nintendo, Kirby Air Riders is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 on 20 November 2025.
There's no question about it: Kirby Air Riders has a lot to offer.
AAA
Kirby Air Riders; Nintendo
