Things Confirmed For Kirby Air Riders

by

Kirby has experienced quite a journey since his debut on the Game Boy in 1992. He’s been known for platforming feats, solving puzzles, golfing, and racing, showcasing his versatility. One of his most peculiar journeys was the Kirby Air Ride on the GameCube, which took place as far back as 2003.

Even though unexpected, it turns out that there will indeed be a sequel to the popular game “Kirby Air Rider”: fresh news revealed in the latest Nintendo Direct! After staying quiet for quite some time, details have finally been unveiled about this anticipated Switch title. Let’s delve into all the exciting features and what fans can anticipate from the upcoming game.

The Date And Tease

Also, Who Is Making It?

As a hardcore gamer, I’ve been keeping my fingers crossed since the initial hint of Kirby Air Rider’s comeback back in 2025. Now, Nintendo has officially confirmed that it’ll be gracing our screens exclusively on the Switch 2, dropping on November 20th, 2025. The November lineup currently seems a bit sparse, but with publishers still finalizing their release schedules, things could shape up in the coming weeks. This game is shaping up to be Nintendo’s biggest release following Pokemon Legends: Z-A in October, and I for one can hardly wait!

Masahiro Sakurai, the game’s director, has announced that his team at Sora is joining forces with Bandai Namco once more to develop the upcoming game. This collaboration is similar to the one responsible for the creation of the last three Super Smash Bros. games. Given their previous successful partnership, it appears they have established a smooth and effective work process. Notably, most Kirby games are usually developed by Hal Laboratory, so this collaboration represents a shift in production dynamics.

Choose Your Rider

Going Beyond Kirby

In the initial version of the game, players had the option to select from several Kirby characters with distinct colors: the original, blue, red, and yellow. These same characters will be available once again in the upcoming sequel. Interestingly, only two other characters – Meta Knight and King Dedede – were playable in Kirby Air Ride. However, players couldn’t customize their vehicles, called Machines, within the game. In this new iteration, all characters will have the ability to select their preferred Machine.

Additionally, the lineup for Sakurai’s tease is quite expansive, promising even more additions. As of now, aside from those previously mentioned, the Kirby Air Rider team will feature familiar Kirby allies and adversaries such as Bandana Waddle Dee, Cappy, Chef Kawasaki, Gooey, Knuckle Joe, Magolor, Starman, Susie, and Waddle Doo. This is quite an impressive roster, and it remains a mystery as to how players can acquire these characters and vehicles.

The Special Button And Gauge

Unleash Your Rider’s Power!

Each rider possesses unique abilities and characteristics that set them apart. For instance, King Dedede moves slowly but delivers powerful blows, while Cappy utilizes its small mushroom cap as a protective shield until it’s damaged beyond repair. Automated vehicles will operate independently, leaving players responsible only for guiding them through the course.

As a gamer, I can tell you that pressing a certain button in this game will trigger a Boost Charge, which supercharges my speed. There’s another unique button, once filled, it releases a character’s secret ability. For instance, Kirby wields an Ultra Sword, which whirls around like a giant blade. King Dedede’s hammer gets a power-up, propelling him forward at high speeds (nicknamed Jet Hammer). Chef Kawasaki unleashes Superspicy Cooking, launching dishes everywhere, and the list of special abilities doesn’t end there!

Copy Abilities

Everyone Gets Them

Generally speaking, Kirby is the one who obtains traditional Copy Abilities from characters. However, in the game Kirby Air Riders, this rule doesn’t apply. Instead of just Kirby, each character has the ability to absorb a random enemy along the course. This absorption results in the character taking on a new appearance that makes them appear more wild than ever before.

To date, the demonstrated Copy abilities encompass Bomb, Cutter, Fire, Jet, Plasma, Mike, Steel Ball, Sword, and Wheel. Consequently, the contests appear extremely chaotic due to the continuous exchange of powers. In essence, it seems much like a Super Smash Bros. game, providing fans an appealing deviation from Mario Kart World, as Kirby Air Riders offers a distinct gaming experience.

The Machines

Learn What You’ll Be Riding

In this game, maintaining a balance might prove challenging due to each character possessing unique strengths and weaknesses, along with the Machines having their own sets of attributes as well. Viewers who believe they’ve seen many characters already will be pleasantly surprised by the abundance of Machines unveiled. Players can anticipate operating the Battle Chariot, Bulk Star, Chariot, Compact Star, Paper Star, Rex Wheelie, Rocket Star, Shadow Star, Slick Star, Swerve Star, Tank Star, Turbo Star, Wagon Star, Warp Star, Wheelie Bike, and the Winged Star.

Out of all of them, Battle Chariot seemed the most amusing because Kirby resembled Axel from the Twisted Metal series. This is a significant upgrade compared to Kirby Air Ride, where there were merely two distinct types of vehicles – bikes or stars. An interesting tidbit Sakurai shared is that these vehicles adjust their size according to the character, making a vehicle ridden by Kirby smaller than one ridden by King Dedede.

The Modes

From Air Ride To City Trial

To date, Sakurai has revealed three fundamental modes within the game. Initially, the primary racing mode goes by the name Air Ride, where players can adjust settings prior to each race, and typically up to six participants can compete. For instance, every track features both Slow and Normal modes, mirroring the speed limits present in the Mario Kart series. Demonstrated courses included Waveflow Waters, Floria Fields, Cavernous Corners, Cyberion Highway, and Mount Amberfalls. The Lessons mode serves as a tutorial for players who may require guidance on how to play the game.

The most prominent game mode displayed was “City Trial,” which allows up to 16 players online or 8 locally, with the remaining positions being filled by AI. City Trial resembles a Battle Royale style game due to its chaotic nature and random events like bosses appearing or mini-races starting. The stage is named Skyah, reminiscent of a stage in Super Smash Bros. Time limits are imposed in City Trial, so winning depends on various factors. Inside City Trial, you’ll find mini-games called Stadiums, similar to how Mario Party manages them, but with the characters staying on their vehicles.

Read More

2025-08-21 09:04