Kirby Air Riders – Pink and Fierce!
Starting this game for the first time, as always, I began to explore what options it has and I said to myself: “If the developers have put as much effort into the gameplay as they have into all the other details, this will be a serious candidate for GOTY.” Now, after about 40 hours of play, let’s see how far off I was from a realistic rating.
Development studio: Bandai Namco, Sora
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: November 20, 2025.
Platform on which the game was tested: Nintendo Switch 2
Starting price: 69.99 euros
The announcement of Kirby Air Riders surprised me, I must admit. Especially since Nintendo's main contender in that category, Mario Kart World, had only been released a few months earlier.
After more than 20 years, the beloved pink ball rides again
However, aside from the fact that both games are primarily races with colorful vehicles and a bunch of familiar characters from their franchise, that’s where all similarities end.
Kirby Air Riders is very easy to play, but also very hard to master. Your vehicle accelerates automatically, so aside from steering, your only other two options are Boost Charge (B) and Special (Y). Boost Charge is essentially a brake that, when pressed, charges your boost, and upon releasing it, you dash forward. Using the boost while entering a turn will perform something similar to drifting. Additionally, by pressing the B button, you can inhale an opponent (because, after all, this is a Kirby game) and take their ability, or shoot them at someone else. By alternating pressing left and right, you perform a spin attack that hits opponents and breaks objects on the track. Special is a unique skill that charges while driving, and when ready, you use a skill unique to each driver - some will attack with a sword, some will throw ice cubes to slow down opponents, and some will dash forward uncontrollably.
Kirby will swing a sword, just like in the best days
Although there are over 20 different vehicles and drivers in the game, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, only a few basic ones are available at the start, but you will quickly unlock others by playing various races and minigames. Unlike Mario Kart, and I will often compare these two games in this review, the drivers here are not just different in appearance, but they really make a noticeable difference with their specials.
You might be wondering, how to race with this?
The vehicles are also very different, and it will take you time to figure out how to drive each one because, for example, some fly for a long time but are practically useless in combat, others cannot fly but are very fast on the track, some turn poorly, some are slow but built like tanks, and some cannot move without using a boost charge. Each vehicle gives a completely different feeling when driving, and you will especially notice this when the game switches you from one to another and you realize that everything you thought you knew about vehicle control no longer applies. Although the game teaches you in detail how to play through a longer tutorial, covering the basics of movement, combat, and maneuvering, if an inexperienced friend joins you for multiplayer racing, you can expect numerous frustrations, to avoid using harsher words.
Opponents in front of you will leave a trail of stars behind, and if you follow it, it will give you a significant speed boost, something like drafting in Mario Kart. It is crucial to suck in opponents or destroy them with a spin attack because each defeated opponent will give you an instant speed boost and fill your Special bar. When landing, it is important to land slowly parallel to the ground because you will also get a speed boost, instead of crashing abruptly into the track.
All of this is even better combined with the incredibly beautifully designed tracks. You will feel like you are on a roller coaster, with each track having multiple possible routes that favor certain vehicles – for example, only a vehicle that flies very well can reach a higher and faster part of the track.
Some parts of the track are real eye-candy
And now the modes.
Air ride is a classic, you choose the track, driver, vehicle, and whether you want to play against AI opponents or against other people online or in split screen. Easy - peasy.
Top Ride features races viewed from a bird's eye perspective, with significantly smaller and shorter tracks, and honestly, it could have done without that. Turning is quite complicated because you have to pay attention to which direction you are facing; otherwise, you might end up turning into a wall.
Once you master the turning, you might have some fun in this mode. But only maybe.
City Trial is a battle mode where up to 16 racers are thrown onto an open track in the city, Skyah, and have 5 minutes to collect as many power-ups as possible. Once the time runs out, they compete with the same vehicle in one of the many mini-games. The fun part is that everyone starts with the same vehicle, but you can freely get out, walk around, and take another one.
When you get tired of driving, get out and take a walk
Various random events will appear, from falling meteors, fog, numerous boxes containing power-ups, to mini boss fights with well-known characters from the Kirby franchise, such as Dyna Blade and Kracko.
However, as you collect power-ups, it may sometimes feel like you are losing control of the vehicle, which is not far from the truth. You will go faster and faster, making it harder to turn. Once the time runs out, you will get 4 mini-games to vote on, so there’s a good chance you’ll be playing a game for which your chosen vehicle isn’t exactly the most ideal.
My favorite mini-game is Gourmet Race, where you have to find and eat as much food as possible within a set time. Because, after all, this is a Kirby game 😊
Road Trip is actually a single-player story mode where you discover where all these vehicles come from, why they are here, and what dark secret lies behind it all. You will move through 11 scenarios, following a route through worlds that depends on your choices during the game. Along the way, you will encounter numerous mini-games and be able to choose between 3 offered options, and when you finish each one, you receive a specific power-up.
When selecting a mini-game, you can see what the reward is, so you can choose the most necessary one.
All the games are quite short and finish quickly. The problem arises when you have to defeat a specific enemy in a short amount of time while both of you are racing down a track, and he chooses a completely different route, so you practically don't see him for most of the race, causing your time to run out. Fortunately, you can try again or attempt another mini-game if you think this one is too much for you.
At the end of each scenario, there is a boss fight; sometimes you will have to defeat him in a race, and sometimes destroy him in an arena.
At the end of the eleventh scenario, you will fight against Gigantes, a massive vehicle whose goal is to destroy the world, but to unlock the True Ending, you must collect all 22 vehicles, which is practically impossible on the first playthrough, so you will find yourself playing Road trip again from the beginning, but on different routes through different worlds, because that’s where the vehicles you are missing are located. Unfortunately, the story, although interesting and intriguing, unfolds without you having any influence on it. You are just there as a bystander while the film plays in the background.
The game features 750 achievements that unlock additional drivers, vehicles, music, tracks, hats, and a bunch of other cosmetic details. A useful detail is that you have a checklist board of everything you have completed and what is left, so you can start some tasks directly from it.
Throughout the game, you will earn money, which you can spend on purchasing additional vehicles, various hats, and cosmetic details, and you can also buy vehicles from other online players. Yes, you heard that right, you can design a vehicle and put your creation up for sale.
Price? A real bargain!
Once you think you have mastered driving your favorite vehicles and unlocked your favorite driver, it’s time for multiplayer.
Air Ride, Top Ride, and City Trial have ranked and casual options, but Paddock is where all the important things happen: It’s like a lounge where up to 32 players can hang out between races, listen to music, or show off their creations. Free races are offered, and you can choose the one you want.
Yes, racing and battles are great, but there’s the crew
To race online, you need, what? Of course, a driver’s license!
With countless design options for your own license, sticker placements, frames, and even choosing your “Street Name,” this is your chance to showcase your creativity.
What immediately stands out when launching the game is that it looks fantastic. The colors are vibrant, and colorful is synonymous with the Kirby world. The vehicles are beautifully animated, everything runs at 60fps without any issues. Even in those moments when you have no idea what's happening on the screen, you can't help but enjoy the rhapsody of colors and effects. The ability to design the appearance of your own character and vehicle adds extra charm and personality. The animations in Story mode are beautifully rendered and detailed.
The game is definitely charming in its chaos, energy simply bursts from every movement, every turn, every special attack. You'll feel your blood rush to your cheeks as you chase that one opponent who has been avoiding you the whole race, but you'll also feel a sigh of relief when you overtake them in the last meters before the finish line.
The soundtrack is excellent, giving that nostalgic Kirby feeling, with familiar melodies that will resonate in the hearts of every Kirby fan. Even the new compositions are well-made and catchy, and you'll find yourself replaying them in the built-in music player.
It's nice to hear when the announcer calls out your name and the vehicle you've chosen before the race, as if you're stepping into the ring. The sound effects are solid and will remind you of Super Smash Bros, which is no surprise considering the legendary Masahiro Sakurai had a hand in both games.
Although I had the impression that this would be a hit, and for many it will be, I can't bring myself to give it more than a four. Considering this is practically a polished sequel to a game that originated back in 2003, it has enough additional content to keep you glued to the screen with its simple controls, chaotic gameplay, beautiful effects, and quality soundtrack, but I feel that Top Mode is just there to be there because it was in the original, and Road Trip could have been condensed into a longer animation. Nevertheless, Kirby Air Riders will keep you engaged for quite some time, and even after you switch to another game, you'll gladly return to race just one more time, then another, and before you know it, the whole afternoon has passed and you're still racing through the chaotic Kirby world with a big smile on your face!
★★★★ — “Very Good”
They are ready, are you?
Game copy provided for review purposes by distributor CD Media
