Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of Kirby and Super Smash Bros., showed off his new game, Kirby Air Riders, during the latest Nintendo Direct. This is a direct sequel to the 2003 GameCube classic Kirby Air Ride and will be out November 20, 2025 for Nintendo Switch 2.
Sakurai hasn’t directed a Kirby game since the original Air Ride and his passion for this project was clear as he explained the mechanics. Developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd., the teams behind Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Kirby Air Riders adds more to the roster than just Kirby. You can now choose from a colorful Ascended Copy Ability to Fire, Sword or Bomb. Each character has unique characteristics—King Dedede’s hammer is heavy, Meta Knight is precise, and lesser-known fighters like Knuckle Joe pack a punch with flurry attacks. Multiplayer will be crazy, with up to 8 local players and 16 online.
- Explore a vast underground world—by smashing your way through it!
- A brand-new 3D platforming action adventure starring Donkey Kong and Pauline
- Bash through just about anything in groundbreaking exploration! Crash through walls and carve tunnels—the more you smash, the more areas open up to...
Controls are deceptively simple, machines auto-accelerate so you can focus on steering with the left stick and the two main buttons: B for Boost Charge and Y for Special moves. Boost Charge lets you brake, drift through corners and unleash a speed burst when you release. The Special button triggers character specific moves like Kirby’s Ultra Sword or Chef Kawasaki’s Superspicy Cooking which can turn the tide of a race or battle. These mechanics offer depth, rewarding good timing and quick judgments, particularly when combined with techniques like the Quick Spin, which is activated by twisting the control stick.
The Warp Star can do it all, whereas the Winged Star excels in the air but struggles on the ground. The Paper Star speeds rapidly but breaks under pressure, whereas the Bulk Star loses speed for durability. Every character can be paired with any machine, allowing you to create limitless combinations. Copy Abilities are now available to all riders, and they include transitory powers such as Fire or Jet that can be obtained by inhaling foes.
Air Ride mode features classic racing on stunning courses such as Floria Fields and Cyberion Highway. Up to six players can participate, gaining speed by collecting stars during attacks or tailing opponents in a Star Slide. Courses adapt to accommodate destructible vehicles or slower speeds, keeping races interesting. The main draw, however, is City Trial, a returning mode set on the floating island of Skyah. You have 5 minutes to design the ultimate rollercoaster by grabbing power-ups, stealing machines, and sabotage rivals. Random occurrences, such as short races or clashes with Kirby bosses like Kracko, keep things interesting. After that, you vote on Stadium challenges, which put your upgraded machine to the ultimate test.
