Nintendo has officially revealed the launch date and pricing for its upcoming Switch 2 exclusive, Kirby Air Riders. This highly anticipated sequel to the beloved 2003 GameCube title, Kirby Air Ride, is set to debut on Nintendo’s new console on November 20. Players can pre-order Kirby Air Riders for $70, available in both physical and digital formats.
As of now, no specific pre-order bonuses have been announced for Kirby Air Riders. If any become available, they are anticipated to be retailer-exclusive collectibles, similar to those offered for titles like Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Notably, Kirby Air Riders will be priced $10 less than the soon-to-be-released Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
The physical edition of Kirby Air Riders is currently open for pre-orders at major retailers like Best Buy and GameStop. Pre-orders are expected to commence shortly at other popular stores, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target. For those considering the digital version, be aware that the estimated download size is approximately 25GB. This considerable size accounts for over 10% of the Switch 2’s usable internal storage.
Should storage space for the digital version of Air Riders be a concern, expanding your Switch 2’s capacity is an option. For example, the Walmart-exclusive Onn 256GB microSD Express Card is available for $35.77, effectively doubling your console`s storage. Alternatively, the officially licensed Samsung 256GB microSD Express card is stocked at Walmart for $59.
Kirby Air Riders is a collaborative development between Bandai Namco and Sora Ltd, the independent studio headed by Masahiro Sakurai. Sakurai is widely renowned as the director of the Super Smash Bros. series, and he is also the original creator of the Kirby franchise. Kirby Air Riders marks Sakurai’s first direct involvement in directing a game within the series since the original Kirby Air Ride. While Kirby has been a consistent character in all Smash Bros. games, Sakurai has not worked on a dedicated Kirby title since supervising the 2004 Game Boy Advance metroidvania, Kirby & the Amazing Mirror.
This Mario Kart-inspired racing game expands upon signature modes from Kirby Air Ride and introduces entirely new ones. The controversial single-button control scheme of the original has been replaced by a more intuitive two-button layout: B is used for boosting, and Y activates special moves, performs tricks, and switches machines. The roster has also been enhanced with new abilities and additional characters. Beyond Kirby himself, players can now take on the roles of King Dedede, Bandana Waddle Dee, Meta Knight, Cappy, Starman, Chef Kawasaki, Magolor, Gooey, Susie, and Knuckle Joe.
The highly popular main game mode from the original, City Trial, makes a return with numerous new features. In this revamped mode, players are tasked with discovering machine upgrades scattered across a sprawling floating island. They have a five-minute window to secure these upgrades before proceeding to the Stadium to compete against computer-controlled opponents or friends in various races and battles.
Kirby Air Riders supports versatile multiplayer options, accommodating up to four players locally on a single console and up to eight players via wireless connection. Nintendo Switch Online members can also participate in online events with up to 16 players. For those in need of extra Joy-Con Controllers for multiplayer sessions, Amazon currently offers Switch 2 Joy-Con 2-Packs for $95 (originally $100).
The $70 price point for Kirby Air Riders is consistent with other recent and upcoming Switch 2 titles, including Donkey Kong Bananza and Pokemon Legends: Z-A, which is set to launch in October. Aside from Mario Kart World, most $80 Switch 2 games are updated versions of original Switch exclusives that feature new content. This notably includes Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World, the Switch 2-exclusive edition of the superb 3D platformer. This version boasts overhauled graphics and an entirely new Star-Crossed World story campaign. Essentially, it bundles the $60 base game with a new $20 DLC, meaning its price comparison to Kirby Air Riders is not entirely direct.
Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive Titles
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World — $79 (
$80) | August 28 - Pokemon Legends: Z-A — $70 | October 16
- Kirby Air Riders — $70 | November 20
- Donkey Kong Bananza — $69 (
$70) - Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV — $79 (
$80) - Mario Kart World — $79 (
$80) - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — $69 (
$70) - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom — $79 (
$80)
Explore More Kirby Games for Nintendo Switch
If you`re eagerly anticipating Kirby Air Riders and wish to delve into the series before its November release, a plethora of options are available on the Nintendo Switch. In addition to Forgotten Land—the franchise’s first 3D platformer—there are two traditional side-scrolling platformers with physical editions: Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe and Kirby Star Allies. Kirby has also starred in multiple digital-only Switch games, and numerous classic titles are accessible via Nintendo Switch Online. Among the standout Kirby spin-offs in recent years is Kirby’s Dream Buffet ($15), which incidentally inspired some of the cutest Club Mocchi-Mocchi Kirby plushies.
For those interested in the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Forgotten Land, existing owners can purchase the DLC and upgrade for $20. New players can also save $15 by acquiring the original Switch edition and the Star-Crossed World DLC separately. Several excellent Kirby game deals are currently available for UK editions through Amazon-owned retailer Woot. Since Switch consoles are region-free, the only distinction for these UK Kirby games is the PEGI ratings board logo on the cover instead of ESRB.
Current Kirby Game Deals
- Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe — $49 (
$60)- Walmart — $49 (
$60) - Woot (UK Edition) — $40
- Walmart — $49 (
- Kirby Star Allies — $40 (
$60)- Walmart (Digital) — $41.88
- Woot (UK Edition) — $40
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land — $45 (
$60)- Walmart — $49
- Amazon — $52
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World — $79 (
$80) | August 28 - Star-Crossed World Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade Pack — $20
- Kirby’s Dream Buffet (Digital) — $15