Review: Kirby Air Riders (Nintendo Switch 2)

Kirby Air Riders is the long-awaited sequel to the 2003 GameCube original. I say “long-awaited” but, in reality, this sequel came out of nowhere when it was announced in Nintendo’s April 2025 Switch 2 Direct. With the original having a cult following, perhaps I meant to say “long desired”. Either way, fans now have the definitive sequel to Kirby’s racing adventure, and, oh boy, does it go the distance.

Kirby can do anything. Literally. He’s able to adopt special powers called Copy Abilities that allow him to transform into everything from a spiky ball to a swordfighter. This works terrifically well in a platforming sense; from fireballs to karate chops, foes don’t stand a chance. But what if you could use these same abilities while steering an overpowered hoverboard? With Kirby Air Riders, I think we have our answer.

When this sequel was first announced, you would have been forgiven for wondering why Nintendo would release two racing titles within mere months of each other. After all, it took over a decade for a new Mario Kart outing to come along (if you consider 2013’s Mario Kart 8 as the last truly new entry). With Mario Kart World dropping along with the Switch 2, did we need another racer featuring Nintendo characters so quickly?

Let me be frank; Kirby Air Riders is no Mario Kart. Sure, it has racing at its heart, and the aim might still be to win, but how you get there is startlingly different. 

For one thing, the controls are extremely simple. In fact, you can technically play without pressing anything. You won’t play well, mind you, but basically your character moves forward automatically. Rather than using a button to go forward, in Kirby’s twisted version of racing, pressing the B button causes your machine to decelerate. This seemingly counterintuitive move serves a grander purpose, though; the longer you hold down that little button, the more your charge meter fills. Releasing it sets you forward with a burst of speed. It also provides this game’s version of power slides. Hold it down as you approach a corner then release as you turn to speedily take each corner like a pro.

Despite the simplicity, this actually takes a lot of getting used to. As tempting as it might be to jump right in, I strongly recommend going through the in-depth tutorial before taking to proper races. I was fortunate enough to try Kirby Air Riders ahead of release at PAX Aus, and then again during the Global Test Ride. By the time the full game was released, I felt more at home. Let’s just say I’m accustomed to the ways of a certain plumber’s racing style; it took a little while to compensate for decades of muscle memory.

Once you get the hang of things, Kirby Air Riders is full of content to enjoy. There are several modes to choose from: Air Ride, City Trial, Top Mode, and Road Trip.

Air Ride is the main racing mode. This is where you select between characters, machines, and tracks in a frantic race to win. There are 18 tracks in total: 9 new and 9 retro. You’ll begin with 10 upfront tracks while the other 8 are unlockable. The retro ones are just as flashy as the newbies, providing zippy, colorful races. The variety is superb, taking Kirby and pals across deserts, over waterfalls, and through industrial zones. Everything looks and runs perfectly.

City Trial is the most chaotic of the bunch. Here you spend exactly five minutes driving around town collecting powerup items. Wait, is that it? Not exactly. There are other drivers—online or CPU opponents—to watch out for. They can (and will) attack. Plus, they’re as busy scrambling around finding items as you are. You can also explore the city by traversing underground tunnels or flying to far-off sky islands. You can even swap vehicles. The goal? Collect as many items as possible. It isn’t just a race to collect the most, though. The amount and type of powerups will help you with the next phase of City Trial: a minigame. 

After five minutes of rushing about, players vote for one of four outings. These could be chaotic melee battles, boss fights, or even hitting targets. This creates a strategic element; for example, if you collect too many speed powerups, will you be able to control your machine in a close-knit arena? On the other hand, speed will help you launch into the air to grab the highest number in a bingo-style board minigame. The wonderful thing about City Trial is that no two runs are quite the same.

In Top Down, players race on maps from a different viewpoint. It features the same gameplay as regular races—charges, Copy Abilities, corner boosting—but from a top-down perspective. What could feel like an add-on works well on its own, providing an alternative to the crazy speeds of the main Air Ride mode.

Road Trip is something pretty special. This one-player story mode sees Kirby (or any of his friends, it’s your choice) work through various themed lands. Each is designed beautifully, and they really showcase the Switch 2’s graphical abilities. This is especially true of the cutscenes between each level, which tell the story of a machine laying dormant before being brought back to life…with consequences.

On top of these modes, there are a whole host of collectibles. I’m not exaggerating when I say I don’t think I’ve played a game with as many collectibles as Kirby Air Riders. Each mode features a puzzle, with unlockable pieces being rewarded for achievements. It’s incredibly satisfying to see the puzzle come to life as you play. Plus, you earn stickers, characters, tracks, machines, and more as you go.

The machines themselves are incredible. As you’ll discover in the one-player mode, these are sentient beings that bond with their riders. I didn’t quite understand the significance of these airborne crafts until I played the game for myself; the Direct and trailer don’t do them justice at all. 

Each machine is unique in both design and abilities. Some are better at gliding, others accelerate faster. One doesn’t charge but compensates in other ways. Another is much faster but harder to control. One transforms. And then there’s the Vampire Star, which automatically “bites” other riders and steals their Copy Abilities. Yep, that’s definitely a personal favorite of mine. 

As if that weren’t enough, there are also customizations on offer. You can create your very own licence—a cute addition that lets you change the color and theme, add stickers, and even create a fun little title using two words from a set list. A machine creator and garage also provides a neat way to design your own vehicle. This game is almost endless; no wonder Sakurai doesn’t feel the need for DLC.  

Overall, Kirby Air Riders is a breath of fresh air. It takes the cuteness of Kirby and mashes it with combat inspirations from Smash Bros. to create one of the fastest, most chaotic games I’ve ever played. It’s loaded with content to keep you busy; even if racing isn’t your thing, there’s something for almost everyone. We know there’s no DLC or future games planned for the franchise, While that’s a shame, this outing serves as a brilliant sequel and shining farewell. This speedy outing won’t be for everyone, but for those who embrace it, Kirby air Riders is an absolute blast.