
Release Date: November 20, 2025
A spin-off of the popular Kirby series, offered in a form of a racing game. Kirby: Air Riders allows us to play as Kirby and other Nintendo characters, participating in crazy races taking place on the ground, above the surface of the water and in the air. The game supports both singleplayer and multiplayer (local or online).
Kirby Air Ride, a racing spin-off of the popular platforming series titled Kirby, was released in 2003 and appeared on the Nintendo GameCube console. Years later, it received a sequel in the form of Kirby: Air Riders. Its development was overseen by the director of the Super Smash Bros. series - Masahiro Sakurai.
In Kirby: Air Riders we watch the action from a third-person perspective (TPP). The gameplay involves crazy racing.
The game gives us a range of characters at our disposal. Apart from various color versions of Kirby, we're talking about such characters as Meta Knight, King Dedede, Bandana Waddle Dee, Cappy, Chef Kawasaki, or Starman.
They were differentiated in terms of unique features of size, weight and durability, strong points that increase their chances of winning, and weaknesses that could potentially hinder them. They were also equipped with unique abilities. In addition to this, each character has a special move (Kirby even has four, depending on the chosen color version), the use of which requires charging of a special bar. All players can also absorb enemies and temporarily copy their abilities.
Machines prepared for the game can not only fly, but also hover above the ground and slide on various surfaces. The tracks we race on are littered with obstacles, jumps (perfect landings give us speed bonuses), barriers, and other structures, the placement of which is worth remembering and using in the fight for victory.
The driving model is purely arcade and vehicles and machines accelerate on their own. Nevertheless, our role is not limited to just turning, as the Boost Charge mechanic has been implemented here, which allows for manual charging of the booster. Thanks to it, we can gain temporary speed increases and drift through turns, overcoming them in spectacular slides.
Kirby: Air Riders can be played alone or in multiplayer mode (on a single console or over the Internet).
City Trial mode is also available, in which we traverse a flying island called Skyah, acquiring machines and upgrades, collecting power-ups and participating in random events such as races and battles with opponents. After moving to the second phase, we gain access to Stadiums, where we face specially prepared challenges.
There is also the Air Ride Mode, in which attacking opponents gives us speed bonuses. Moreover, the Lesson mode serves as an introduction to the intricacies of gameplay and gives us the opportunity to hone our skills.
Platforms:
Switch 2



23GAMES
A series of platformers with a pink, balloon-like hero in the title role. The series was created by the Japanese studio HAL Laboratory, which develops it in cooperation with the Nintendo corporation.
Kirby Air Riders review: Simple controls, surprising depth
Despite its design flaws and City Trial misses, Kirby Air Riders offers enough substance and charm to make it a game you’ll keep coming back to—whether for quick bursts of fun or to teach your friends something new when they come over.
Game Director Masahiro Sakurai hosted a 45-minute livestream for Kirby Air Riders, which revealed a release date planned for this November.
video games
Matt Buckley
August 19, 2025
Nintendo announced a 45-minute Kirby Air Riders Direct for tomorrow, hosted by game director Masahiro Sakurai, which means the length shouldn't be a surprise.
video games
Matt Buckley
August 18, 2025
After 22 years, a new Kirby Air Riders game will be arriving on the Nintendo Switch 2 sometime in 2025. This was the secret project Sakurai was working on.
video games
Matt Buckley
April 2, 2025
Game Ratings for Kirby Air Riders Video Game.
Kirby Air Riders review: Simple controls, surprising depth
Despite its design flaws and City Trial misses, Kirby Air Riders offers enough substance and charm to make it a game you’ll keep coming back to—whether for quick bursts of fun or to teach your friends something new when they come over.
COGconnected: 88 / 100 by Alex Everatt
While I do hope Nintendo has plans to add to the overall package with at least some new Air Ride and Top Ride tracks, there is still a wealth of content here for fans to enjoy. If you’re a racing fan or looking for something fresh to play with friends, Kirby Air Riders should be a strong consideration for your Switch 2 library.
MonsterVine: 4.5 / 5 by Spencer Legacy
Kirby Air Riders is further proof that Masahiro Sakurai and his team just can’t go wrong. The racing mechanics are incredibly satisfying, there’s no shortage of content to enjoy, and it always feels like you’re accomplishing something and unlocking new things. Even if you’re not too into racing games, I implore you to give Kirby Air Riders a try, as it’s fun in its purest form.
TheSixthAxis: 7 / 10 by Dominic Leighton
Kirby Air Riders is a charming addition to the racing genre. Its unique outlook might not appeal to everyone, but it's still liable to find it a raft of fans, just like its GameCube predecessor.