More than two decades after the GameCube’s Kirby Air Ride, fans are finally getting the long-awaited sequel: Kirby Air Riders. Masahiro Sakurai returned to the director’s chair, and during the recent Nintendo Direct, he unveiled a flood of details that show how much the series has evolved. Here’s everything officially confirmed for the upcoming release.
Kirby Air Riders Confirmed Release Date and Platforms
Kirby Air Riders is launching exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 20, 2025. This places it squarely in Nintendo’s holiday lineup, releasing just after Pokémon Legends: Z-A. The game will retail at $70, and Nintendo has confirmed it is not a Game Key Card release, so the box art will feature the full design without disclaimers.
Development Team
Unlike most Kirby titles developed by HAL Laboratory, this project reunites Sora Ltd. and Bandai Namco, the same team behind multiple Super Smash Bros. entries. That pedigree alone hints at the competitive polish fans can expect.
Playable Roster
The sequel dramatically expands the character lineup. Confirmed Riders include:
- Kirby (with multiple color variants, each having unique specials)
- Meta Knight
- King Dedede
- Bandana Waddle Dee
- Chef Kawasaki
- Gooey
- Knuckle Joe
- Magolor
- Cappy
- Susie
- Starman
- Waddle Doo
And more are teased for later reveals. Unlike the original, every Rider can now select their Machine, giving players far more strategic freedom. Each Rider also carries distinct stats and traits—Dedede is slow but powerful, while Cappy can use its mushroom cap as a temporary shield until it breaks.
Machines You Can Ride
Vehicle variety has also seen a huge leap forward. Confirmed Machines include:
Battle Chariot, Bulk Star, Chariot, Compact Star, Paper Star, Rex Wheelie, Rocket Star, Shadow Star, Slick Star, Swerve Star, Tank Star, Turbo Star, Wagon Star, Warp Star, Wheelie Bike, and Winged Star.
Machines automatically resize depending on the rider, so Kirby’s rides look compact while King Dedede’s appear massive. This detail adds charm while emphasizing each rider’s unique presence.
Controls and Gameplay Updates
The original Air Ride famously used a single button. Kirby Air Riders now expands controls to two buttons:
- B Button – Boost Charge, drift, or perform a quick speed burst
- Y Button – Special abilities, machine switching, and advanced techniques
Machines move forward automatically without input, so players focus on steering, timing boosts, and managing landings. Drifting has been refined: pressing B starts a Boost Charge, braking into a corner, then releasing for a Boost Dash. Mastering this maneuver with careful stick control grants a major edge during races.
Specials, Copy Abilities & Combat
Each Rider has a Special Gauge that fills by attacking rivals. Once full, it unlocks powerful unique moves.
Examples include:
- Kirby’s Ultra Sword, or color-based moves like Burn (Very Pink Kirby), Crash (Yellow Kirby), and Snow Ball (Blue Kirby)
- King Dedede’s Jet Hammer
- Chef Kawasaki’s Superspicy Cooking, flinging fiery dishes
- Meta Knight’s high-speed wing dash
For the first time in the series, all Riders can use Copy Abilities, not just Kirby. Characters can inhale enemies on track to gain powers and alter their appearance. Confirmed abilities include Bomb, Cutter, Fire, Jet, Plasma, Mike, Steel Ball, Sword, and Wheel.
Game Modes
Air Ride
The core racing mode allows up to six players per race. Tracks shown so far include Waveflow Waters, Floria Fields, Cavernous Corners, Cyberion Highway, and Mount Amberfalls, each with adjustable Slow or Normal speed settings.
Lessons
A tutorial-style mode that helps new players learn the mechanics and refine their skills.
City Trial
This large-scale mode is the centerpiece of Kirby Air Riders.
- Supports up to 16 players online, or 8 locally with 8 CPU bots
- Played on Skyah, a sprawling hub world with multiple themed areas
- Each round begins with a five-minute prep phase to collect power-ups, swap or steal machines, and attack rivals
- Machines can be stolen by ramming into another player, and damaged rides must be abandoned for replacements
- Random Field Events can occur mid-match, such as Dustup Derby (knockout challenge) or Short Race (quick sprint)
- When the timer ends, players enter Stadium Events, where performance depends on how well you matched upgrades to the challenge. Stadiums range from distance-flight contests to survival battles, with players voting on which event to face
Music and Style
Nintendo confirmed the game’s main theme, “Starlit Journey,” which, along with several other tracks, is already available on the Nintendo Music app.
Kirby Air Riders Confirmed Multiplayer Options
- Online: Up to 16 players
- Local Wireless: Up to 8 players + 8 CPU opponents
This is a major leap from the GameCube original’s four-player limit, making Air Riders far more social and competitive.
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From the expanded roster to the wide range of Machines, Copy Abilities for all, and a fully fleshed-out City Trial, Kirby Air Riders is shaping up to be one of Nintendo’s most ambitious racing games yet. While Sakurai jokingly admitted the game is “basically like Mario Kart,” the chaotic mix of combat, abilities, and trial-based gameplay ensures it has a unique identity.
Fans will also get hands-on time early, as the game will be playable at PAX West 2025 later this month.
With its release only months away, Kirby Air Riders looks destined to be a must-play exclusive for Switch 2 owners.
