Nintendo has officially unveiled Kirby Air Riders , the long-awaited follow-up to 2004’s Kirby Air Ride, and it looks like we are in for a treat.
Revealed during yesterday’s Kirby Air Riders Direct, legendary director Masahiro Sakurai walked through the game’s new features, returning favourites, and expanded modes. The game launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on the 20th of November, 2025.
From the outset, it’s clear Kirby Air Riders isn’t just a nostalgic revival, it’s a complete reimagining. Where some might expect a pink puffball spin on Mario Kart, this game is anything but.
With its mix of aerial gliding, rail grinding, drifting boosts, and combat-focused racing, Kirby Air Riders looks more like chaotic vehicular combat than kart racing. The sheer amount of movement variety including land, sea, and air, it already sets it apart visually and mechanically from anything in Nintendo’s flagship racing series.
More Than Just Racing
The game emphasizes tactics as much as speed. Each rider, whether it’s Kirby, Meta Knight, King Dedede, Bandana Waddle Dee, or even enemies like Chef Kawasaki and Cappy, brings unique stats, traits, and Special moves. These can drastically alter how machines handle in different courses. You can now mix and match riders with different machines, opening up endless combinations.
Machines themselves glide, grind rails, and perform aerial stunts, rewarding precise landings with bursts of speed. Throw in Kirby’s signature ability to copy enemies mid-race, and you get gameplay that feels fast, wild, and completely unpredictable.
City Trial Returns, Bigger Than Ever
The fan-favourite City Trial mode is back, now set on a massive floating island called Skyah. Players roam the open area collecting power-ups, ambushing rivals, and upgrading their machines before entering randomly selected Stadium events.
From short races to demolition derbies—and even surprise boss battles with Kirby mainstays like Kracko—City Trial looks primed to be the showpiece mode once again.
Multiplayer also gets a serious upgrade. Up to eight players can battle locally, while 16-player matches are available online. Nintendo is even adding GameChat support for video and voice communication mid-race.
Other Modes & Extras
Traditional racing fans can dive into Air Ride mode, where attacking rivals builds speed and drafting behind opponents creates “Star Slides” that rocket you ahead. A Lessons mode has also been added for newcomers to practice the game’s advanced mechanics.
To top it all off, Nintendo has released seven tracks from the Kirby Air Riders soundtrack on the Nintendo Music app, including the main theme with full English vocals.
A Standout Nintendo Racer
With its blend of high-speed drifting, chaotic combat, and open-ended strategy, Kirby Air Riders is shaping up to be one of the most exciting Nintendo racers in years.
It looks fantastic in motion, bursting with colour and energy, and most importantly, it’s carving out its own lane rather than chasing Mario Kart.
We’ve included the entire showcase below for your convenience:
Kirby Air Riders launches on the 20th of November 2025 for Nintendo Switch 2.
