Nintendo has officially announced the release details for Kirby Air Riders, an upcoming exclusive title for the Switch 2 console. This highly anticipated sequel to the 2003 GameCube classic, Kirby Air Ride, is set to launch on November 20. Players can pre-order Kirby Air Riders for $70, available in both physical and digital editions.
Currently, no pre-order bonuses have been disclosed for Kirby Air Riders. However, if any are introduced, they will likely be exclusive retailer incentives, much like those offered for Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Notably, Kirby Air Riders is priced at $10 less than the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
Physical copies of Kirby Air Riders are already available for pre-order at select retailers, with other major stores expected to follow suit shortly. Consistent with other Nintendo-published Switch 2 titles, the physical version includes the complete game on the cartridge. For those considering the digital download, be aware that the estimated file size is 25GB, consuming over 10% of the Switch 2`s available storage.
Concerned about storage for the digital version? You can expand your Switch 2`s capacity significantly. Walmart offers an exclusive Onn 256GB microSD Express Card for $35.77, or an officially licensed Samsung 256GB microSD Express card for $59.
Kirby Air Riders is a collaborative effort between Bandai Namco and Sora Ltd, the independent studio led by renowned game director Masahiro Sakurai. While Sakurai is widely recognized for his work on the Super Smash Bros. series, he is also the original creator of the Kirby franchise. This new title marks Sakurai`s return to directing a Kirby game since the original Kirby Air Ride. Though Kirby has consistently appeared in every Super Smash Bros. installment, making Sakurai`s connection to the character continuous, he hasn`t directly worked on a standalone Kirby game since supervising Kirby & the Amazing Mirror for the Game Boy Advance in 2004.
This racing game, reminiscent of Mario Kart, enhances existing modes from Kirby Air Ride and introduces fresh additions. The original`s divisive single-button control system has been updated to a two-button configuration: `B` for boosting, and `Y` for special moves, tricks, and machine switching. The roster has been expanded with new abilities and characters. Beyond Kirby, players can now control King Dedede, Bandana Waddle Dee, Meta Knight, Cappy, Starman, Chef Kawasaki, Magolor, Gooey, Susie, and Knuckle Joe.
City Trial, the core game mode from the original, makes a return with numerous new elements. Players will explore a sprawling floating island, seeking out machine upgrades within a five-minute time limit. After collecting enhancements, participants head to the Stadium to engage in races and battles against AI opponents or friends.
Kirby Air Riders offers robust multiplayer options, supporting up to four players locally on a single console, and eight players via local wireless. Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can participate in online events with up to 16 players.
Priced at $70, Kirby Air Riders aligns with other recently announced or upcoming Switch 2 releases like Donkey Kong Bananza and Pokémon Legends: Z-A (due in October). Aside from Mario Kart World, the only Switch 2 games priced at $80 are enhanced versions of original Switch exclusives, featuring new content. This includes Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World, a Switch 2-exclusive edition of the highly-praised 3D platformer. This version boasts updated graphics and a new `Star-Crossed World` story campaign, effectively bundling the original $60 game with $20 worth of new DLC, making a direct price comparison to Kirby Air Riders less straightforward.
Upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusives
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World – August 28
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A – October 16
- Kirby Air Riders – November 20
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV
- Mario Kart World
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Explore More Kirby Games for Nintendo Switch
For fans eagerly awaiting Kirby Air Riders, there are several Kirby titles available on Nintendo Switch to enjoy before its November launch. Beyond Forgotten Land, the franchise`s first 3D platformer, players can experience two classic 2D side-scrolling platformers with physical releases: Kirby`s Return to Dream Land Deluxe and Kirby Star Allies. Additionally, Kirby has appeared in various digital-exclusive Switch games and numerous classic titles accessible through Nintendo Switch Online. Kirby`s Dream Buffet stands out as a noteworthy recent spin-off.