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Kirby Air Riders

Kirby Air Riders

Nintendo
Released

Release Date: November 20, 2025

Racing, Nintendo Exclusive, Multiplayer, Singleplayer

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).

8.0

Gamepressure

8.2

OpenCritic

Rate It!
Ratings
[1:07] – Nintendo Direct 12.09.2025 Trailer Videos: 2
Screenshot Images: 81
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot

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.

Gameplay

In Kirby: Air Riders we watch the action from a third-person perspective (TPP). The gameplay involves crazy racing.

Competitors

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.

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Game Series

Kirby Air Riders
Kirby Air Riders
Kirby Air Riders

23GAMES

Kirby Game Series

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 Game Series

Features

8.0
great

ReviewKirby Air Riders

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.

Kirby Air Riders review: Simple controls, surprising depth
Kirby Air Riders review: Simple controls, surprising depth
Reviewed by:
Reviewed on:
Switch 2 Switch 2
Review date:
November 27, 2025

News

Kirby Air Riders release date revealed for November during 45-minute livestream

Kirby Air Riders release date revealed for November during 45-minute livestream

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

Kirby Air Riders release date revealed for November during 45-minute livestream
How to watch the Kirby Air Riders Nintendo Direct tomorrow and what to expect

How to watch the Kirby Air Riders Nintendo Direct tomorrow and what to expect

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

How to watch the Kirby Air Riders Nintendo Direct tomorrow and what to expect
Kirby Air Riders announced 22 years after the original

Kirby Air Riders announced 22 years after the original

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

Kirby Air Riders announced 22 years after the original

Ratings

Game Ratings for Kirby Air Riders Video Game.

8.0
great

ReviewKirby Air Riders

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.

Kirby Air Riders review: Simple controls, surprising depth
Kirby Air Riders review: Simple controls, surprising depth
Reviewed by:
Reviewed on:
Switch 2 Switch 2
Review date:
November 27, 2025
8.2

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 86% of Critics. There are 100 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

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.

Full Review

Loot Level Chill: 9 / 10 by Lyle Pendle

Kirby Air Riders shakes up the kart racing genre in a massively refreshing way, and has a ridiculous amount of content to explore.

Full Review

Slant Magazine: 4 / 5

The vehicles are just a bit too weird, and the sheer pace of things is hard to grasp right away, even for those with extensive racing game experience. But it’s just these same elements that make Air Riders feel fresh, bold, and creative in a way that Mario Kart World doesn’t. It’s also why this second entry to the Kirby Air Rider series seems likely to enjoy the same cult classic status as the original.

Full Review