Kirby Air Riders is a new spin-off for Nintendo’s pink mascot that offers a variety of gameplay modes. I never played the original Kirby Air Ride on the GameCube, so this was my first time with this style of Kirby game, and I was honestly surprised by how well it plays. The controls feel smooth, the animations look great, and the game is absolutely gorgeous thanks to all the post-processing effects and clean visuals.
Kirby Air Riders uses one of the simplest control setups you will find in a racing game. Each rider has a machine to ride on, and these machines accelerate automatically. So, where is the actual fun in the gameplay? The idea is that the machine moves on its own, but the player is responsible for steering, dodging obstacles, drifting around corners, inhaling enemies, and using power-ups. All of this is done with a single button, while the stick is used to glide for a moment, spin to attack enemies, and boost. The only other button is for a special attack, which becomes available when a meter fills up, and each character has a unique special move.
Despite having such a simple control scheme, there is actually a lot of depth in the gameplay. The same button used for boosting is also used for braking, drifting around corners, and inhaling enemies, which you can then launch at other racers. Getting the timing right for boosts can be very precise, and each track has special shortcuts that also require tight timing to reach. Pulling off a clean drift or landing perfectly to get a boost feels great and gives the game a thrill that many other racers do not match. It is a very fast-paced experience where the more you play, the better your skills get as you learn the track layouts. Some turns can be cleared without drifting, but if you are aiming for a perfect run, the controls matter a lot.
While Kirby Air Riders never forces players to master every detail, those who enjoy chasing perfect runs can easily spend hours learning its tricky turns and mechanics. The game also offers a surprisingly large number of machines, though not all of them are unlocked at the start. The same goes for the riders, who unlock gradually as you continue playing. The machines are not just cosmetic either. They differ in handling and other traits, making your choice a key part of your strategy. There are more than twenty riders and machines to choose from, all based on well-known characters from the Kirby series.
Kirby Air Riders offers a lot of content and delivers strong value as a complete package. It is not just an arcade racer. It also includes a story mode called Road Trip, which takes place in the land of Zorah and features a new protagonist named Noir Dedede. Like many Kirby games, the story starts off light and cute, but the tone shifts as you progress, becoming a bit darker along the way.
The mode includes several hub worlds to explore, and your main goal is to complete short challenges. These usually involve different gameplay styles such as races, flight trials, combat encounters, and even boss fights. The story mode itself is fairly short, but you need to replay it multiple times to unlock everything and see all the content it offers. I finished my first run in under three hours, which may seem brief, but the game still has plenty of additional content to keep you playing.
Kirby Air Riders also features an excellent soundtrack. Because the racing is fast-paced, most of the music during races is energetic and helps keep the momentum going. The game even includes a music player that lets you choose which tracks can play during races. For a racing title, the soundtrack is strong and fits well with the visuals and gameplay.
Kirby Air Riders includes several other gameplay modes to try out, along with hundreds of achievements to unlock across them. The main mode is Air Ride, but there are variations as well. Top Ride offers a top-down view with simple controls, while City Trials drops up to sixteen players into an open area where they can power up their machines as a timer counts down. It all ends with a Stadium event, which comes in different forms but usually requires a specific machine setup to get the best results. The randomness of this mode gives it a lot of replay value, though for me, Air Ride was easily the highlight.
The game supports both local co-op and online multiplayer. Along with unlocking riders and machines, there are many customization options to earn. Players can even create their own versions of riders and machines and share them online. The track list is also diverse, offering nine new courses and nine returning ones. Since I never played the original Kirby Air Ride, all of this felt fresh to me.
If you plan to play this game with kids, the difficulty may be a bit steep. Unlike Mario Kart, which uses engine levels to adjust challenge, this game has no such option, and the races are often very fast. Kids might get confused or struggle with the tighter controls. Still, it is a fun game for all ages, especially when playing with friends or family.
Overall, Kirby Air Riders is an excellent spin-off with a surprising amount of polish. While City Trials was my least favorite mode, Air Ride and Road Trip offer plenty of content, and the inclusion of both online and offline multiplayer ensures the game will remain enjoyable for a long time.
Kirby Air Riders Game Information
- Price: $69.99
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Sora Ltd
- Platform: Switch 2 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
