Nintendo Releases Kirby Air Riders Sequel for Switch 2

Nintendo released Kirby Air Riders on November 20, 2025, for the Switch 2, marking a long-awaited sequel to the 2003 GameCube title Kirby Air Ride. Directed by Masahiro Sakurai, the racing game blends high-speed competitions with combat elements, featuring Kirby and other characters from the franchise navigating vibrant tracks on customizable machines.

The game centers on auto-accelerating vehicles controlled primarily with steering and two buttons: one for boosting and drifting, the other for special moves and attacks. Players inhale enemies to gain copy abilities like fire or ice, which can be used to hinder opponents or gain speed advantages. Drafting behind rivals and precise maneuvers, such as gliding or rail grinding, add layers of strategy to races.

Core modes include Air Ride, a third-person racing format with 18 tracks, nine of which revisit designs from the original. Top Ride offers a top-down perspective on smaller courses, emphasizing arcade-style competition. City Trial unfolds on a large island map where up to 16 players collect stat-boosting patches in real-time events before competing in voted minigames, such as drag races or target challenges. Road Trip serves...