Kirby Air Riders officially fills the November slot in Nintendo’s 2025 release schedule, but Nintendo Switch 2 fans should take note of its price. According to the eShop, it costs $69.99, which is $10 less than Mario Kart World but the same price as the acclaimed Donkey Kong Bananza.
In the latest Nintendo Direct, director Masahiro Sakurai revealed several new Riders and gameplay features. The one-button control setup returns with no acceleration button. Players must tilt the stick left or right, and can hold down the B button to build Boost Charge for drifting out of corners. Tilting up on ramps allows for flying up, and tilting down makes for faster deceleration. Landing perfectly grants a speed boost.
However, a second button has entered the arena. By pressing Y when the Special Gauge is full, players can utilize different special moves, which vary for each Rider. Kirby’s Ultra Sword is perfect for taking out multiple opponents, but Dedede’s Jet Hammer grants a big boost of speed. Depending on Kirby’s chosen color, you can use four different special moves.
Air Ride Machines also have different traits, from the Winged Star’s proficiency in flying to the Paper Star’s higher acceleration and reduced durability. The overall variety is much higher than in the previous game. Other notable mechanics include automatically attacking when near opponents, which provides a speed boost. Keep track of rival racers’ star paths as well – collecting those bits can also increase speed.
If all this wasn’t enough, all characters can now copy abilities from enemies instead of just Kirby. Alternatively, you can fire projectiles ahead instead of copying. Four Air Ride mode maps have been revealed – Floria Fields, Cavernous Corners, Cyberion Highway, Mount Amberfalls – and players can jump into a new race immediately without waiting for others to finish.
Kirby Air Riders launches on November 20th for Nintendo Switch 2. Stay tuned for more details before its launch.
