Other notable sales milestones for first-party titles include Donkey Kong Bananza selling 4.25 million units; Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition at 3.89 million (12.3 million with the Switch 1 version included); and Kirby Air Riders at 1.76 million.

What’s shocking is that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond isn’t even listed. Granted, it launched in early December, and it very well could have done well on the original Switch. Nevertheless, considering how long ago it was announced and the rebooted development – not to mention this is the illustrious Metroid Prime franchise we’re talking about – it’s somewhat disappointing.

Nevertheless, with 17.37 million Switch 2 consoles sold in less than seven months, Nintendo is clearly just getting started with its first-party rollout. The next big release is Mario Tennis Fever, which is available on February 12th. There’s also Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, out in April for the original Switch, but which could receive higher-resolution support on the Switch 2.

Taking a closer look at software sales for the month of December, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 took the lead, with Battlefield 6 being ranked third. Other titles in the best-seller charts for the month are a mix of newer games like Donkey Kong Bananza and older titles like Grand Theft Auto 5, Minecraft and Red Dead Redemption 2.

While other console makers might have started struggling with console sales last year, Nintendo has been doing quite well with the release of the Switch 2. Piscatella had confirmed, the Switch 2 ended up being the best-selling console of the year in the US, with the country accounting for 4.4 million units. Along with this, the new console is also noted as selling faster than the original Switch from back in 2017.

As he noted, the Switch 2’s hardware sales single-handedly managed to offset industry-wide downward trends in console hardware sales. Sony’s PS5 ranked second for the period. The Switch 2 has also been described by Piscatella as being the “fastest selling video game console hardware platform” in history so far.

While things might be going well for Nintendo for the time being, research firm Niko Partners has predicted that the company will end up raising the price of the Switch 2 thanks to the worldwide memory shortages affecting manufacturing. The firm noted that, while the Switch 2 is priced competitively when compared to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo might have to bring its latest console in line with its competitors to maintain profitability.

In the meantime, Battlefield Studios has been working hard on creating and testing more content for the upcoming second season of Battlefield 6. While it hasn’t yet revealed too many details aside from its February 17 launch date, the developers provided a few hints about what kind of content we can expect when Season 2 of Battlefield 6 is kicked off.

Among the new content coming to the game is a brand new map, dubbed Contagion, that will also feature its own unique gameplay mechanics. No details have been provided about these mechanics, aside from vague hints about players needing to use equipment to interact with them, a soldier wearing a gas mask in the teaser trailer, and the fact that the map’s name implies some sort of contagious infection will be involved.

Battlefield 6 is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. For more details, check out our review from back when it first came out.

2025 Top 20 Best-Selling Premium Games – U.S. (Dollar Sales, Physical and Digital from digital data sharing publishers, excludes add-on content)

— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) 2026-01-22T14:00:07.506Z

December 2025 Top 20 Best-Selling Premium Games – U.S. (Dollar Sales, Physical and Digital from digital data sharing publishers, excludes add-on content)

— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) 2026-01-22T14:00:07.505Z

Mario Kart World

The best Mario Kart in the series? Your mileage (pun fully intended) may vary, but it is by far the most feature-packed. Free Roam in an open world with P-Switch challenges and cosmetics to gather; new moves like hopping and wall-riding for a higher skill ceiling; brand new tracks that seamlessly link together; and new modes are just some of the things long-time fans can look forward to, and it all works well.

Kirby Air Riders

21 playable characters and 22 machines, each with unique abilities and stats respectively; brand new tracks and remasters from the first game; the return of Top Ride and City Trial, with the latter turned into a faux battle royale mode of sorts; boss fights; and a full-fledged story mode. But even if you want to hop on for a simple race or two, it’s pure unfiltered fun – just like the original.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

While there’s plenty of criticism to be had for its visuals, Game Freak’s latest mainline Pokémon title manages to capture that same monster-collecting magic. Lumiose City is full of unique sights, sounds and Pokémon to collect, and new elements like the Z-A Royale and Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon, alongside simple delights like traversing the rooftops, make it stand out.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Catacomb-like levels, progressively unlocking new abilities and backtracking to uncover new areas, that expectation of something incredible around every corner – even after all these years, Retro Studios still knows how to capture that feeling. The new additions in Beyond, like Vi-O-La, also seamlessly slot in, and wouldn’t you know it, even the NPC companions, despite concerns pre-launch, aren’t terrible. More importantly, experiencing it with such fidelity, complete with mouse controls, elevates it to a new whole level.

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2

Technically not a native Switch 2 release, experiencing two of the greatest platformers of all time in 4K is hard to resist. The new Storybook Chapters offer a bit of new content, but really, it’s all about scouring the galaxies once more, reliving the wonder of each planet and the discoveries they hold.

Donkey Kong Bananza

It almost seemed impossible that Jumpman’s worst nightmare would get his own starring role once more, but Bananza delivers on that and then some. Excellent platforming and bombastic visuals were a given – this is from the Super Mario Odyssey team after all – but the destruction elements work so well in tandem, resulting in a 3D platformer that’s more than worthy to stand side by side with Mario’s greatest adventures.

Hades 2

Supergiant follows up one of the best rogue-likes in years with – surprise, surprise – an incredible sequel. Between the sheer amount of stuff to do, whether you’re venturing into the Underworld or ascending into Olympus, the challenging and unique boss fights, or the sheer depth that each new weapon offers, Hades 2 feels like a massive step forward in every single way.

Split Fiction

Hazelight’s latest is one of the best co-op experiences of the year (and many before it), and feels tailor-made for Switch 2. Even if it’s not the most fully-featured port, being able to GameShare with local players or engage in cross-play, alongside the Friend’s Pass (which means not having to buy an extra copy), is still great.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road

You wouldn’t believe this took more than nine years and multiple delays to release, but that seems to be a theme for 2025. Regardless, Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road isn’t the most realistic adaptation of football so much as the best adaptation of the anime, complete with MAPPA’s cutscenes and over 5,400 recruitable characters. It’s truly unlike anything else out there and a blast once you get into it.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Team Cherry’s long-awaited sequel is infuriating, frustrating, and challenging, but it’s also mesmerizing, addictive, and oh-so-good to control. The gameplay loop remains as finely crafted as ever, enhanced all the more with Hornet’s movement abilities, and the sheer attention to detail in areas, from their art to their secrets, will keep you coming back long after. It’s a tough bug to love, but Silksong is a stellar game.

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition

The prospect of Cyberpunk 2077 running on the original Switch was laughable years ago, and yet, here we are more than five years later, experiencing it on the Switch 2 in all its glory. From the excellent base game to the stellar Phantom Liberty, this is still one of the best RPG experiences, and the addition of touch screen gestures for the UI and gyro aiming makes it feel that much better on the Switch 2. Also, shipping the entire package on an actual cart instead of a Game-Key Card? Chef’s kiss.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

Truth be told, the new features – like the phone maps and QR codes for sharing Zonai machines – weren’t the most game-changing for Nintendo’s masterpiece. Nevertheless, it’s still a masterpiece, and being able to play it in 1440p/60 FPS with improved fidelity and faster loading is what we’ve always wanted. For that reason alone, it’s worth picking up.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Switch 2 Edition + Star Crossed World

For those who didn’t get their fill from Air Riders, the Switch 2 version of Kirby’s acclaimed 2022 adventure is well worth diving into. Star Crossed World offers a brand new storyline with new sections in old stages alongside new abilities, Mouthful modes and enemies to tussle with as you investigate a mysterious meteor. And of course, it’s a significant upgrade over the original’s already gorgeous visuals.

Cronos: The New Dawn

Bloober Team made a big impact with last year’s Silent Hill 2 remake, but its newest title channelled an altogether different survival horror vibe. A post-apocalyptic future with mutating monstrosities, time-traveling, a more enigmatic pace and protagonist, and more kept Cronos from feeling like a Dead Space rip-off. Even in handheld mode on the Switch 2, it’s a tense, terrifying ordeal.

Star Wars Outlaws

Ignored at launch, Massive Entertainment’s Star Wars scoundrel had a quiet but notable redemption this year, aided by its Switch 2 port. How the development team (in collaboration with Red Lynx) managed to deliver such great performance and ray tracing while retaining image quality, even with DLSS, is fascinating to behold. The fact that the game itself still looks so gorgeous while playing better than ever also doesn’t hurt.

And the Best Switch 2 title of 2025 goes to…

Donkey Kong Bananza

Did you really expect anything else, especially when a Donkey Kong game lets you rip chunks out of the environment to toss at enemies or surf on them with utter abandon? Bananza is more than just the Mario Odyssey formula, but with more destruction and a different protagonist. It’s a masterclass in pacing, deftly balancing the collect-a-thon aspects and real-time destruction with superb level design. Donkey Kong controls like a dream; the new Bananza Powers are as ridiculous as they are fun; and there isn’t an ounce of filler or unnecessary padding. For that reason, and many more that we could spend all day listing, it’s our pick for the best Switch 2 game of 2025.

However, in a change from previous years, it’s not the best-selling premium title for 2025 (ending November 29th). That went to EA’s Battlefield 6 with NBA 2K26 and Monster Hunter Wilds occupying the second and third spots. Black Ops 7 is in seventh place, just ahead of, conveniently enough, Black Ops 6.

Other notable titles in the top ten include Borderlands 4 at fourth place, EA Sports College Football 26 in fifth and Madden NFL 26 in sixth. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered occupied ninth place, followed by Ghost of Yōtei.

Returning to November’s sales, it was a surprisingly rough month for Nintendo Switch 2 releases as Kirby Air Riders and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment debuted in tenth and eleventh, respectively. Of course, that doesn’t include digital sales.

Kirby Air Riders is ridiculously packed with content. You can, if you are completely unfamiliar with the GameCube original and its gameplay style, hop straight into a multi-stage tutorial that, bit by bit, which takes you through the basics and some of the more advanced mechanics, which is where the game’s genius instantly shines through. Like its predecessor – which a significant portion of the game’s audience will obviously be unfamiliar with, given the gap between the series’ two entries – Kirby Air Riders is extremely easy to grasp, with a control scheme that’s extremely easy to grasp. You accelerate automatically, steering is easy, and nearly all actions that are necessary to compete and win and straightforward and easy to understand.

"Starting with the basics, there’s a good amount of different tracks, characters, riders, power ups, and items on offer here, each of which spices up and injects healthy doses of chaos into the gameplay in different ways."

The game’s two button control scheme, however, is both a strength and a weakness. As much as it makes Kirby Air Riders an immensely accessible game that’s easy to pick up and play, some might also find it a little too simplistic. When most actions in the game work as intended with the simplest of inputs, it makes things feel a bit too straightforward at times, which means there is obviously going to be plenty of scope for victories based exclusively (or almost exclusively) on button mashing- you know, like any other party game.

But getting the balance right between skill and accessibility is something that the developer tends to be quite good at, and they do not disappoint with Kirby Air Riders, when all is said and done. The skill ceiling here is high, primarily because the game hides a lot of mechanical depth at its core in spite of its deceptively simple controls, but also because, almost equally importantly, there’s a shocking amount of gameplay variety on offer here- which maybe shouldn’t necessarily be shocking¸ given the talent responsible for this game.

That variety takes several different forms. Starting with the basics, there’s a good amount of different tracks, characters, riders, power ups, and items on offer here, each of which spices up and injects healthy doses of chaos into the gameplay in different ways. Different rides control in entirely unique ways, changing the way you move about and speed through courses on even a moment-to-moment level, which in and of itself is enough to change your approach to any given race. The character that you are controlling is another major factor, primarily because each of them offers a different ultimately ability that can hand you varying advantages during races. On top of your ultimate abilities, you can gain power ups by smashing boxes and, of course, in true Kirby fashion, by sucking up both enemies on the track and direct rivals in races and copying their abilities, from shooting out fireballs to stabbing enemies with spikes that explode outward from your body and more.

"When you’re not casually racing through the individual races on offer, you can check out the Top Ride mode, which is a fun (if an even more simplistic) way of experiencing bite-sized races."

On top of that, how well you can master the base mechanics also obviously affects gameplay. On paper, Kirby Air Riders uses a two-button control scheme, and for those that don’t want to invest too much time and energy into the game, that’s going to be more than enough to get to grips with the goings-on. However, for those who’re looking for greater depth, there’s plenty on offer. From boosts and jumps to gliding, perfect landings, drifting, and more, there’s a lot going on here that requires a certain level of practice and precision.

Making your way through a perfect lap (or even a perfect race) can, as such, be immensely enjoyable. That is make more enjoyable still by the incredible track design. The solid selection of courses on offer strikes an even split between new introductions and returning locations, but each is an absolute delight in its own way. From striking visual design to delightful attention to detail to an unabashed love for controlled chaos that somehow still makes you feel like you’re (only just) in constant control, making your way through each track is an absolute delight, time and time again, no matter how often you do it.

And there’s plenty of content on offer to hone all of those skills in a variety of different ways. When you’re not casually racing through the individual races on offer, you can check out the Top Ride mode, which is a fun (if an even more simplistic) way of experiencing bite-sized races.  Reduced mechanics, shorter courses, and a (literally) top-down view make Top Ride races a fun distraction, though it wouldn’t surprise you to know that, given their very nature, they usually are little more than just that.

Then there’s the City Trial mode, which is, in many ways, the central attraction of the show, given how much it puts the sheer chaos of the core gameplay loop front and center. The inherent variety of the gameplay styles available in Kirby Air Riders really shines through here, with players cycling between races, drag races, challenges, time trials, battles, and more on each run. For those looking to maximize replay value, this is likely going to be Kirby Air Riders’ meat and potatoes.

"A sequel to Kirby Air Ride was definitely not something that most of us expected, but Nintendo and Bandai Namco have banded together to bring back the GameCube cult classic with flying colours."

Of course, all of that content would probably not feel quite as engaging as it does if not for how rewarding it feels in the game’s current state, which, of course, is down to the inordinate amount of unlocks on offer here- which, again, should not be a surprise. Tracks, characters, rides, customization options, music tracks, and so much more- there’s a long, long list of things that you will be unlocking as you play the game, and chances are that no matter which mode you’re tackling, you will be unlocking stuff at a regular clip one way or another, making an already addictive experience that much easier to invest in.

A sequel to Kirby Air Ride was definitely not something that most of us expected, but Nintendo and Bandai Namco have banded together to bring back the GameCube cult classic with flying colours, in a way that very few would have expected.

This game was reviewed on the Nintendo Switch 2.

EA Sports FC 26 claimed the top spot again, while Battlefield 6 hopped to third place. While the fall of Black Ops 7 may not seem all that bad in isolation, it’s part of a worrying trend, especially with how middling the reception has been. And let’s not forget that this is the title’s second week on sale.

Black Friday deals also helped titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Ghost of Yōtei reach the top ten revenue earners in eighth and ninth place, respectively. Otherwise, the only new entry this week is Kirby Air Riders, and it failed to chart in unit sales (digital sales weren’t accounted for).

It reached tenth place in revenue, though, so that’s something, but as Chris Dring of The Game Business notes, “it is a considerably smaller brand in Europe.”

Now, shallow analysis over; let’s get to the point. What does this data mean? Well, there is significant hunger for couch or local multiplayer games. But here’s the kicker: most studios aren’t cooking, so here’s where Kirby Air Riders is set to swoop in.

While most racers chase competitive matchmatching, battle passes, and cosmetic drops, Kirby Air Riders feels like it’s gliding in from another era. It’s bold, bright, and unashamedly built for shared screens. Nintendo always excels in frictionless, together-on-the-sofa play, but here, with simple mechanics, easy to learn controls, a wealth of engaging modes, plus a thoughtful suite of accessibility features, Kirby Air Riders might just attract anyone, friends, parents, siblings, kids, and even non-gamers, to grab a controller.

First thing to clear up though: Kirby Air Riders is not just a racing game. It’s a “vehicle action game”, with Arena Battles, City Trials, and Air Rides alongside a suite of race modes, from lapping circuits to white-knuckle drag racing. Single player story “Road Trip” aside, each playmode is compatible in multiplayer, both local and online.

Here’s the deal, these multiplayer modes aren’t couch co-op in the strictest sense. You’re not always sharing the same screen. Rather, each player gets their own split view, vertical, horizontal, and the frantic Top Ride where players track the action from a birds-eye view. It all depends on how you set it up, this is chaos easily customised to suit every player’s hunger for mayhem. Add in the quick-access tutorial available in every mode, and even novice gamers will be up to speed in seconds.

And the best part? There’re no DLC. Everything in Kirby Air Riders is available day one. In 2025, “complete at launch” feels almost rebellious.

Hazelight boss Josef Fares, the man behind It Takes Two and Split Fiction, says he doesn’t like live-service games. He goes on, stating: “they’re bad for the industry”. Instead, he proposes that “we should focus on pushing our medium forward: no microtransactions, no BS, just pure gaming love”.

Kirby Air Riders development team echoes this sentiment. To them, Kirby and his pals don’t need a roadmap, they already know where they’re going, and they’re taking you with them. And here’s where it matters: The team’s confidence in Kirby Air Riders’ simplicity might just signal the start of local multiplayer’s real comeback.

Think about it. How often can you boot up a game and worry only about who’s got player two? There’s always a connection, a queue, a grind, or learning curve. Instead, Kirby Air Riders nails immediacy. If MIDiA’s data shows one thing, it’s that lots of people want instant access and shared laughter. Quick drop-in, swift tutorial, go. Multiplayer simplicity like this used to define gaming, now, it feels radical.

If Split Fiction’s playerbase during its first month is anything to go by, approximately four million, for anyone asking, then side-by-side multiplayer is back and Kirby Air Riders’ intensity by proximity is only going to cement its return. Sure, you can play online; there’s no reason to believe it won’t thrill in online spaces. But, the real joy will be in shouting across the room when your friend steals a power-up, or barging elbows as you both sprint to the finish line. Sure, the option is there but Kirby Air Riders won’t be at its best when competing against random usernames, it’ll be when you and your mates, Joy-Cons in hand, flow through Kirby’s latest rush together.

There’s an interesting prediction we can make here too. Kirby Air Riders won’t just revive nostalgia for those who lived through the GameCube era, but will form new habits amongst its younger players. See, those youngsters disinterested in online games and live-service design, which, for the record, are currently the minority, will get to experience how good it feels to share physical space while gaming. It’s too early to say whether the way people consume games will morph into a new social era, but Kirby Air Riders, we suspect, will bridge the gap that’s been growing since the industry shifted focus to online.

Okay, lofty predictions aside. Above everything else, Kirby’s gameplay maintains the one thing Nintendo does better than anyone else: it’s plain fun. Kirby Air Riders is the ultimate party game. See, party games often trade depth for accessibility, but Kirby’s latest side-steps this. Beneath its pastel shades, spritely explosions, and energetic soundtrack lies a surprisingly layered racer. Vehicle choices raise airtime, give weight to bully other racers, or maximise gains from boosting.

We’ve already touched upon its simple-to-learn mechanics, but worth mentioning is the game’s auto-acceleration. See, boosting, intrinsic to lapping quickly, admittedly requires skill to perform. With rides automatically shooting forwards, players instead can focus on squeezing every drop of performance out of boosting. Couple this with deep customisation options, race tweaks, power-up balance, even camera sensitivity, then no-one gets left behind. Each design detail adds up to smoother, friendlier experiences for everyone, and this is underlined by the game’s suite of accessibility options.

And, the inclusivity available here is quietly revolutionary, baked into every system rather than an exercise in box ticking. There’s a visual intensity limiter that adds clear borders around the screen to reduce motion sickness. Colour filters adjust hues for visually impaired or colour-blind participants, while button remapping allows for one-handed control setups without locking you into awkward compromises.

Each feature exists for a reason: to allow anyone to play. The margins are shrinking, but there are still assumptions across the industry that players have full dexterity, perfect vision, and a strong stomach. Kirby Air Riders shows us that accessibility isn’t about lowering the challenge, but about widening participation. It vying for “ultimate party game” status only works if everyone can join in, how many games can you think of that achieve this? Many claim it, Kirby Air Riders means it.

You don’t need to call it anti-live-service to feel a difference. Kirby Air Riders just happens to be one of those games that arrives already full, no post-launch promises, no DLC, no asterisks. It’s confident enough to let you have fun now, with whoever is beside you. And maybe that’s why it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest games of 2025. Because, when other vehicle-based games chase constant engagement, Kirby Air Riders reminds you, if you’re old enough, why you started playing games in the first place: not for progression points and log-in bonuses, but for laughter, rivalry, and chaos shared in the moment. These moments only happen when everyone is in the same room, sharing the same screen. So buckle up, join your mates, and grab a controller.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

If you’re a fan of the original GameCube title, or perhaps have been a fan of Kirby through any of the character’s appearances across a variety of other media, the chance of playing a new game should sound exciting to you.

Or perhaps you’re just diving into what looks like it could be a lot of fun? Either way, you’re going to want to know a few key details before you pick up a copy for your Switch 2. Join us and learn more about Kirby Air Riders.

1. An Expanded Roster of Characters

While the first game featured a relatively limited set of playable characters, Kirby Air Riders doesn’t suffer from that particular issue. There are 20 playable characters already confirmed for the game, each of whom comes with Kirby’s ability to “copy” their opponent’s powers.

Expect to see some familiar faces – and some new ones – when you dive into the action later this month. Of course, Kirby is still the star of the show, but it never hurts to have some variety, doesn’t it?

2. Expanded Fleet of Vehicles

We’ve seen quite a few memorable vehicles in the Kirby universe. We’re happy to tell you that many of them are making their way to the game, and you can swap between them as you go between races and events.

Legendary vehicles are also making a return, and collecting them all is probably going to keep you occupied for many an hour. The Transform Star, for instance, can switch between an aerial Flying Star form and a driving bike form for exploring on the ground, making it a versatile addition to your fleet of vehicles.

3. Dive Into Multiplayer For Some Fun

Fans of the original game will be delighted to know that the Aire Ride, City Trial, and Top Ride modes are in the new game, with expansions and improvements that can make them really addictive very quickly.

With both local and online options there for the taking, Air Ride can have up to 6 players racing at the same time, a number that goes up to eight for Top Ride and 16 for City Trial. That’s going to be a convenient choice for different groups of players, and is a potential gold mine for some multiplayer mayhem.

4. Get Those Miles In

Kirby Air Riders takes an interesting approach to unlocking customization options for your characters. You earn Miles by simply playing the game, and unlock a steady stream of accessories for you to use for your characters and vehicles.

You’re probably going to rack up quite a few of them as you take on your buddies and other players and tear across different courses in your race to the top. Having your fun while also being rewarded with more in-game options for self-expression is a reward system that deserves credit in our book.

5. The My Machines Mode

Those customization options are going to come in quite handy when you begin to create and possibly sell unique vehicle designs using the My Machines mode. You can personalize your entire fleet and put designs that you think are exceptionally eye-catching up for sale.

You might just earn a chunk of in-game currency, and in case you’re worried, no, you don’t lose the vehicle you’re selling. That’s a win-win, and getting to put creative spins on some iconic vehicles from the Kirby universe is definitely a fun way to spend a few hours.

6. Go On A Road Trip

Kirby Air Riders features a main story via the Road Trip mode that puts Kirby and friends on a journey that puts them on a winding road with a lot of excitement and moments to be had along the way.

We’re quite curious to know what has Kirby, King Dedede, Starman, and other characters choosing to travel together, although presentations of the game might have some clues for an eagle-eyed Kirby enthusiast.

7. Diving Into Top Ride

Aside from being an option for local multiplayer, Top Ride mode also comes with a few exclusive items that give you reasons to check it out as early as you can. The kaboom, Drift Flames, Drill Driver, and other cool discoveries await.

If you’re new to the game, Top Ride features a top-down perspective of the races you play in Air Raid mode, although the core gameplay loop of using your abilities to stay ahead of your rivals remains the same.

8. The Paddock

This is Kirby Air Riders’ take on a multiplayer lobby, where you’re going to spend time between your online events. You can move around with your rider character and interact with friends, choose your next race, switch up your tunes, and even show off your emotes and create character poses.

If you’re a social butterfly looking to wander around a Kirby-based world, this is a lobby you’re going to want to visit.

9. Swap Relay Race Type

Exclusive to Air Ride mode is the Swap Replay race. It essentially has you swapping between different machines between individual laps in a race, the choice of which is based on the challenges you’re likely to encounter.

You’re going to have to get creative with your combinations of riders and machines, while the option to relay in local multiplayer races can be quite a amazing when you’re tackling harder challenges with your friends in tow.

10. The Checklist Returns

The checklist from the original game makes a triumphant comeback to Kirby Air Riders, acting as a very handy progress tracker that lets you know what you need to do to unlock new content in the game.

There are a lot of objectives for you to achieve across the different game modes on offer, and it’s certainly going to be easier when you have an easy way to know what’s been done and what still needs doing.

11. Amiibo Figures

Of course, characters as iconic as the ones in Kirby’s cast deserve Amiibo figures. Nintendo has been enthusiastic to announce a bunch of riders and machines, all of which are swappable and compatible with the Switch 2. Your figure is going to be a part of your experience via the Figure Player functionality.

What’s more, swapping out either your rider or vehicle is going to make the new combination reflect on your Figure Player in the game. Talk about immersion!

12. Miles Of Road To Cover

While the game’s premise and controls might be simple enough, there’s a total of eighteen different courses, and a lot of challenges laid out for you to take on over their expansive roadways. Expect to have both your reflexes and tactical chops tested out as you try and take the lead in a gameplay loop that’s probably going to be a blast.

All nine Air Ride courses from the original game are making their way to the new one. We can’t wait to see what Fantasy Meadows and the Nebula Belt look like in their latest avatars.

13. Boss Battles

Probably the feature we’re all most excited to see, the game’s going to have quite a few boss characters, and battles against them that might require some very nimble fingers to win. Robo Dedede, for instance, can freely switch between his Dedede Mode and Car Mode to keep the pressure on you.

We can’t wait to see what else Bandai Namco and Sora have in store for us in this one.

14. Copy and Special Abilities

While we did mention that all playable characters will be able to copy their opponent’s abilities, those Special Abilities are unique to each character, activating via a gauge that you’re going to have to through your actions in-game. Kirby has access to four of them, with each one tied to a specific selectable color for the character.

Using your Copy and Special abilities wisely is going to be an important part of a successful race, and you might want to try out new characters at every opportunity. You never know if the next one has an ability that makes things go very well for you.

15. Global Win Power

Kirby Air Riders is probably going to see a lot of you really put in the miles you need to get ahead, and that might create concerns with balancing in its multiplayer mode for a more casual crop of players. However, the Global Win Power system is poised to manage that problem quite effectively.

Your in-game Licence features a Class Ranking that improves or declines based on your online performances, with levels spread across the colors of a rainbow. This helps keep your skill level matched with players at relatively the same level, ensuring a more competitive online experience for everybody looking to dive in.

And that’s a wrap on everything you need to know about Kirby Air Riders. We hope to find you along the road on this exciting new adventure!

Of Ash and Steel

An open-world third-person action RPG developed on Unreal Engine 4, that too from a relatively unknown studio? That’s Of Ash and Steel, set in the Kingdom of the Seven, and promising an old-school approach to exploration. Essentially, you need to find your own footing in the world with no markers or quest guidance, and there are plenty of secrets to discover alongside enemies to smack around. Of Ash and Steel is available on November 24th, exclusively for PC.

Lumines Arise

Lumines but somehow even trippier, from the team that brought you surrealist and trippy Tetris. Launching on November 11th for PS5 and PC (with VR support for both), Lumines Arise offers its own Journey Mode, complete with a gorgeous soundscape and visuals, before shuffling you into the real game: Survival. And that’s before creating playlists of stages, completing challenges and playing online, all while ascending to a brand new plane.

Possessor(s)

After the underwhelming Hyper Light Breaker, Heart Machine returns to its 2D roots with Possessor(s), a side-scroller with fighting game-like combos. Players venture through the remains of Sanzu City as Luca, possessed by the mysterious Rhem, using anything and everything to fight off monstrosities. With non-linear exploration, other tragic characters to unravel, and a gorgeous art style, it’s one to keep an eye on ahead of its November 11th release on PS5 and PC.

Where Winds Meet

Everstone Studios’ stunning open-world action RPG has made some seriously strong impressions in China. Its global release is slated for November 14th on PS5 and PC, and thus far, the Wuxia fantasy and depiction of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms still looks as stunning as the combat and traversal. With more than 150 hours of gameplay and co-op-exclusive activities, we can’t wait to unpack it all.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road

Announced in 2016, renamed several times, and delayed several times more, Inazuma Eleven is seemingly set to launch, at last, on November 13th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. Level-5 Games boasts more than 5,400 characters in a brand new story with, of all things, time-travelling, and anime cutscenes by none other than MAPPA. Whether it lives up to expectations or not, the sheer scope and spectacle are intriguing enough.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

Something something Raul Menendez is alive, and only David Mason and his team can stop the spread of fear, something. The story of Black Ops 7 doesn’t inspire much hope, but the prospect of four-player campaign co-op is intriguing, especially the 32-player end-game. But except for new maps and modes in multiplayer, a new Wall-Bounce mechanic, and a fresh Zombies experience, this is about as Call of Duty as you’d expect in this day and age. It’s out on November 14th for Xbox and PlayStation consoles alongside PC.

Escape from Tarkov

Numerous years and controversies later, Battlestate Games’ Escape from Tarkov Version 1.0 is finally launching on November 15th for PC. As a hardcore extraction shooter experience, it’s received extensive praise for its survival elements (including a realistic injury and treatment system) and realistic gunplay. It’s no Escape From Duckov, but with 11 maps and a PvE mode, its official launch could either be game-changing or grounds for even more controversies.

Syberia Remastered

A full remaster of the title that started it all, Syberia Remastered offers improved visuals, transforming classic locations while retaining their atmosphere. It also offers more refined puzzles, better controls, and an updated UI to make experiencing Kate Walker’s journey through the real and fantastical that much smoother. Syberia Remastered launches on November 6th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Kirby Air Riders

If more than 105 minutes of footage meticulously laying out features across two Directs wasn’t enough to sell you on Kirby Air Riders before its November 20th release, then nothing will. Between a new Story Mode featuring the Fountain of Dreams and Nova, the return of Top Ride, all the classic tracks from the original, and everything in between, Kirby could once again be a dark horse among Switch 2 releases this year.

Project Motor Racing

It’s not quite Project CARS 4, but with some of the talent from Slightly Made and the backing of Giants Software, Project Motor Racing could be the next best thing. It packs more than 70 cars and 27 meticulously recreated tracks with dynamic weather, a day/night cycle, a Career Mode, multiplayer and events. All this, complete with realistic physics and sound design. What more could you want? We’ll find out when Motor Racing launches on November 25th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Terminator 2D: No Fate

Bitmap Bureau revisits the legendary action film, but through the lens of a retro-style 2D side-scrolling shooter. After several delays, Terminator 2D: No Fate is finally launching on November 26th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch, and if its visuals and action weren’t enough, you can also explore alternate scenarios based on decisions, resulting in completely different endings.

Football Manager 26

After cancelling last year’s edition, Sports Interactive is set to deliver Football Manager 26 on November 4th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. While numerous leagues and tons of players are a given, it’s all the other changes that have us excited, including an overhauled manager creation system, extensively reworked UI, and – for the first time – a partnership with FIFA.

Rennsport

What if RoboCop: Rogue City developer Teyon offered a racing sim? You get Rennsport, which releases out of early access on November 13th for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S. Developed alongside Competition Company, it offers a range of different vehicle classes, iconic tracks like Daytona and Spa-Francorchamps, and multiplayer. Early access impressions aren’t the most positive, but maybe Version 1.0 will turn things around.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (PS5)

Exactly one year later, GSC Game World’s survival sandbox has grown a lot, not to mention improved by leaps and bounds on a technical level. On PS5, it offers even more, from DualSense support to gyroscope aiming on top of PS5 Pro support. And while it may sound gimmicky, hearing the radio through the microphone or playing the guitar with the touchpad feels right. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl arrives on PS5 just in time to celebrate its first anniversary – November 20th.

Constance

Looking for a less strenuous side-scroller after Silksong? Constance could very well be it with a beautiful hand-drawn style and surreal mindscape created by its protagonist. Even if several of the basics look familiar, combat offers unique mechanics, from dispelling darkness to transforming into paint to climb up walls. Launching on November 24th, Constance will be available on PC, with console releases to follow in 2026.

It will be available on November 8th at midnight PT to 6 AM PT and 4 PM PT to 10 PM PT, then on November 9th at 7 AM PT to 1 PM PT. The test returns on November 15th at midnight PT to 6 AM PT and 4 PM PT to 10 PM PT before finishing on November 16th at 7 AM PT to 1 PM PT.

Air Ride and City Trial are the main modes, with the former offering tracks such as Flora Fields, Waveflow Waters and Mount Amberfalls. City Trial, meanwhile, will support up to 16 players for the test. Lessons to learn the mechanics and how to race are playable throughout all listed days, regardless of timings.

Kirby Air Riders launches on November 20th for Nintendo Switch 2, with the playtest available to download on November 7th. Suffice it to say that there’s a lot more to look forward to, from the return of Top Ride to the brand-new Story Mode, so stay tuned.