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Kirby Air Riders 2025
Kirby Air Riders is a 2025 kart racing video game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch 2. The game features four distinct gameplay modes—racing, traversal, and combat—where players control Kirby characters. It builds upon the foundation of its GameCube predecessor Kirby Air Ride (2003), incorporating all original modes alongside new additions such as extra characters, vehicles, customization options, a single-player story mode, and online multiplayer functionality.
This marks the first time Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of the Kirby franchise, has directed a Kirby game since the release of Kirby Air Ride. In 2021, Nintendo EPD and HAL Laboratory presented him with the concept, and development officially began in early 2022 following completion of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018). Shogo Sakai and Noriyuki Iwadare, who collaborated with Sakurai on the Super Smash Bros. series and Kid Icarus: Uprising (2012), were responsible for composing the game's soundtrack. The music was recorded with a live orchestra and featured multiple vocal performances for the main theme. Sakurai himself oversaw key aspects of development including music, level design, story elements, and gameplay balance.
Nintendo revealed Kirby Air Riders in April 2025, promoting it through Nintendo Direct events, Nintendo music releases, and demo access for Nintendo Switch Online members. Comparisons were drawn between the title and Nintendo EPD’s racing launch game Mario Kart World (2025), while character Rick gained a following among fans. Amiibo figures featuring characters and vehicles from the game were also issued. Kirby Air Riders launched globally on November 20, 2025, followed by post-release updates and online events. The title garnered generally positive reviews, with critics praising its gameplay, visuals, customization features, sound design, and mechanical complexity—though some players found the various game modes to be divisive. Since its release, it has emerged as one of the top-selling Nintendo Switch 2 titles.
Crew
- Director
- Masahiro Sakurai
- Designer
- Masashi Kubo, Takeshi Azuma, Takanori Ikezawa
- Programmer
- Takashi Nakagawa, Masakazu Yorifuji
- Artist
- Tadashi Sato, Kota Ochiai, Masafumi Takagi
- Producer
- Shinya Saito, Makoto Okazaki
- Music
- Noriyuki Iwadare, Shogo Sakai
Details
- Developer
- Bandai Namco Studios, Sora Ltd.
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Platforms
- Nintendo Switch 2
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Series
- Kirby
