Kirby Air Riders (2025) – Release Date, Modes & Switch 2 Guide

Overview — Kirby Air Riders is a high-speed racing and vehicle-action game for Nintendo Switch 2 and a direct sequel to the 2003 GameCube classic Kirby Air Ride. Directed by Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai and developed by Bandai Namco Studios with Sora Ltd., it keeps the iconic simple controls—machines accelerate automatically while you focus on steering, boosting, and Copy Abilities—but expands everything around them with more riders, machines, modes, and online play.

Release date and platforms — Kirby Air Riders launched worldwide on November 20, 2025 as a Nintendo Switch 2 title. It is currently positioned as a platform exclusive, with both single-player and multiplayer support. Physical and digital versions are available via the Nintendo eShop and retail partners. If you see PC or non–Switch 2 versions advertised, treat them as unofficial until Nintendo confirms any additional platforms.

Core gameplay — Just like its predecessor, vehicles in Kirby Air Riders (called machines) move forward on their own. Your job is to steer, drift, charge boosts, and time attacks. Kirby and other characters can still inhale enemies and objects to gain Copy Abilities, but now every rider also has a unique Special move, triggered by filling a gauge through racing and combat. The result is a racer that is less about precise throttle control and more about positioning, timing, and smart use of abilities.

Playable characters and machines — Unlike Kirby Air Ride’s limited roster, Kirby Air Riders features a large cast of riders drawn from across the Kirby series, all of whom can tap into Copy Abilities. Each rider has distinct stats and a signature Special, and each machine has its own handling, top speed, and durability profile. Lightweight stars might hit high speeds but get knocked around easily, while heavier machines trade speed and agility for survivability and raw impact. Building your preferred rider–machine combo is a big part of the game’s long-term depth.

Game modes overview — Kirby Air Riders brings back the three pillars from Kirby Air Ride—Air Ride, City Trial, and Top Ride—and expands them for Switch 2. Air Ride is the main behind-the-back racing mode with a full set of courses and support for online and local multiplayer. Top Ride returns as a top-down, party-style mode that emphasizes chaotic group play and supports larger lobbies. City Trial comes back as the headline mode, letting players roam a big shared map, collect power-ups, and then funnel into a random Stadium event. On top of that, the new Road Trip story mode strings challenges and events together into a structured campaign, blending racing, City Trial-style missions, and boss encounters.

City Trial and Stadium events — In City Trial, you and other players drop into a sprawling city map where machines, power-ups, and hazards are scattered everywhere. You have a limited time window to hunt for better rides, stat boosts, and secret items while meteor showers, environmental events, and surprise encounters keep the session unpredictable. When time runs out, everyone is thrown into a Stadium event—this might be a traditional race, a destruction derby, a boss fight, or a skill-based mini-game—where your build choices pay off (or don’t). This loop is designed to be highly replayable and is the mode most fans gravitate to for long sessions.

Online play and the Paddock lobby — Kirby Air Riders leans heavily into online features. Before races, players can gather in an online lobby called the Paddock, a social hub where you can show off machines, emotes, and license customizations while matchmaking runs in the background. Different modes support different player counts, with larger lobbies in City Trial and Top Ride to create a festival-like feel. Ranked-style progression is tracked via a Global Win Power stat displayed on your license, so your online performance has a visible, long-term record.

Progression, Miles currency, and customization — The game uses an in-game currency called Miles that you earn simply by playing. Miles can be spent in the shop to unlock cosmetic items, machine parts, and more ways to personalize your rider and vehicles. The My Machines menu lets you tweak your favorite rides with visual and minor gameplay customizations, while your player license can be decorated with stickers, effects, and titles. The classic checklist system from Kirby Air Ride returns as well, rewarding you for completing specific challenges across modes with unlocks and Easter eggs.

Daily events and limited-time modes — Beyond the core offerings, Kirby Air Riders runs a rotation of Daily Air Ride courses and Limited Time Events that introduce special rules or highlight particular tracks, machines, or modifiers. These limited windows encourage players to log in regularly, try different playstyles, and compete under curated conditions. It’s also a smart way to keep the online community focused and matchmaking fast, especially around launch and major updates.

Amiibo and tie-in content — Nintendo supports Kirby Air Riders with a dedicated line of Kirby-themed amiibo that pair characters with signature machines. Scanning compatible amiibo can unlock Figure Players, AI partners that you can train, as well as cosmetic extras. Nintendo’s ecosystem also ties the game into the Nintendo Music app with soundtrack selections and periodically features it in icon element campaigns and themed online events around major updates or holidays.

How Kirby Air Riders compares to Kirby Air Ride and Mario Kart — Kirby Air Riders keeps the spirit of Kirby Air Ride’s simple controls and City Trial chaos while dramatically expanding its scope. Courses are more detailed, rosters are larger, online play is far more robust, and Road Trip adds a story-laced structure that the original never had. Compared with Mario Kart World on Switch 2, Kirby Air Riders is less about tight cornering and item cycling and more about machine mastery, Copy Abilities, and build crafting during City Trial. If you liked the feel of Air Ride but always wanted more systems and long-term goals, this sequel is built to scratch that itch.

Tips for new players — If you are coming from traditional kart racers, the biggest adjustment is trusting the auto-acceleration and focusing on lines, charge timing, and ability usage. Start in Air Ride to learn course layouts, then move into City Trial once you are comfortable with basic handling. Pay attention to machine stats and pick a ride that suits your comfort level instead of always chasing the flashiest options. In online play, don’t panic in early City Trial minutes—prioritize survivability and consistent upgrades over chasing every fight.

Family and accessibility notes — Kirby Air Riders supports local multiplayer, making it a strong pick for family sessions. The simplified controls help younger or less experienced players stay competitive while advanced mechanics still reward mastery. Online features include basic safety tools like reporting and matchmaking filters; parents should ensure Nintendo Accounts and child profiles are set up with the appropriate restrictions before enabling online play and voice chat.

How to follow updates and events — For official news, patch notes, event schedules, and future content plans, follow Nintendo’s Kirby Air Riders page, the game’s dedicated news posts on the Nintendo site, and any Kirby-focused Nintendo Directs. These channels announce new machines, modes, Daily Air Ride rotations, and special online demos. Avoid relying on leaks or unofficial social media posts for critical details like event times or competitive rule changes—always cross-check with Nintendo’s official outlets.

Bottom line — Kirby Air Riders is a full-scale modern revival of Kirby’s cult-favorite racing formula, blending approachable controls with deep buildcraft, online competition, and a robust City Trial experience. If you loved Kirby Air Ride or simply want a different flavor of kart-style chaos on Nintendo Switch 2, this game delivers a distinctive mix of high-speed racing, Copy Ability combat, and Kirby charm, with plenty of room to grow through events, updates, and community discoveries.