8.5 /10 29

Kirby and the Forgotten Land marks the series’ first full 3D mainline entry, representing HAL Laboratory’s triumphant solution after decades of failed 3D experiments dating back to the 2000s. Released March 25, 2022, this action-platformer earned Metacritic’s 85/100 score and critical praise for innovative Mouthful Mode mechanics, approachable design, and surprising depth. The game introduces Kirby to post-apocalyptic ruins filled with exploration opportunities, upgrade systems, and meaningful collectibles. This review covers the transition to 3D, performance characteristics, and why this represents the best Kirby game in years for both longtime fans and newcomers.

How to Play Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby navigates stage-based levels across different worlds, rescuing captured Waddle Dees and defeating Beast Pack enemies. His core mechanic remains unchanged: inhale enemies to gain copy abilities granting new combat options. New Mouthful Mode lets Kirby consume and control larger objects like cars and vending machines, creating puzzle solutions impossible through traditional abilities. Progression unlocks upgradeable copy abilities at Waddle Dee Town’s weapons shop.

1. Controls – Press Y to inhale, attack with B, and use copy abilities with ZR. Joy-Con controls feel responsive and natural; no motion controls required. Beginner-friendly with accessible input schemes.
2. Progression – Complete stages rescuing Waddle Dees to expand Waddle Dee Town. Rescue Waddle Dees found in cages or by completing stage-specific objectives. Unlocking town facilities provides minigames and upgrade materials.
3. Combat/Mechanics – Copy 20+ abilities including Sword, Gun, Ice, and new Drill and Ranger powers. Evolved ability variants unlock after collecting Rare Stones from Treasure Road challenges, significantly expanding combat depth.
4. Tips – Explore thoroughly for hidden collectibles in each stage. Complete Treasure Road challenges to gather upgrade materials. Waddle Dee Town grows with rescued Waddle Dees, unlocking new shops and minigames.

Who Should Play Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby’s first 3D adventure accommodates casual players seeking relaxing platforming while offering sufficient depth for longtime series fans. The accessible difficulty, charming Waddle Dee ecosystem, and exploration-based design create universal appeal. Local co-op extends enjoyment, though players seeking online multiplayer must look elsewhere.

• Kirby Series Fans – Longtime players finally get the 3D Kirby experience HAL Laboratory developed for decades. Copy abilities translate perfectly to 3D; Mouthful Mode innovates while respecting series identity.
• Casual Platformer Fans – Minimal difficulty demands mean relaxed progression without frustration. The 8-10 hour story suits players preferring narrative-driven experiences over challenge-seeking.
• Exploration Enthusiasts – Stage design emphasizes optional content discovery. Hidden Waddle Dees, collectibles, and Treasure Road challenges reward thorough exploration without overwhelming casual players.
• Skip if – You demand online multiplayer or challenging difficulty. The game runs at 30 fps, problematic for players sensitive to frame rate. Kirby’s movement feels intentionally grounded rather than fluid.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Platform Performance

Running at 30 fps on standard Switch hardware, Kirby represents HAL Laboratory’s technical trade-off prioritizing visual fidelity over frame rate. The August 2025 Switch 2 Edition significantly improves performance. This represents a notable difference from Super Mario Odyssey’s 60 fps implementation, reflecting different design philosophies.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land System Requirements

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is exclusive to Nintendo Switch and forthcoming Switch 2 hardware. No PC, PlayStation, or Xbox versions exist. Physical cartridges and digital eShop downloads both available; game requires approximately 4.9 GB of storage space.

Similar Games to Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Players seeking comparable 3D platforming experiences will find several strong alternatives on Switch. Each offers different approaches to exploration-based level design, though Kirby’s Mouthful Mode remains mechanically unique among Switch platformers.

• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury – Linear level-based platformer with excellent camera control and cooperative play. Feels more structured than Kirby’s free exploration but equally polished.
• Super Mario Odyssey – Open-world exploration platformer with possession mechanics replacing Kirby’s copy abilities. 60 fps performance and denser content, though higher price point.
• Spyro Reignited Trilogy – Colorful 3D action platformer with boss battles and collectathon elements. Slightly more challenging than Kirby with similar cartoony charm.
• Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker – Puzzle-platformer emphasizing exploration over jumping. Different pace from Kirby but similar joy in discovering hidden secrets throughout levels.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land vs Competitors

Kirby holds its own against other Switch platformers through superior exploration design and unique mechanics. The comparison reveals Kirby’s strengths in accessibility and charm while exposing weaker performance and technical ambition compared to Odyssey.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Story and World

The adventure begins when a dark vortex over Dream Land sucks everything into a mysterious realm filled with ancient ruins and hostile wildlife called the Beast Pack. Kirby awakens in this forgotten land and meets Elfilin, a chinchilla-like creature helping the kidnapped Waddle Dees. Together they explore post-apocalyptic landscapes, from frozen wastelands to lush forests, uncovering the world’s mysterious history. The narrative unfolds through exploration and character interactions rather than heavy exposition, revealing that this forgotten land once hosted an advanced civilization.

The tone remains light and playful despite post-apocalyptic aesthetics, maintaining the series’ wholesome charm. Waddle Dee Town serves as a central hub where rescued Waddle Dees build community, creating emotional investment in their liberation. After completing the main story, the optional “Isolated Isles: Forgo Dreams” epilogue continues the narrative, offering deeper lore for engaged players.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Multiplayer and Online

Local co-op becomes available after completing the tutorial stage, allowing two-player campaign progression. Player one controls Kirby with all copy abilities and Mouthful Modes, while player two pilots Bandana Waddle Dee with spear-based combat. Online features focus on community engagement rather than multiplayer gameplay.

• Local Co-op Campaign – Both players control their respective characters through all stages simultaneously; Player 2 (Bandana Waddle Dee) cannot use Kirby’s copy abilities but provides unique combat contributions through spear attacks.
• No Online Campaign – Co-op restricted to local play only; no option for online partner play despite 2022 release date when online co-op became industry standard.
• Waddle Dee Town Leaderboards – Online leaderboards track minigame high scores in Waddle Dee Town activities, encouraging community competition across global rankings.
• Cross-Play Statistics – Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can view game statistics aggregated across the entire player base, providing context for personal progress.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land DLC and Expansions

Kirby and the Forgotten Land received no paid DLC, instead receiving free updates focusing on bug fixes and stability. The August 2025 Switch 2 Edition introduces substantial new content unavailable on original Switch hardware, establishing precedent for console-specific expansions.

• Free Stability Patches – Regular updates addressed minor issues without adding substantial content; game remains feature-complete from launch.
• Star-Crossed World Campaign – Exclusive to Switch 2 Edition, this new story campaign features fresh Mouthful Modes and additional 3-5 hours of content; not available as DLC for original Switch version.
• Performance Enhancement (2025) – August 2025 patch for original Switch added Switch 2 support preparation; Switch 2 Edition features 60 fps performance and enhanced graphics.
• No Season Pass – Neither original nor Switch 2 Edition features battle passes, cosmetic monetization, or premium content tiers.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Community and Support

Community engagement remains strong three years post-launch, with active player bases exploring secrets and sharing creations. Developer support emphasizes stability and celebration of player creativity rather than post-launch content creation.

• Official Nintendo Community – Nintendo of America and regional Nintendo accounts share fan highlights, speedruns, and creative content featuring Kirby art and gameplay clips.
• Reddit and Discord Communities – Dedicated r/Kirby subreddit with 500,000+ members remains active for strategy discussion, theory crafting, and fan art. Multiple Discord servers organize community events.
• Content Creator Ecosystem – Successful YouTube content creators maintain dedicated Kirby channels with strategy guides and speedruns; TikTok content featuring Carby (car Kirby) virality demonstrates enduring cultural appeal.
• Speedrunning Scene – Established speedrunning community with tracked times across multiple categories; “any%” runs completed in 30-35 minutes dominate speedrun.com leaderboards.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Critical Reception

Kirby and the Forgotten Land received broadly favorable reviews upon March 2022 release with Metacritic’s 85/100 aggregate representing strong critical consensus. Destructoid (9.5/10), GameSpot (9/10), Game Informer (9/10), and Nintendo Life (9/10) exemplify the enthusiastic response. OpenCritic reports 94% of critics recommended the game. Critics universally praised the successful 3D transition, Mouthful Mode innovation, and exploration-based level design.

The local co-op implementation drew particular praise for seamlessly accommodating younger players while remaining engaging for experienced gamers. Minor criticism targeted the 30 fps frame rate, Kirby’s intentionally grounded movement feeling less fluid than comparables, and recurring mini-bosses lacking variety. Despite these critiques, reviewers consistently ranked Forgotten Land among the best Kirby entries ever released, justifying the long wait for the series’ 3D debut.