Does Kirby Air Riders improve upon its predecessor and its place in Switch 2's lineup, or should the Kirby Air Ride franchise be left out to pasture?
Kirby Air Riders2025
Kirby Air Riders
2025 Nintendo80Great
Playtime
LongIt typically takes about 50 hours to finish the game.
Playable on
Available on
- $69.99
Game modes
- 2–8 players
- 2–16 players
Details
Overview
Kirby Air Riders is the long-awaited sequel to Kirby Air Ride on the Gamecube. Pick your rider, pick your machine, and mount up for competition! Take on your rivals in frantic arena battles or fast-paced races on the ground and in the air. Use the Boost Charge button to brake and control your turns as your machine automatically fights for top speed. Fill your Boost Charge Gauge as you drift around the bend and release it to trigger an explosive dash!
Screenshots
Reception
Press80
Great- Metacritic79from 116 reviews
- OpenCritic82from 58 reviews
Playing Kirby Air Riders is like learning a new language – it takes a lot of compromise, and it’s not for everyone. It’s those who master the basics who will soon find many new ways to approach each game mode, providing depth and replayability. If you meet Kirby Air Riders on its own terms, you will be rewarded with a gauntlet that’s bursting with thrills,...
It takes some getting used to, but this Mario Kart challenger soon reveals a satisfyingly zen, minimalist approach to competitive racing
Kirby Air Riders is an inflexible experience, forcing the player to learn its mechanics and engage with all its modes to get the most out of it, and it's a better game for it. Its gameplay is simple to learn but hard to master, and with such a variety of machines and modes, there are a lot of different definitions of what that mastery looks like. It's...
From the robust character roster, surprising depth of customization options, and an impressive amount of content to see, do, and unlock, Kirby Air Riders is easily my favorite racing game of the year. It's a triumph from start to finish, and I can't wait to spend countless hours in City Trial and beyond.