On Wednesday, Nintendo held its latest Kirby Air Riders Nintendo Direct livestream with game director Masahiro Sakurai. The full presentation showed would-be racers a more in-depth look at new and reinvented modes, online capabilities, racer and ride customization, and more ahead of the game’s November release. Like, way more. The pink wonder-focused presentation is the second Kirby Air Riders Direct in just three months; the first comprehensive Kirby Air Riders video aired back in August. Kirby Air Riders will put Planet Popstar’s most well-known faces behind the wheel — again. Air Riders, due out on November 20, is the highly anticipated sequel to 2003 GameCube hit Kirby Air Ride.
The surprisingly intricate 60-minute Direct began with a tongue-in-cheek statement from Sakurai: “Wait, the presentation is how long?” After introducing himself, he dove back into jokes: “‘Haven’t you gone over pretty much everything?’ is what some of you may be thinking… And you’d be right!”
Didn’t get to tune into the full Kirby Air Riders Nintendo Direct? That’s OK — we’ve got you covered. Check out our comprehensive rundown of all Planet Popstar goings-on you missed in Wednesday’s Direct presentation.
Game Modes
All nine original Air Ride courses are coming back. From “Fantasy Meadows” to “Nebula Belt,” the returning tracks bring the game’s total number of courses to 18. Check out what else Sakurai revealed about what’s coming to racers’ consoles next month:
Top Ride
Top Ride is back, and this mode shows racers a top-down perspective. Choose you rider and machine, and head into the fray. Use your powerful abilities — Quick Spins, Boost Charges, Kirby’s beloved Copy Abilities — to take down other racers. Like most kart racers, there are also items to be utilized. In Top Ride, players get access to mode-exclusive tools like Kaboomb, Drift Flames, and Drill Driver. Enjoy Top Ride online with up to eight players, or stay offline and host a four-player couch co-op match like the old days — only one console necessary.
Road Trip
Mario Kart World, is that you? In Road Trip, racers the road and complete different challenges. Races, battles, Field Events, you name it — endure ’em all while collecting slick rides and items. Nintendo’s press release says that there is a story behind why Kirby, King Dedede, and all these other familiar faces are hitting the road, and says the presentation leaves some hints. Any ideas?
Paddock
Hang out in a lobby-like setting with the Kirby Air Riders Paddock. Congregate with your favorite Kirby characters, lead your rider around your new home base, set up matches, interact with other players, customize your ride, pick your perfect gameplay mode, and let the match begin. “It’s even possible for several matches to be happening within a single paddock,” Nintendo says in its release. “Players can also change the music. You can also send emotes, and work on character poses using the control sticks in combination.”
Swap Relay
The presentation dove deeper into Air Ride mode, introducing Swap Relay. Like the name implies, this relay-style race requires players to pick a machine for each individual lap. As you round out one lap and enter the next, machines swap automatically. Tinker and toy with your ride to reach peak performance, or, if you really wanna lean into the whole “relay” thing, pass your baton (sorry, controller) to your friends and family after each lap.
Transform Star
The Transform Star is both a star-type flying machine AND a bike-type driving machine, and with players’ left stick, they can easily toggle between both types to keep it fresh and throw a wrench into your opponents’ podium plans. The Transform Star is a new ride; the versatile Transform Star is one of many brand-new additions not seen in Kirby Air Ride.
Checklist
The Kirby Air Ride Checklist is back, though! My fellow completionists that like to leave no stone unturned, this one’s for us: Clear objectives and power through that list. As you tick boxes, you’ll unlock more and more content. The game contains five Checklist tabs, according to Nintendo’s press release: Air Ride, Top Ride, City Trial, Road Trip and Online. “Rest assured that there are no riders or machines locked behind the Online tab,” Nintendo says, “so completing that tab is not required. You can jump in immediately and start filling up your Checklist.”
Considering the flack Nintendo’s download-only Game-Key Cards have gotten, this is welcome news.
amiibo
The presentation revealed more of the Kirby Air Riders amiibo figures, and apparently, they’re much bigger than the standard amiibo figures. Sakurai presented new two-part packs containing Meta Knight & Shadow Star, King Dedede & Tank Star and Chef Kawasaki & Hop Star during the Direct. Each rider, including the new ones, easily attach to their respective rides. “Swap them out with other Kirby Air Riders amiibo, with the new combo appearing in the game as well,” Nintendo promises. “You will also be able to train up your amiibo Figure Player and increase their experience levels.” The amiibo will launch on:
- Meta Knight & Shadow Star: March 5, 2026
- King Dedede & Tank Star: 2026
- Chef Kawasaki & Hop Star: 2026
Online & Local Multiplayer
Unsurprisingly, online and multiplayer elements will be a major facet of the upcoming sequel. For extra immersion, nab the Nintendo Switch 2-compatible GameCube controller and invite some friends over for a race or two. Air Riders will feature:
Global Win Power
Kirby Air Riders will feature a Class system and Global Win Power. The latter, measured with colors rather than a grade system. The seven colors of the rainbow indicate Class and allow players to match with equally-skilled racers in online matches. “Raising your Class level can inspire changes in City Trial, so keep an eye out. Each multiplayer game mode also has its own Global Win Power ranking, which is based on your total number of wins. Although not directly related to your Class ranking, it will increase the more you play. Your Global Win Power is also displayed on your License.”
Licenses
Your online multiplayer experience starts with creating a License! No long lines or DMV frustrations needed, of course. The in-game License acts as a player card and is how others will identify you when online. Your customizeable License is viewable when competing online, so don’t skimp on the frills. Players can customize their online IDs with glitter, stickers, and more.
Team Battles
Up to 16 players can play City Trial together, but with Team Battles, players are divided into two 8-person teams. Legendary machine parts are back and can be shared between teammates; those who pick ’em up, though, are the ones in charge of who gets to hop aboard.
Hone Your Skills
As a single player, play Time Attack in either Air Ride or Top Ride modes and challenge yourself to get your best time over a set number of laps. Or play Free Run in either of those modes, too, and practice your moves or set your own Personal Best in a pressure-free environment without any opponents in your way. In City Trial, you can use Free Run to explore Skyah without any time limits or obstacles.
Customization
Believe it or not, there’s more to racers’ customization experience in Kirby Air Riders than we already expected. Sakurai showed players’ the fresh ways they can personalize their machines, garages, and even the music.
Miles
Unlike most car insurance plans, Kirby Air Riders rewards you for your Miles. Flip that odometer confidently, because the further you’ve hauled your driver, the more accessories you earn. These accrued Miles act as in-game currency, so speed to the Miles Shop and snag snazzy new machines, vehicle and License decorations, music tracks, and Headwear.
My Machine
Decals, accessories, patterns — go nuts! My Machine serves as a quasi-body shop, allowing racers to personalize their vehicles to their heart’s content. When you’re ready, move your machine to the Market where you can sell it, pick up some spending money, and acquire machines designed by other players. Nintendo’s press release warns, however, that “[t]he more your machine sells, the more expensive it gets (but don’t worry, you don’t actually lose the machine if it sells). In addition to decorating your machine, you can create your own custom garage to show off your unique rides. Invite friends from the paddock to come and hang, too!”
Gummies
New to Kirby Air Riders are machine-shaped Gummies collectibles. Each is shaped like past opponents; for every rival you place higher than in a competition, you’ll earn a Gummy of their machine. “Inhale them, fire them into the sky and generally hold onto them as trophies of all the opponents you’ve defeated. Who knows, maybe you’ll become a Gummillionaire!”
My Music
Sakurai shouted out game composers Shogo Sakai and Noriyuki Iwadare, who worked on Kirby Air Ride and the Super Smash Bros. series respectively. Like in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Kirby Air Riders has a My Music option that allows players to pick their favorite tune for their next City Trial. Additionally, new music has landed on the Nintendo Music app today.
Language
Cusotmization doesn’t stop there. Kirby Air Riders will also feature announcer voices in different languages and styles, letting players tailor just about every last detail of their match to their personal preferences. Want some cutting commentary during races? You got it. Want a narrator for your Road Trip? You can do that, too.
Kirby Air Riders: Global Test Ride Event
Heads-up to my fellow Nintendo Switch Online members: experience Kirby Air Riders ahead of its launch with the upcoming Global Test Ride. Explore the game’s Lessons, Air Ride, and even pop into select courses for a sneak peek. Players can peek into a Paddock, create a room, host friends, or welcome international racers. During the Global Test Ride, the Paddock will accomodate 16 racers; the complete retail version will allow up to 32 players.
The online demo event, scheduled for Nov. 8-9 and Nov. 15-16, are exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 users:
- Nov. 8, 12:00 am – 6:00 am PT
- Nov. 8, 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm PT
- Nov. 9, 7:00 am – 1:00 pm PT
- Nov. 15, 12:00 am – 6:00 am PT
- Nov. 15, 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm PT
- Nov. 16, 7:00 am – 1:00 pm PT
The Global Test Ride software can be downloaded from Nintendo eShop starting the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 7.
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