Kirby Air Riders US box art forKirby Air Riders Details Developer(s) Sora Ltd.[1] Bandai Namco Studios[2] Publisher(s) Nintendo Designer(s) Masahiro Sakurai[1] Release date(s) November 20th, 2025 Platform(s) Nintendo Switch 2 Supported languages Japanese, American English, British English, Canadian French, European French, Italian, German, Latin American Spanish, European Spanish, Dutch, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese Rating(s) ESRB: PEGI: CERO: Game size 25 GB

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Kirby Air Riders is a spin-offKirby game for theNintendo Switch 2 that was released on November 20th, 2025. It is a direct sequel to the 2003Nintendo GameCube gameKirby Air Ride. For the first time since he leftHAL Laboratory in 2003,Masahiro Sakurai returns as director, marking the first time he has directed aKirby game since the originalKirby Air Ride, and the firstKirby game he has been involved with at all sinceKirby & The Amazing Mirror.

TwoKirby Air Riders Directs starring Masahiro Sakurai were held before the game's release, showcasing various aspects of the game: one released on August 19th, 2025, and another released on October 23rd, 2025.Kirby Air Riders also has two dedicatedTwitter accounts, one in English and one in Japanese; a list of posts from both accounts can be foundhere. In addition, various news posts on theNintendo Today! app feature clips and screenshots, as well as interactive 3D models of the machines. Finally, ademo of the game, titledKirby Air Riders: Global Test Ride, was available to play for free from November 7th to November 16th, 2025.

Controls[edit]

The controls forKirby Air Riders remain very similar to the original game, with the same simplistic control scheme of the control stick and a single button being required for normal play. However, unlike the original, the default button used is the B button rather than the A button. Additionally, a second button, the Y button, is now used for certain actions that are new to the game. The basic fundamentals of the original remain intact, theAir Ride machines move forward automatically and the control stick is used to steer the machine. The B button causes the machine to brake and start aBoost Charge and letting go of the button will cause aBoost Dash. Flicking the control stick from left to right once again causes the machine to do aQuick Spin.Gliding also functions the same, with tilting up on the control stick causing the machine to dive downward and tilting down causing the machine to pull upward.

Compared to the original game, a much larger focus is put on the characters riding the machines, as there are now many more playable characters in the game, known as Riders. Each rider has their ownSpecial move that is unleashed by using the Y button. These have varying effects depending on the rider which can either be used offensively or to speed up in order to catch up with other racers. Despite the larger variety of characters, all riders can still use theInhale move when pressing the B button near an enemy, but for characters that cannot inhale, they will instead use a move calledCapture which functions identically. The game also introduces two new copy abilities, those beingFlash andSteel Ball.

Another new mechanic introduced is theStar Slide, which allows riders that are behind to catch up more easily. Air Ride machines now emit stars behind themselves when moving forward. To use this new technique, riders must trail behind these stars in order to get a speed boost. Additionally, hitting enemies and opponents now causes stars to appear that also give the rider a speed boost.

The Y button sees use in more new techniques inCity Trial, in which it is used to swap machines more quickly without needing to dismount. More details can be found in the "City Trial" section below. It is still possible to dismount machines as before and run on foot without a machine; the number of midair jumps that can be done in the air depends on the rider that is being used.

Modes[edit]

Air Ride[edit]

Main article:Air Ride

Air Ride returns from the original game, functioning much the same as before. The mode now supports up to 6 players racing at once. Some rule options from the original return, such as changing the number of laps, slowing the game tempo, and being able to turn on the ability to destroyAir Ride machines, which is usually only possible in City Trial. If a rider's machine is destroyed with this rule set, they retire and are eliminated from the race.

Courses[edit]

Air Ride features a total of 18 courses, with 9 new courses in addition to all 9 courses from the original game. While each returning course has an updated appearance, being outfitted with new textures and refreshed lighting, the model geometry of each course is largely unaltered.

New courses in Air Ride
Course	Description	Default lap count	Unlock requirement
Floria Fields	A calm meadow course filled with gigantic flowers and a cave.	3	Available from the start.
Waveflow Waters	A hectic beach course featuring a parting sea, whirlpools, shipwrecks, and airborne water roads.	2	Available from the start.
Airtopia Ruins	A course set in the ruins of an ancient fallen kingdom on a floating island.	2	Available from the start.
Crystalline Fissure	A course filled with crystallic structures with various caves, including an underground volcanic cave.	2	Available from the start.
Steamgust Forge	A course set in a steampunk environment featuring a train, a gigantic smoky furnace, and an air fleet. This course was first revealed in aNintendo Music track listing.	2	Available from the start.
Cavernous Corners	A course that begins in a lush jungle, only to descend into gemstone-ridden ruins, leading to a treasure room.	2	Available from the start.
Cyberion Highway	A glitched cyberspace course featuring a variety of hazards like lasers or falling platforms.	2	Available from the start.
Mount Amberfalls	A sunset-lit mountain course that goes from the top of a snowy peak, through a forested cliffside with a waterfall, and ending on a beach.	1	Available from the start.
Galactic Nova	A course that starts in space approachingGalactic Nova, then enters theGalactic Nova Nucleus, ending with Nova being destroyed.	1	Air Ride Win a total of 15 times
Returning courses in Air Ride
Course	Description	Default lap count	Unlock requirement
Fantasy Meadows	A course that begins in a grassy plain area and ends through a cave, featuring a basic path shaped as a hoop.	3	Air Ride Win 2 times in a row
Celestial Valley	A moonlit canyon course filled with water and exotic plants, featuring alternative paths, rails and bottomless pits.	2	Air Ride:Cyberion Highway Break 10 triangular obstacles in a single race
Sky Sands	A sand-based course set in ruins, featuring concealed pathways, moving platforms and air lifts.	2	Air Ride:Cavernous Corners (Laps) Finish without coming into contact with the hugeGolem in the road
Frozen Hillside	An icy arctic course that features tunnels, tubes, long rails and boosters.	2	Air Ride:Crystalline Fissure Complete 2 laps in the lead position
Magma Flows	A volcanic magma course that features multiple alternative paths.	2	Air Ride:Steamgust Forge (Laps) Finish without touching the molten steel
Beanstalk Park	An upright sky-based course that features many rails and plants.	2	Air Ride:Mount Amberfalls Stay in the lead for 60 sec. in a single race
Machine Passage	A futuristic mechanical course set in a complex, featuring hazards, boost panels and a huge cannon.	2	Air Ride:Airtopia Ruins Pass through ancient rings 4 times and complete a lap without reversing
Checker Knights	A medieval castle-themed course that features many turns, rails and alternative paths.	2	Air Ride:Fantasy Meadows (Laps) Finish 3 laps within 1:00.00
Nebula Belt	An outer space course shaped as a figure-8 that only features ramps and Copy Chance Wheels.	2	Air Ride:Galactic Nova (Laps) Defeat 5 types of enemies on the course and complete a lap

Top Ride[edit]

Main article:Top Ride

Top Ride returns from the original game, though with some major differences. Notably, theFree Star and theSteer Star do not return from the original mode. Instead, it is now possible to use any machine in this mode. It is still possible to choose between turning freely or by steering, but it is now relegated to an option in the menu. In addition, rather than only items exclusive to this mode appearing, items from the City Trial mode and Copy Essences also appear.

Courses[edit]

Top Ride's courses are heavily inspired by the Air Ride courses. They are all available from the start and don't need to be unlocked, with the exception of Nova, which is unlocked by winning 15 times in Top Ride. Unlike the Air Ride courses from the original game, the original Top Ride courses do not return.

Courses in Top Ride
Course	Description	Default lap count	Unlock requirement
Flower	A simple floral meadow course that features windmills and rotating floors. Based onFloria Fields.	4	Available from the start.
Flow	A beach-themed course that features rising tides. Based onWaveflow Waters.	4	Available from the start.
Air	A sky-based course set in ruins, featuring bouncy clouds and airborne twisters. Based onAirtopia Ruins.	4	Available from the start.
Crystal	A gemstone course featuring sparkling crystals. Based onCrystalline Fissure.	4	Available from the start.
Steam	A mechanical steampunk course that features moving walls and rapid lifts. Based onSteamgust Forge.	4	Available from the start.
Cave	A course set in a temple. Based onCavernous Corners.	4	Available from the start.
Cyber	A course set in cyberspace, featuring vortex portals that warp riders. Based onCyberion Highway.	4	Available from the start.
Mountain	An autumn-based course set in a sunset-lit mountain with a mix between beaches and snowy peaks, featuring falling items from cable transports. Based onMount Amberfalls.	2	Available from the start.
Nova	A course set in outer space with various linear paths connected by portals. Based onGalactic Nova.	2	Top Ride Win a total of 15 times

City Trial[edit]

Main article:City Trial

City Trial also returns from the original game, now taking place on a floating island known asSkyah. The mode supports up to eight players locally and up to 16 players online.

Various changes have been made to the mode, such as the ability to instantly swap Air Ride machines without having to dismount, and the ability to steal other riders' machines if theirs is about to break, both done by pressing the Y button when near the machine. Items can now be stored in reserve whenever a new item is picked up, but only one item may be kept in reserve; if the item has already been partially used up, it will stay that way when taking it out of reserve.

A new rival mechanic has been added. When the player is defeated by another player, a rival mark will appear on the other player. When the player defeats the marked rival, they will get revenge on them. This allows the player to steal more power-ups from the rival than usual. The marked rival cannot get revenge back, as a mark will not appear on the player who got revenge on them.^[3]

New events have also been added, most notably theShort Race andDustup Derby events, which cause a Reception area to appear. After a certain amount of time passes, all riders who reach the Reception will compete with each other. Depending on how well a rider performs, they will earn a higher number of power-ups once the event ends. Riders who choose to avoid participating see those who are currently participating in these events as ghosts and cannot interact with them.

Stadiums also function differently from before. At the end of a match, rather than a Stadium being randomly selected, all participants select one of four options. This functions differently depending on how many players there are. This voting system can be toggled off to play with the original rules instead.

If the number of participants is eight or less, everyone will participate in the same Stadium, but all players can vote for which one they want to play, and it will be picked randomly from all the Stadiums that were voted for.

If the number of participants is nine or more, each player can choose the Stadium they want to compete in, and then everyone who picked that Stadium will compete with each other. A maximum of eight players can compete in a given Stadium at a time. If more than eight players choose one Stadium, they will be split into two groups. If no one else chooses a certain Stadium, the player who picked it wins by default.

It is also possible in any case for the Stadium to be chosen randomly; when this happens, the Stadium will be announced before the match starts. New Stadium types have also been added, such asSkydive andGourmet Race. In addition to the standard Stadium predictions that appear during a match, thePrediction Codex is a new item that provides predictions about which Stadium will be played. Both of these may provide inaccurate predictions, how the inaccuracies are displayed varies. In the event that the Gigantes is assembled and active at the end of a match, the chosen Stadium is guaranteed to be replaced with VS. Gigantes.

Stadiums[edit]

City Trial features 16 Stadiums in total, double that ofKirby Air Ride. All Stadiums from the original game return with the exception ofVS. King Dedede, which is replaced byVS. Boss. Most Stadiums have at least 1 variant.

Stadiums in City Trial
Stadium	Variants	Description
Kirby Melee	2	A battle-focused Stadium where riders have to defeat as many continuously-spawning enemies as possible within 1 minute.
Dustup Derby	5	A battle-focused Stadium where riders have to KO other riders as many times as possible in a minute and 30 seconds. Whenever a rider is KO'd, they will respawn a couple seconds later.
Big Battle (new)	3	A battle-focused Stadium similar to Dustup Derby, where riders have to KO other riders as many times as possible whileSize Up andSize Down items frequently spawn throughout the match.
Single Race	17	A racing-focused Stadium consisting of a single lap around one of theAir Ride courses (exceptGalactic Nova). The goal is simply to win the race, though riders can be KO'd and forced to retire.
Drag Race	4	A racing-focused Stadium where riders have to reach the finish line on a straight course as fast as possible, utilizingdash zones to go faster.
Oval Circuit (new)	1	A racing-focused Stadium consisting of a 3-lap race around an oval-shaped course featuring some ramps andCopy Ability panels..
Rail Panic (new)	1	A racing-focused Stadium where riders have to grind overrails while quickly swapping between them to use dash rings and avoid largeGordos.
Beam Gauntlet (new)	2	A racing-focused Stadium similar to Drag Race, where riders race on a straight course while avoiding harmful lasers.
Air Glider	1	A gliding-focused Stadium where riders are tasked with jumping off a ramp andgliding as far as possible before hitting the ground.
High Jump	1	A gliding-focused Stadium similar to Air Glider, where riders must fly as high as possible before losing altitude.
Target Flight	3	A gliding-focused Stadium where riders must fly into panels with numbers on them to gain points. It takes place over the course of two rounds.
VS. Boss (new)	4	A stadium where riders must battle one of four different bosses, gaining more points depending on how much damage they deal.
Gourmet Race (new)	1	A collection-focused Stadium based on thegame fromKirby Super Star, where riders must eat the most food scattered around the area.
Skydive (new)	2	A collection-focused Stadium where riders must dive through rings worth varying amounts of points before trying to land on a panel at the bottom. Bonus points are awarded for finishing the fall quickly.
Button Rush (new)	2	A collection-focused Stadium where riders have to drive over buttons to gain points. Points are lost if an opponent manages to ride over opposing players' buttons.
VS. Gigantes (new)	1	A special Stadium that only appears if any rider gathers all three parts ofGigantes and manages to keep the machine until the Stadium. It tasks the rider riding Gigantes against all other riders; unlike normal Stadiums, it does not have the 8-player limit. The rider using Gigantes wins if they get a certain amount of KOs or 2 minutes pass, while the other riders win if they destroy Gigantes within the time limit by destroying its weak points.

Road Trip[edit]

Main article:Road Trip

Along with the three returning modes,Kirby Air Riders also features a brand new mode calledRoad Trip. It is the game'sStory Mode, wherein the player goes on an adventure and partakes in challenges from each of the other three game modes.

Characters[edit]

Riders[edit]

Playable characters in this game are known as riders. Each have their own special abilities and stats that make them different from each other. They also all have aSpecial move that can be activated when the Special Gauge is filled. Unlike the original game, characters other than Kirby can ride any Air Ride machine, rather than having their own methods of travel. Because of this, they are no longer treated as machines themselves and are instead selected from a more traditional character selection screen. As such, the roster has been expanded from just Kirby and the Air Ride machine-equivalentKing Dedede andMeta Knight in the original game to a total of 21 unique riders.

OnlyKirby,King Dedede,Meta Knight andWaddle Dee are available by default. Every other rider can be unlocked via two different tasks in theChecklist (excludingNoir Dedede, who can only be unlocked by clearingRoad Trip's New Game +). Some riders can also be unlocked by scanning theiramiibo.

Riders inKirby Air Riders
Character	Caption	Special	Unlock requirement(s)	Notes
Kirby	A light and floaty friend to all! This well-balanced hero has no clear weaknesses.	Varies depending on color: Pink:Ultra Sword Yellow, Green:Crash Red, Purple:Burn Blue, Gray:Snow Bowl	Default (alternate colors can be unlocked via the methods listed below) Air Ride: Laps Finish without crashing into any walls Top Ride:Flower Win without getting anyCopy Abilities in a single race City Trial:Big Battle 2 Defeat a rider while shrunken Scan aKirby Air Riders,Kirby series, orSuper Smash Bros. seriesamiibo of Kirby.
King Dedede	A heavyweight rider who rules the raceway! Hits hard with his powerful hammer.	Jet Hammer	Default (alternate colors can be unlocked via the methods listed below) Air Ride Win with course, rider, and machine selections set to random City Trial:Gourmet Race Get 80 points in a single match Road Trip Clear a Treasure Hunt challenge Scan aKirby series orSuper Smash Bros. seriesamiibo of King Dedede. (His unreleasedKirby Air Riders amiibo will presumably work as well.)
Meta Knight	A shadowy defender who slashes rivals with his sword and slices through the air on dark wings.	Night Wing	Default (alternate colors can be unlocked via the methods listed below) Air Ride:Nebula Belt (Laps) Finish a lap without crashing into walls more than 2 times Top Ride:Nova Complete a lap without attacking another rider Scan aKirby series orSuper Smash Bros. seriesamiibo of Meta Knight. (His unreleasedKirby Air Riders amiibo will presumably work as well.)
Waddle Dee	A friendly lightweight with a tiny frame. Enjoys easy acceleration and smooth maneuvering.	Golden Waddle Dee	Default (alternate color can be unlocked via the methods listed below) Road Trip:Skyah Defeat 30 riders during City Trial challenges Scan aKirby seriesamiibo of Waddle Dee.
Bandana Waddle Dee	A sturdy rider who builds Boost Charge quickly. His trusty spear stings rivals like a hornet!	Spear Cyclone	City Trial: Field Destroy 2boxes within 30 sec. of the start of the match Road Trip:Top Ride Clear Top Ride challenges a total of 3 times Scan aKirby Air Ridersamiibo of Bandana Waddle Dee
Waddle Doo	Keeps an eye on nearby rivals, then hits 'em with a peeper-powered arc of optic blasts!	Waddle Doo Barrage	Air Ride:Floria Fields (Laps) Finish without crashing into any enemies Top Ride Hit a rider with a Course Quaker
Chef Kawasaki	A culinary genius who always has a ladle handy! Recovers an extra amount from food items.	Superspicy Cooking	Air Ride:Mount Amberfalls Eat the onigiri from the teahouse Road Trip: Air Ride Clear Air Ride challenges a total of 3 times (Scanning his unreleasedKirby Air Ridersamiibo will presumably unlock him too.)
Knuckle Joe	A fierce fighter who jabs at riders that come too close. Charge up fully for a flurry of punches!	Knuckle Rush	City Trial: Field Steal a machine that another rider is actively riding Road Trip Power up all stats to 1 or higher
Rick	A heavy, hamster-y animal friend who handles corners nimbly and can sprint on foot like a pro.	Rip-Roaring Rick	Top Ride:Mountain Win with at least 5 sec. between you and 2nd place Road Trip Enter the shop 3 times
Gooey	An odd creature of mysterious origin. Makes skillful use of his long, wiggly tongue.	Mock Dark Matter	Top Ride:Air Win after getting swept up in the tornado 3 times City Trial:Skydive 1 Get 2,000 points in a single match
Cappy	The mushroom cap doubles as a protective cushion. Race ahead of rivals before it falls apart!	Booster Cap	Top Ride:Flower Complete a lap within 0:30.00 withWarp Star City Trial: Field Clear without getting any power-down items	Marks its first playable appearance.
Rocky	Small in size but super sturdy. This heavyweight won't slip or shake easily!	Meteor Rocky	Top Ride Use a total of 30 items Road Trip Open a treasure chest on the road
Scarfy	A perfectly polite rider... Up until it loses its cool. When it gets mad, it gets fast!	Scarfy's Losin' It	Air Ride:Waveflow Waters Defeat an enemy Scarfy without making it mad City Trial: Field Destroy a rider's machine within the first 60 sec.	Outside ofKirby: Squeak Squad (whereGhost Kirby can possess it), this marks its first playable appearance in theKirby series.
Starman	Excels at airborne maneuvers. Jump for a burst of speed and soar right over your rivals!	Super Starman	Top Ride:Crystal Complete 4 laps in the lead position City Trial: Field Fall for 6 sec. after only Boosting once	Outside ofKirby: Squeak Squad (whereGhost Kirby can possess it), this marks its first playable appearance in theKirby series.
Lololo & Lalala	A duo of troublemakers riding together as one! Swap positions with a simple Quick Spin.	Emerald Framer	Air Ride:Crystalline Fissure (Laps) Finish within 3:30.00 Road Trip Defeat 10 riders that are riding on star-type machines	Outside ofKirby's Avalanche (where they could be controlled by the second player in 1P vs. 2P), this marks their first playable appearance in theKirby series.
Marx	A friendly face hiding dark and twisted schemes. Has impressive stats but can't take a hit.	True-Form Marx	Air Ride:Free Run Complete an entire lap without dropping below 30 km/h Road Trip Spend 300,000 Road Miles
Daroach	A sneaky, squeaky thief. Scratch to snatch up rival Copy Abilities, then vanish in a flash.	Sneaky Dash	Air Ride Find and defeat the special enemy,Gemaine Top Ride Win after lapping 1 other rider
Magolor	A sly spell caster who accelerates a lot after Star Slides. Attack rivals ahead of you with perfect landings!	Magolor Cannon	Top Ride Send the same rider flying 2 times withDrill Driver City Trial: Field Enter all secret rooms
Taranza	A clever arachnid with tight controls. Web and sling around corners for extra bursts of speed!	Spider Shots	Air Ride:Beanstalk Park (Time) Ride for a total of 5,000 m City Trial: Field Win aShort Race
Susie	A smug, shiny entrepreneur. Deploys a propeller to take off and float gently through the air.	Roboboosters	Air Ride Perform a perfect landing 5 times in a single race Road Trip Hit 3 enemies with a single attack
Noir Dedede	Zorah's granted wish finally set free. A lone warrior focused on a lonely mission.	Shadow Ride	Road Trip Defeat thetrue boss in Road Trip and watch the ending

Alternate colors[edit]

Each Rider has at least onealternate color palette the player can choose. Only Kirby's alternate colors affect gameplay, as they change what Special he can use.

An alternate color of an already available rider is unlocked if the player completes aChecklist task that would otherwise unlock said rider (with the exception of Kirby's yellow, red, and blue colors which are available by default, andNoir Dedede's alternate color which is unlocked by completing theRoad Trip Checklist). Some riders' alternate colors can also be unlocked by scanning theiramiibo. The alternate colors of riders that have multiple (Kirby,King Dedede, andMeta Knight) are unlocked in the order listed in the following table, no matter the order in which Checklist tasks are completed.

Colors inKirby Air Riders
Character	Color	Image	Notes	Unlock? (#)
Kirby	Pink		Kirby's default look. Uses theUltra SwordSpecial.
	Yellow		A common Kirby color originally based onKeeby. Uses theCrashSpecial.
	Green		A common Kirby color originally from theSuper Smash Bros. series (referred to as "Kusa mochi Kirby"), with the orange feet originating fromKirby: Nightmare in Dream Land. Uses the Crash Special.	(1)
	Red		A common Kirby color originally based onFire Kirby fromKirby Super Star. Uses theBurn Special.
	Purple		Resembles the LavenderSpray Paint fromKirby: Squeak Squad. Uses the Burn Special.	(2)
	Blue		A common Kirby color originally based onIce Kirby fromKirby Super Star. Uses theSnow Bowl Special.
	Gray		Based on Kirby's monochrome sprite fromKirby's Dream Land, identical to his gray color in theSuper Smash Bros. series. Uses the Snow Bowl Special.	(3)
King Dedede	Red		King Dedede's default look.
	Blue		One of King Dedede's alternate colors fromSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.	(1)
	Pink		One of King Dedede's alternate colors fromSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.	(2)
	Cyan		One of King Dedede's alternate colors fromSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.	(3)
Meta Knight	Navy		Meta Knight's default look.
	Gray		Based onDark Meta Knight. Taken fromSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.	(1)
	Pink		Based onGalacta Knight. Taken fromSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.	(2)
Waddle Dee	Orange		Waddle Dee's default look.
	Yellow		ResemblesParasol Waddle Dee'sHelper to Hero palette inKirby Super Star Ultra, and Parasol Waddle Dee's P2 palette inKirby Star Allies.	(1)
Bandana Waddle Dee	Orange & blue		Bandana Waddle Dee's default look.	(1)
	Red & purple			(2)
Waddle Doo	Orange		Waddle Doo's default look.	(1)
	Black & red			(2)
Chef Kawasaki	White & orange		Chef Kawasaki's default look.	(1)
	Black & dark orange		Resembles Chef Kawasaki's alternate mid-boss palette inKirby Star Allies, but with orange skin instead of white.	(2)
Knuckle Joe	Blue & red		Knuckle Joe's default look.	(1)
	Red & blue		Resembles Knuckle Joe's primary enemy palette inKirby Super Star andKirby Super Star Ultra, but with brown hair instead of purple.	(2)
Rick	Orange		Rick's default look.	(1)
	Brown		Resembles the coloration of awinter white dwarf hamster. Also similar to Rick'sSuper Game Boy palette when being ridden byStone Kirby inKirby's Dream Land 2.	(2)
Gooey	Blue		Gooey's default look.	(1)
	Dark blue		Resembles Gooey's darker color palette inKirby's Dream Land 3.	(2)
Cappy	Red & white		Cappy's default look.	(1)
	Purple & yellow		Resembles the cap of theSleep Copy Ability.	(2)
Rocky	Brown		Rocky's default look.	(1)
	Pink		Possibly based on the pink stone transformation of theStone ability inKirby Super Star andKirby Super Star Ultra. Also resemblesDroppy when imitating a Rocky inKirby & The Amazing Mirror, but with a blue headband instead of green. Also may reference real-lifeHimalayan rock salt, known for its distinctive pink coloration.	(2)
Scarfy	Orange		Scarfy's default look.	(1)
	Pink		Possibly based on Scarfy'sartwork fromKirby's Dream Land, itssprite fromKirby's Dream Land 3, or the appearance ofHunter Scarfy.	(2)
Starman	Blue		Starman's default look.	(1)
	Red		Resembles Starman's sprite inKirby's Dream Course.	(2)
Lololo & Lalala	Blue & pink		Lololo & Lalala's default look.	(1)
	Purple & orange		Based onLololo & Lalala's Revenge, particularly their appearance inKirby's Blowout Blast.	(2)
Marx	Blue & red		Marx's default look.	(1)
	Black & white		The black and white coloration resembles amime, orPierrot, a clown stock character used in 17th centurycommedia dell'arte.	(2)
Daroach	Red		Daroach's default look.	(1)
	Purple		Based onDark Daroach fromKirby: Squeak Squad.	(2)
Magolor	Blue		Magolor's default look.	(1)
	Gray		Based on Interdimensional Magolor fromMagolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler inKirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe.	(2)
Taranza	White, orange, green, & red		Taranza's default look.	(1)
	Yellow, purple, & black		Based onDark Taranza fromTeam Kirby Clash Deluxe.	(2)
Susie	Pink & silver		Susie's default look.	(1)
	Red & black		Based onParallel Susie fromTeam Kirby Clash Deluxe.	(2)
Noir Dedede	Silver & blue		Noir Dedede's default look.	(1)
	Copper & purple		Possibly based on the color scheme ofGalactic Nova. Unlocked after completing theChecklist forRoad Trip.	(2)

Enemies[edit]

Enemies inKirby Air Riders
Enemy	Image	Ability	Description	Notes
Balloon Bomber		Bomb	A floating, skull-masked bomb creature that drifts forward.
Bang-Bang		Missile	A flying sentient missile that tends to spawn when the player is in a losing position.
Blade Knight		Sword	A knight coated in green, metallic armor who rides a basic machine, and tends to strike incoming riders with his sword.
Bronto Burt		None	A pink adversary who travels across courses on insect-like wings.
Burnbon		Fire	A levitating, four-limbed ovoid creature which performs a fiery tackle through the air.
Broom Hatter		None	A faceless hat-wearing creature who can be seen flying across courses on a broomstick.
Cappy		None	A mushroom-like entity that hops in place on various courses. If a rider tries to inhale/capture it, they will get its cap first, which is separate from the Cappy itself.	Cappy also appears as a rider.
Cart Waddle Dee		None	A Waddle Dee that rides forward on a mine cart. The Waddle Dee can be removed from the cart if it is attacked.
Chilly		Freeze	A living snowman who skates across various courses. It emits a freezing aura if threatened.
Drillan		Drill	A drill-wielding opponent who quickly burrows through the ground if threatened.
Gemaine		None	A special, crystalline enemy which only appears if a rider falls far behind in a race. Defeating it instantly fills a rider'sSpecial Gauge.
Golem		N/A	A giant, ovoid stone creature who appears as an obstacle in Air Ride and attacks riders from the background in Top Ride.
Gordo		N/A	A floating, wide-eyed spike ball who is invulnerable to all attacks.
Jabjab		Fighter	A hopping, cloaked martial artist who performs a rapid punching attack.
J.J.		Jet	A helmeted enemy with jet thrusters for arms.
Noddy		Sleep	A small round creature with a nightcap that can be found sleeping on various courses.
Pichikuri		Needle	A bulbous round bird-like creature covered in spines that floats through the air.
Plasma Wisp		Plasma	A green, limbless creature composed of electricity which can be found floating across various courses.
Rollozer		Steel Ball	A heavily plated armadillo-like creature which curls into a ball to threaten opposing riders.
Scarfy		N/A	A deceptively cute hovering enemy that turns into a cycloptic monster if a rider tries to inhale/capture it.	Scarfy also appears as a rider.
Sir Kibble		Cutter	A yellow suit of armor who throws metal boomerangs at incoming riders.
Solite		None	A large round glowing creature who is often found in dark places and leaves behind damaging orbs when defeated.
Tac		N/A	A feline bandit who appears during a field event in City Trial, carrying a large amount ofPatches in its bag that it will drop when defeated.
Waddle Dee		None	A hapless little creature who can typically be seen traveling on foot. They attempt to dodge incoming riders as they perch in groups across courses.	Waddle Dee also appears as a rider.
Walky		Mike	An anthropomorphic microphone who can be seen singing on courses.
UFO		UFO	A sentient floating UFO that only appears if a rider falls behind in a race.
Wheelie		Wheel	A living wheel enemy who rides along plains.
Zapuzu		Flash	An electrical panel-like creature which creates an electric field when threatened.

City Trial event bosses[edit]

Field event bosses inKirby Air Riders
Boss	Description	Notes
Dyna Blade	An armored bird which stands immobile on the perimeter, with her head and feet being damageable.
Grand Wheelie	A giant Wheelie who swiftly patrols the roads. It is vulnerable to attacks on its backside.
Kracko	A large, cycloptic cloud, who slowly traverses the air while generating lightning to shoot at incoming riders. Kracko's weak point is his large, unguarded eye.

Stadium and Road Trip bosses[edit]

Stadium and Road Trip bosses inKirby Air Riders
Boss	Location(s)	Description	Notes
Robo Dedede	Boiler Boulevard Journey's End VS. Boss	A robotic version ofKing Dedede that can transform between Dedede Form to perform hammer attacks and Car Form to drive around.
Zero Two	Digital Superhighway Journey's End VS. Boss	An angelic being that riders must reach while avoiding lasers and harmful spheres before attacking it. It has a weak spot in its eye.
Nightmare	Crystal-Clear Crossing Journey's End VS. Boss	A nightmarish wizard who can shoot stars, transform into an orb, and darken the arena. He has a weak spot in his tornado-like body.
Marx	Neon Promenade Journey's End VS. Boss	A twisted jester who can perform various unpredictable attacks and often teleports around.	Marx also appears as a rider.
Gigantes	The Farthest Reach VS. Gigantes	A giant destructive machine that serves as the final boss ofRoad Trip. It can only be defeated by attacking its red weak spots.	Gigantes also appears as a legendaryAir Ride Machine inCity Trial.
Hyper Gigantes	The Farthest Reach (New Game +)	A stronger version of Gigantes that appears in New Game + if every Air Ride machine was collected. The player fights it with either theDragoon orHydra, and is joined byNoir Dedede who uses the machine the player didn't pick.
Galactic Nova	Journey's End	Theheart of Galactic Nova, which serves as the true final boss of Road Trip. UsingLeo, the player destroys the rotating pillars before attacking the heart head-on.

Road Trip crossroads characters[edit]

Several characters, enemies, and objects from previousKirby titles appear in Road Trip as items that determine where the player will head next.

• Gordo
• Poppy Bros. Jr.
• AFriend Heart
• Solite
• Tortuilding
• Driver Waddle Dee
• Fatty Puffer
• Paintra
• Blade Knight
• Gnawcodile
• Vividria
• Mr. Frosty
• Wheelie
• Chilly
• Poison Mash
• Twister
• Kine
• Sandman
• Water Galboros
• Big Floof
• Golem
• Computer Virus
• Simirror
• Holo Defense API
• Plugg
• Elline
• Magman
• ACrystal Shard
• Invader Armor
• Pyribbit
• Big Iceton
• Squeaky Hammer Machine
• King Golem
• Fatty Whale
• Rock Hand
• Gobbler
• Kabu
• Kapar

Whispy Woods,Lovely,Kracko, someBlippers,Batafire,Mr. Bright,Shadowbite and aDimension Meteor also appear as obstacles that must be overcome with Route Characters.

Background characters[edit]

Background characters inKirby Air Riders
Character	Image	Location(s)	Description	Notes
Bronto Burt		Floria Fields	A pink winged creature who flies in circles.	Bronto Burt also appears as an enemy.
Broom Hatter		Steamgust Forge Mount Amberfalls	A witch who sweeps the ground.	Broom Hatter also appears as an enemy.
Cappy		Cavernous Corners Skyah	A capless mushroom that jumps in place.	Cappy also appears as a rider and enemy.
Coo		Airtopia Ruins Skyah	A purple owl-like creature who sits on a ledge.
Galactic Nova		Skyah	A giant clockwork star that has a chance of faintly appearing in the sky.	Galactic Nova makes numerous other appearances in this game.
Golem		Skyah	A brown statue-like creature that sits around.	Golem also appears as a hazard inCavernous Corners andCave.
Grizzo		Mount Amberfalls Skyah	A yellow bear-like creature that stands around.
Kabu		Crystalline Fissure Skyah	Brown statue-like creatures that spin around.
Kine		Waveflow Waters Skyah	A blue fish-like creature who hangs around in water.
Nruff		Cavernous Corners Skyah	A brown boar-like creature that runs around in circles.
Parasol Waddle Dee		Airtopia Ruins	AWaddle Dee that carries aparasol to slowly drift down.
Squishy		Waveflow Waters Skyah	A white squid-like creature that spectates the race.	Squishy's design is a mix of its original design, being entirely white in color, and its modern design, as it has cheek blushes.
Two Face		Skyah	A double-sided mask that appears on walls and occasionally swaps between its two faces.
Waddle Dees		Floria Fields Skyah	Innocent orange creatures who watch riders race and battle.	Waddle Dees also appear as enemies and riders.
Whispy Woods		Skyah	An apple tree who begins to cry after being attacked enough times.
Unknown		Floria Fields	A spotted fish-like creature with large eyes, a tongue sticking out, and a large crystal on its head resemblingAcro.[4]

Other[edit]

• Zorah
• Sandbag

Air Ride machines[edit]

Kirby Air Riders features 24 playableAir Ride machines, with every machine fromKirby Air Ride except theFree Star andSteer Star returning, plus 8 new Air Ride machines. Unlike inKirby Air Ride, most machines can be used in every mode, including Top Ride. Moreover, any rider can ride any machine they wish.

All machines except for theWarp Star,Winged Star, andWagon Star must be unlocked for use inAir Ride,Top Ride, andCity Trial'sFree Run, either by completing tasks in theChecklist or by buying them from theMiles Shop. TheCompact Star in City Trial and theFlight Warp Star in City Trial's Free Run are also available by default. Machines inRoad Trip have different unlock requirements which are not listed here.

Air Ride machines inKirby Air Riders
Machine	Caption	Unlock requirement(s)	Notes
Warp Star	Both drives and glides perfectly well. An easy ride with no clear weaknesses.	Default Air Ride:Nebula Belt (Laps) Finish in 1st place Top Ride Finish after getting 10 different kinds of items Buy duplicates from theMiles Shop
Compact Star	Modest top speed, but a reliable ride thanks to good acceleration and cornering.	Default (duplicates cannot be bought from theMiles Shop)	Only available inCity Trial.
Winged Star	Slow when ground-bound, but soars gracefully whenever it takes flight.	Default City Trial: Field Touch the underside of the garden in the sky Road Trip Swap machines a total of 30 times Buy duplicates from theMiles Shop
Shadow Star	Attacks cause major damage, even on a single hit! Soars on sleek and shadowy wings while airborne.	Top Ride:Flower Copy enemy abilities 2 times in a single race City Trial: Field Ridegrind rails around the entire island once in a single match Buy it from theMiles Shop
Wagon Star	Can't Boost Charge, but makes up for it with higher performance in other categories.	Default Air Ride:Cavernous Corners (Time) Complete a lap within 1:50.00 Road Trip Enter the shop 15 times Buy duplicates from theMiles Shop
Slick Star	Slippery and tricky to control, but offers a wholly unique approach to riding.	Air Ride Defeat 3 enemies by spitting out stars in a single race City Trial:Drag Race 1 Finish within 0:35.00 Buy it from theMiles Shop
Formula Star	If it can maintain momentum and avoid slowing down, its top speed is second to none!	Air Ride:Galactic Nova (Laps) Finish without touching the energy columns aroundNova's core Top Ride Finish without crashing into any walls Buy it from theMiles Shop
Bulk Star	Plows forward on Boost Charges! Has an extra-tough frame that's hard to damage.	Air Ride:Steamgust Forge Break 3 pieces of cargo on the conveyor belts in a single race City Trial: Field Use 8 attack items in a single race[sic] Buy it from theMiles Shop
Rocket Star	Dashes forward with superior acceleration on a maxed-out Boost Charge.	City Trial: Field Swap to vacant machines 30 times Road Trip:Top Ride Ride for 180 sec. during a Top Ride challenge Buy it from theMiles Shop
Swerve Star	Ride it forward, then stop it suddenly! Ride, then stop! Ride! Stop! Ride! Stop!	Top Ride:Cyber Win with at least 3 sec. between you and 2nd place Road Trip Clear a Race challenge 10 times Buy it from theMiles Shop
Turbo Star	Boasts impressive speed, but proves stubborn and slow when it comes to steering.	City Trial: Field Soar 100 m up into the air and fly above the garden in the sky Road Trip: Stadium Clear Stadium challenges 3 times Buy it from theMiles Shop
Jet Star	Accelerates greatly when lifting off the ground. Launch skyward and take off like a bullet!	City Trial: Field Stray too far fromSkyah's edges and get struck by lightning Road Trip: Stadium Ride a total of 5,000 m during Stadium challenges Buy it from theMiles Shop
Wheelie Bike	Races ahead on a single wheel. An interesting design compared to star-type machines.	City Trial: Field Swap to 3 different kinds of machines in a single match Road Trip:Skyah ClearCity Trial challenges 3 times Buy it from theMiles Shop
Rex Wheelie	An intimidating, sturdy cycle. If it can maintain its top speed, it'll roll its way to victory.	Air Ride:Waveflow Waters Defeat 20 enemies in a single race Road Trip Defeat 3 enemies with star-shaped projectiles in a single challenge Buy it from theMiles Shop
Wheelie Scooter	A stylish minibike that offers high maneuverability. Boost Charges make sharp turns a breeze.	Air Ride:Floria Fields (Laps) Finish in 1st place Top Ride:Flow Finish a lap without crashing into walls more than 3 times Buy it from theMiles Shop
Hop Star (new)	Jumps each time it Quick Spins. Useful for hopping right over enemies and terrain.	Air Ride:Checker Knights Fly over the wall to the road that leads to the castle Road Trip Jump 10 times during Top Ride challenges Buy it from theMiles Shop
Vampire Star (new)	Preys upon enemies and rivals to power itself up. It'll snatch their Copy Abilities and items too!	Road Trip Defeat 15 kinds of enemies Buy it from theMiles Shop
Paper Star (new)	Light as paper with impressive flight capabilities. Fragile, but offers excellent acceleration.	Air Ride:Crystalline Fissure Glide continuously for 3 sec. without landing City Trial:Air Glider Fly a distance of 500 m (547 yd) Buy it from theMiles Shop
Chariot (new)	A safe, stable ride thanks to its two-wheeled design. Turns sharp corners with reliable agility.	Air Ride:Airtopia Ruins (Laps) Finish within 3:00.00 Top Ride:Flow Finish within 1:00.00 Buy it from theMiles Shop
Battle Chariot (new)	A heavyweight hunk of a machine that tears up the road and can send enemies flying.	Top Ride Hit 2 riders at once with aSensor Bomb Buy it from theMiles Shop
Tank Star (new)	Rushes forward on Boost Dashes. Boost Charges help it tackle turns at a rapid pace.	Top Ride:Steam Go through the hidden passage and finish within 0:55.00 Road Trip:Air Ride Perform perfect landings 2 times in an Air Ride challenge Buy it from theMiles Shop
Bull Tank (new)	A bulky tank with thick plates of armor. Charge forward without worrying about damage!	City Trial:Dustup Derby Win without being defeated at all Buy it from theMiles Shop
Transform Star (new)	Quick Spins make it shift between its two modes, star form and bike form. Use them wisely!	Air Ride:Cyberion Highway Use a switch to make a platform appear 2 times in a single race Top Ride:Crystal Complete a lap after going through all crystal dash zones Buy it from theMiles Shop
Flight Warp Star	Superior flight made for test use only. Dances through the sky for as long as it wants!	Default Buy duplicates from theMiles Shop	Only available inCity Trial's Free Run mode.

Legendary Air Ride machines[edit]

Legendary Air Ride machines return from the original game. InCity Trial, they can only be found after assembling machine parts, which can occasionally be found in certain red boxes and rare boxes scattered across the city. When all three parts are collected, the machine automatically forms, replacing the machine the rider is riding on (unless the rider's current machine is also a legendary, in which case the machine drops behind the rider). InRoad Trip's New Game +, the player can choose either theDragoon orHydra to fightHyper Gigantes with, whileLeo is used for the entirety ofJourney's End. With the exception of Gigantes, all Legendary Air Ride machines can be unlocked to be used in theFree Run and Time Attack modes ofAir Ride andTop Ride as well as City Trial's Free Run.

Legendary Air Ride machines inKirby Air Riders
Machine	Caption	Unlock requirement(s)	Notes
Dragoon	A legendary machine! Pierces through the sky whenever it takes flight!	City Trial Unlock Dragoon parts A, B, and C on theChecklist Dragoon Part A: City Trial: Field Collect a total of 20 legendary-machine parts Dragoon Part B: City Trial: Field Swap to vacant machines 100 times Dragoon Part C: City Trial:Stadium Play 16 different kinds of Stadium contests	Only available inCity Trial and itsFree Run mode, the Time Attack and Free Run modes ofAir Ride andTop Ride, andRoad Trip (againstHyper Gigantes in New Game +).
Hydra	A legendary machine! Rampages across the land as the vicious avatar of destruction!	City Trial Unlock Hydra parts X, Y, and Z on theChecklist Hydra Part X: City Trial: Field Power up all your machine's stats to at least 12 in a single match Hydra Part Y: City Trial: Field Touch down on all of the floating isles that appear aroundSkyah Hydra Part Z: City Trial: Field Experience allfield events	Only available inCity Trial and itsFree Run mode, the Time Attack and Free Run modes ofAir Ride andTop Ride, andRoad Trip (againstHyper Gigantes in New Game +).
Leo (new)	A lion of justice who defies cosmic disaster! Bounds through the air with a trail of ferocious flames!	Legendary-Machine Parts: Road Trip Defeat thetrue final boss and fill in at least 140Checklist blocks Machine: City Trial: Field (Offline) Ride on Leo's back	Only available inCity Trial and itsFree Run mode, the Time Attack and Free Run modes ofAir Ride andTop Ride, andRoad Trip (inJourney's End in New Game +).
Gigantes (new)	An unbelievable machine and a symbol of ruin! If it's completed, the entire world may perish!	Legendary-Machine Parts: Road Trip Watch the normal ending in Road Trip	Only available inCity Trial and itsVS. Gigantes Stadium.

My Machine[edit]

Main article:My Machine

My Machine is a feature inKirby Air Riders that allows players to create custom Air Ride machines using various patterns, decals, accessories, and effects. Players can unlock My Machine Parts via theChecklist or purchase them in theMiles Shop. In order to create more than one custom design for a single machine, the player must purchase duplicates of machines from the Miles Shop. Players can also buy other people's machines or list their designs via the online Machine Market.

Copy Abilities[edit]

Unlike in the originalKirby Air Ride, all playable characters can useCopy Abilities, in addition to Copy Essences showing up periodically in Top Ride courses. With the exception ofTornado andWing, all Copy Abilities present in the original return, alongside eight additional abilities, including two brand new ones:Flash andSteel Ball.

Copy Abilities inKirby Air Riders
Copy Ability	Name	Description	Notes
	Bomb	A bomb appears in the rider's hands. The longer the player holds down the button, the farther the rider throws it. The explosion does modest damage but covers a large radius that slowly increases in size until it disappears. The bomb can also be dropped behind the rider by pulling back on the control stick.	Bomb's ability hat uses its original design.
	Cutter	This ability allows the rider to throw a blade at opponents that returns to them afterwards. The direction the blades go can be changed by tilting the control stick left, right, or back.	Cutter's ability hat is notably missing its eyes.
	Drill	When obtaining this ability, the rider gains a drill hat and can drill underground when Boost Charging, avoiding any attacks from above. Letting go will cause the rider to jump out to attack.	Drill's ability hat uses a new design where the entire hat is a drill that has yellow highlights at the bottom.
	Fighter	This ability allows the rider to automatically kick nearby opponents. The Quick Spin move also becomes stronger. The rider will also punch rapidly while Boost Charging and can fire a powerful projectile when Boost Dashing.	Fighter's ability hat uses its original design.
	Fire	This ability allows the rider to toss fireballs that stay on the ground. It damages any opponent that drives over the flames. The rider can also dash forward in a burst of flames when using Quick Spin and create pillars of fire behind them when holding down on the control stick while Boost Charging.
	Flash	This ability allows the rider to rush forward in a sparkling flash when Boost Dashing, stunning any opponents hit along the way. The dash has to be charged up for a bit.
	Freeze	When the rider obtains this ability, they are able to create a short-range perimeter of ice that protects themselves and freezes enemies that touch it. Riders that are frozen have to wiggle the control stick to unfreeze themselves.
	Jet	This ability gives the rider a jet-powered helmet that makes them move faster and increases the power of their boosts.	Jet's ability hat uses a new design with larger goggles and rockets on both sides of the hat instead of only one in the back.
	Mike	The Mike ability gets activated automatically when the rider obtains it. The rider sings and does moderate damage to anyone over a huge range.	Mike's ability hat retains its design from the original game rather than using the current design.
	Missile	This ability turns the rider into a missile, which speeds forward along the track automatically and explodes when the ability runs out, which can be triggered early by tapping the Special button repeatedly. While traveling, the trajectory can be changed slightly by moving the control stick left or right.	This copy ability can only be obtained if the rider is falling behind in Air Ride and Top Ride. Missile does not appear to have an ability hat. The design of the missile itself is changed, now being a metallic grey and having a black pattern on it.
	Needle	This ability allows the rider to extend spikes that protect them and damage any opponent nearby automatically. Boost Charging makes these spikes much larger, similar to how it originally functioned, and has them remain out like that for a short time after a Boost Dash.	Needle's ability hat uses its original design.
	Plasma	Unlike in the originalKirby Air Ride, energy levels are charged up passively without needing to wiggle the control stick. This ability's duration depends on how much the rider uses it and how much power each shot uses up. The power levels of each discharge are as follows: Level 1: The rider punches several small beams Level 2: The rider punches even more small beams in a small cone area Level 3: The rider shoots out three, straight-moving sparks Level 4: The rider shoots out a single, homing spark Level 5: The rider kicks a huge, homing ball of electricity
	Sleep	The Sleep ability causes the rider to sleep, which makes them lose control of their vehicle and makes other opponents fall asleep if they touch them. They can be woken up quicker if the player wiggles the control stick back and forth.
	Steel Ball	This ability turns the rider into an indestructible steel ball that functions similarly to the Wheel ability, though it lacks the ability to use Boost Charges.	Steel Ball does not appear to have an ability hat.
	Sword	The Sword ability lets the rider automatically swing their sword at any nearby opponents and boxes. They can hit multiple foes at once if they are near each-other.	The sword retains its design from the original game rather than using the current design.
	UFO	This copy ability turns the rider into a UFO. It moves at high speeds and can fire three different types of shots to attack depending on its charge level, which builds up over time like Plasma: Level 1: The UFO fires a small three-shot burst that can be fired rapidly if the button is tapped repeatedly Level 2: The UFO fires a larger, single shot Level 3: The UFO fires a piercingStar Bullet	This copy ability can only be obtained if the rider is falling behind in Air Ride and Top Ride, though it can also be found through other means in City Trial and Road Trip. The UFO's design is changed to look like its original design, albeit with a monochrome color scheme and no visible face on the top half of the UFO.
	Wheel	This copy ability turns the rider into a single fast-moving wheel that can damage other riders it hits. Like theWheelie Bike, the wheel always touches the ground, so it automatically activates any ground-based switches.	Unlike the original game, Wheel does not appear to have an ability hat.

Events[edit]

Main article:Event

Events are special modes that players can play for a limited time, planned to run for at least a year after launch.^[5] Additionally, the Events menu option features a mode called "Daily Air Ride", where a randomAir Ride course is selected every day for players to compete in online.

amiibo[edit]

This article or section isunder construction. Therefore, please excuse its informal appearance while it's being worked on. We hope to have it completed as soon as possible. Reason: Document all figure player play styles and their impact on how the figure player behaves

Kirby Air Riders is compatible with newamiibo figures created specifically for the game. These figures are unique in that they feature both a rider and a machine. The rider can be removed from the amiibo and attached to a different amiibo with a different machine; the amiibo does not function without an attached rider. When the amiibo is scanned in-game, aCPU-controlled figure player is created with the rider and machine combination of the scanned figure. Figure players can be customized by changing theircolor palette and equipping a piece ofheadwear. Figure players can be used offline inAir Ride,Top Ride, andCity Trial, as well as taken into an onlinepaddock by scanning them at the amiibo terminal there (after updating to Version 1.2.0).

Figure players can be trained by the player, similarly to how amiibo function inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. As the player trains the figure player, it will level up and become more proficient at using its machine, alongside developing its own play style, such as becoming a "Cornering Pro" or an "Indiscriminate Attacker". The figure player's level is dependent on the rider and not the machine, so if the rider is swapped to a different machine, it will keep its level.^[6] Figure players can be leveled up to a maximum of level 50, while its proficiency with each machine is measured out of 100. Figure players also gain experience when used online in a paddock.

Scanning in aKirby series amiibo or aKirby character amiibo from theSuper Smash Bros. series for the first time will grant the player with 2,500Miles, a special theme, and an alternate color for that rider that hasn't been unlocked yet. Later scans of the sameKirby amiibo will reward 500 Miles, or 300 Miles and a random decal or sticker. Scanning any other amiibo will only reward the player with some Miles, a decal, or a sticker. Only five amiibo can be scanned for rewards each day.

Additionally, theKirby Air Riders amiibo can give new designs for the figurine that is used as the icon for the game's main menu. The figurine granted will correspond to the rider and machine combo scanned, and each one will grant another figurine. The figurine can be switched between at any time on the screen that prompts the player to scan an amiibo.

At present, five riders and machines have been (or will be) released as amiibo.

• 
  amiibo ofKirby on theWarp Star (released November 20th, 2025)
• 
  amiibo ofBandana Waddle Dee on theWinged Star (released November 20th, 2025)
• 
  amiibo ofMeta Knight on theShadow Star (releasing March 5th, 2026)
• 
  amiibo ofKing Dedede on theTank Star (releasing in 2026)
• 
  amiibo ofChef Kawasaki on theHop Star (releasing in 2026)

Checklist[edit]

Main article:Checklist (Kirby Air Riders)

TheChecklist returns from the original game, functioning much the same as before. Each game mode now has 150 objectives to complete, which unlocks a unique illustration.

Development[edit]

In the finale video for his YouTube channel, Masahiro Sakurai mentioned that he had been working on a new project he couldn't talk about yet. In July of 2021, he was approached by Nintendo to make a game proposal. After it was accepted, the development team was assembled, and full production began in April 2022.^[7] It was later revealed that the game he was directing wasKirby Air Riders. Near the end of the channel's life, Sakurai was working on the channel and this game simultaneously, which he described as difficult.^[8]

The game is developed byBandai Namco Studios, with whom Sakurai had previously worked onSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.^[2] Masahiro Sakurai clarified in theKirby Air Riders Direct thatHAL Laboratory did not develop the game; the staff credits lists a small group of HAL Laboratory personnel as supervisors.

Update history[edit]

Main article:Kirby Air Riders/Update history

This is the sixthKirby series game to get post-release updates, with the first two adding online support and a few other game modes, and later updates mostly containing rider and/or machine balancing, and fixing game bugs. The release of any new software updates are usually noted in theNews menu. See the main article for the changes that were introduced with each update.

Staff[edit]

The following is a list of staff who worked onKirby Air Riders:

Trivia[edit]

• The Japanese reveal trailer uses theChecklist unlock sound effect from the original game when the ド of the logo is destroyed to give place for the ダー of the new title.^[9]

Gallery[edit]

Main article:Kirby Air Riders/gallery

• 
  English logo
• 
  Japanese logo
• 
  Kirby on theWarp Star

Videos[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

References

• Kirby Air Riders
• Spin-off games
• Games on Nintendo Switch 2

• Articles under construction
• Articles which list Japanese names
• Articles which list Chinese names
• Articles which list Dutch names
• Articles which list French names
• Articles which list German names
• Articles which list Italian names
• Articles which list Korean names
• Articles which list Polish names
• Articles which list Portuguese names
• Articles which list Spanish names