Online features refers to any aspects of a video game that require an internet connection to function. Games in theKirby series tend to be largely (if not completely) offline and local experiences, even in eras that follow mass commercialization of the internet, but many more recent titles feature some form of online interactivity. The following lists online features by game in chronological order (note that this list does not include local area network (LAN), local Wi-Fi (such asStreetPass), links to external services such asMiiverse or theNintendo eShop, or other such features that do not impact gameplay):

Online by game[edit]

Kirby's Avalanche[edit]

WhileKirby's Avalanche is not playable online in its basic form, by using theXBAND — a now-defunct online service for the SNES that functioned through an expansion cartridge connected to a modem — one could play matches of the game online with other players. This technically makes it the firstKirby game with online multiplayer — predatingKirby Battle Royale by 22 years — though this functionality was not native to the game itself.

Team Kirby Clash Deluxe[edit]

InTeam Kirby Clash Deluxe, players can enlist the help of "Wandering Adventurers",CPU-controlled characters. With an internet connection, one could download adventurers based on other players' Kirbys, bearing their specific equipment, level, and name; without one, generic adventurers native to the game are produced instead.

Gem Apples were also only able to be purchased with an internet connection, using the Nintendo eShop. Due to the closure of the eShop onNintendo 3DS on March 27th, 2023, it is no longer officially possible to buy Gem Apples or grow the Gem Apple Tree.

In addition, an online connection was needed in order to use the Shrine of Passwords (to verify that the password being recited was still valid). With the termination of Nintendo's servers for the Nintendo 3DS on April 8th, 2024, it is no longer officially possible to summon online Wandering Adventurers or recite passwords.

Kirby Battle Royale[edit]

Kirby Battle Royale was the firstKirby game to feature true online multiplayer. By selecting the Online Battle option from the main menu, the player was first given a choice between three randomly-selected Battle Modes and then allowed to select their character. From here, they were placed in a training room to wait until three other players could connect to their lobby. If this was successful, the match would begin with a random Battle Mode from the pool the players chose. Depending on how well the player performed in a battle, they would gain rank points which contributed to a rank level system, which in turn would match them with players of similar rank. Each time the player gained a rank level, Battle Coins were awarded, which could be spent in the Collection List. Each rank level required more points to reach than the preceding one.

Despite this online ranking system and the ability to earn in-game currency from it, no part of the game requires Online Battles to be played in order to unlock anything or to reach100% completion.

Kirby Battle Royale was also the first game in theKirby series to receive post-launch content updates. Three such updates were released for the game, which mainly fixed gameplay issues and added theMirror andSleep abilities to the roster. More detail can be found on theUpdate history section of theKirby Battle Royale page.

With the termination of Nintendo's servers for the Nintendo 3DS on April 8th, 2024, it is no longer officially possible to play Online Battles. However, the post-launch updates can still be downloaded.

Kirby Star Allies[edit]

Kirby Star Allies does not feature any direct online functionality. However, it did benefit from several updates which added significant amounts of additional content to the game as well as fixing bugs and other issues. A more complete list of updates can be foundon this page.

Super Kirby Clash[edit]

Unlike itsNintendo 3DS predecessor,Super Kirby Clash features online multiplayer, with a separate quest board (referred to as "Party Quests") devoted to it (though these can still be played solo). When selecting one of these quests, the player can choose to either create their own lobby or join an existing one. From there, the lobby has roughly 90 seconds to be filled with other players before a game can start (with any unfilled slots being controlled by the CPU). Both in the lobby and during gameplay,stickers can be used to communicate with other players. However, as soon as the enemy is defeated, players are disconnected from each-other.

In addition,Super Kirby Clash features the same Wandering Adventurer, Gem Apple purchasing, and Shrine of Passwords functionality as its predecessor.

Kirby Fighters 2[edit]

Kirby Fighters 2 features online multiplayer in the form of an Online Mode. Using this, players can connect to the internet to play Random Matches (2 vs 2 team battles with random people under normal rules and a random stage) or Friend Matches (connect with players from the user's Nintendo Switch system's friends list to play with more specific rule sets).

Kirby and the Forgotten Land /Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World[edit]

WhileKirby and the Forgotten Land and itsNintendo Switch 2 Edition are primarily a local play experience, a few online functionalities are in the game. When talking toWise Waddle Dee inWaddle Dee Town, for instance, he can inform the player whichCopy Ability is most favored by players around the world, or how manyWaddle Dees have been rescued cumulatively. Online leaderboards for the various Sub-Games and theColosseum are also available. Additionally, much like theKirby Clash games, an Internet connection is required to enter certainPresent Codes atWaddle Dee-liveries, to ensure that they are still valid. However, unlike those games, certain Present Codes are built into the game itself and can be used even without an Internet connection.

Kirby's Dream Buffet[edit]

Kirby's Dream Buffet has a fully-fledged online mode, which allows the player to connect with up to three others to play against. There are two main options in Online Mode, those being "Random Match" and "Password Match". In the former, onlyGourmet Grand Prix can be played, but in the latter,Free Rolling can also be selected. After selecting a mode, Kirby is placed on a special table used as a lobby for online matches, and can play around with Waddle Dee Dummies while he waits for others to join. When playing Online Mode, Kirby'semotes also come with short little messages.

In the Random Match Mode, a ranking system is used which is distinct from theGourmet Rank, called "Skill Lv." This rank starts at 15,000 points, and increases or decreases based on how the player places in games, with diminishing returns the higher the rank becomes, along with greater risk of losing points if placing low. When approaching a skill lv. of 20,000 or higher, even placing second will cause a loss of points. Skill Lv. is not tied to any other feature in the game, and is solely used to help the game match the player with others of comparable skill.

In Password Match, the player specifies a password at the very start. If that password matches one used by another player, they can join the same game together. Otherwise, the player will be placed in their own lobby, and others can join if they use the same password. The lobby gives players up to two minutes to join, as opposed to only one in random matches. Skill Lv. is not a factor in Password Matches.

All online games come with a 1.80x multiplier forGourmet Points earned at the results screen. If a game does not fill up with four human opponents, the remainder will be filled byCPUs using a name randomly assigned from an internal list (more details on thathere). Human players and CPU players can be distinguished by the fact that human players have red names, while CPU players have white ones. If a player disconnects during a game, they will be replaced with a CPU using the same name. Disconnecting multiple times in quick succession will result in the player being restricted from random matches for a time.

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  The main online menu forKirby's Dream Buffet
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  Kirby waiting in an online lobby, which uses a distinct table
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  Kirby greeting another Kirby in the online lobby
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  Online gameplay in a Race course

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe[edit]

Much likeKirby and the Forgotten Land,Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe is primarily a local experience, but does have a couple of online features specifically tied toMerry Magoland. The primary online function in this game isSamurai Kirby 100, which is a variant ofSamurai Kirby that draws data from other players around the world to generate 99 opponents for the player to beat. If the player is offline, then the game can also generate CPU opponents (referred to as "wandering adversaries"). Additionally, just like Wise Waddle Dee inKirby and the Forgotten Land, speaking toManager Magolor in Merry Magoland may cause him to relay data tracked from all copies of the game connected to the Internet, such as whichDress-Up Mask is the most popular, or how manyPop Flowers have been opened by players.

• Gameplay mechanics