Kirby Air Riders Reviews
While I do hope Nintendo has plans to add to the overall package with at least some new Air Ride and Top Ride tracks, there is still a wealth of content here for fans to enjoy. If you’re a racing fan or looking for something fresh to play with friends, Kirby Air Riders should be a strong consideration for your Switch 2 library.
The vehicles are just a bit too weird, and the sheer pace of things is hard to grasp right away, even for those with extensive racing game experience. But it’s just these same elements that make Air Riders feel fresh, bold, and creative in a way that Mario Kart World doesn’t. It’s also why this second entry to the Kirby Air Rider series seems likely to enjoy the same cult classic status as the original.
It has some really fun elements, with City Trial and Road Trip modes standing out above the rest, as they put all the learned mechanics to use for frantic gameplay. Plus, there are several types of ships to experiment with, and it's up to the player to find the one that best suits their pace.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Kirby Air Riders is like a strawberry sorbet: sweet, refreshing, but not exactly essential. Yet, in the quieter stretch of the year, it might just catch you off guard. It's a simple game, but one that offers a surprising amount of depth, both in its content and gameplay. And it does justice to the Nintendo Switch 2, delivering smooth performance and solid graphics that make it a worthy addition to the system.
Review in French | Read full review
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Review in German | Read full review
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Review in Italian | Read full review
Kirby Air Riders realizes the full potential of its predecessor, delivering a chaotic, colourful and vibrant experience that is not only overflowing with enough content to keep you hooked for dozens of hours, but is unique and enjoyable enough to make sure that you don't question whether the time you're clocking in is time well spent.
Kirby Air Riders is a surprise contender for kart racer of the year. Excelling well beyond its cult predecessor, the pink blob’s latest adventure is filled with some excellent and surprisingly deep racing where your skill, expertise and management are what put you ahead of the pack. Its courses are gorgeous and intricate, City Trial is aptly chaotic, and the brand new Road Trip mode is a thoroughly enjoyable adventure filled with strategy and risk vs reward events. With a lot to see, tick off and do, along with accessibility options to refine your experience, Kirby Air Riders is crafted to be the kart racing event of the year. Eat its dust, Mario Kart World.
If you own a Switch 2, have additional controllers, and a group of gaming friends, get yourself Kirby Air Riders. This is an adrenaline-filled game that represents the essence of good party games. Just don’t expect too much when playing alone.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Kirby Air Riders delivers a distinct and fast-paced spin on the racing genre that is about so much more than just reaching the finish line. The unexpectedly offbeat story mode, clever course design, and surprisingly tense yet frenetic competitive play all come together to offer a well-rounded package full of joy and charm. While City Trial could use a few more maps, and the stop-start mechanics aren't immediately engaging, Kirby Air Riders is incredible fun, no matter how you play it or who you play it with.
Kirby Air Riders combines tight controls, excellent gameplay and a plethora of content to make the best mascot racing game on the Nintendo Switch 2.
While Air Riders might not be my personal cup of tea, it feels like a faithful and loving reward for all the folks who loved the original Kirby Air Ride. Without the benefit of nostalgia, though, you may find it harder to get up to speed.
Kirby Air Riders isn't a traditional racer in the vein of Mario Kart, but something closer to Super Smash Bros. wearing a racing helmet. Its core Air Ride handling is solid and surprisingly deep, while the chaotic City Trial mode and the single-player Road Trip campaign each cater well to either party-focused play or solo enjoyment.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Kirby Air Riders captures the spirit of the 2003 original but enhances it with improved graphics, richer customisation, and a wider range of modes that give the game more longevity. For long-time fans, it feels like a long-overdue homecoming. For new players, it offers a racing game that stands out from anything else on the Switch 2. And for both groups, it proves that Kirby's quirky little racing experiment from 2003 was never a one-off: it was an idea waiting for the right moment to soar.
Kirby Air Riders is exactly what it needed to be: a refined, expanded take on the 2003 classic that channels a style of game design focused purely on player fun rather than strict genre labels. That freedom can feel like a double-edged sword, broadly appealing, yet not perfectly satisfying for any one crowd. Still, for anyone with a Nintendo Switch 2, it remains a must-try experience, one that's dangerously easy to get hooked on.
Review in Italian | Read full review
As oddball as the puzzling puffball on the cover, Kirby Air Riders is a spectacular example of twisting preconceived expectations into something weird, wonderful and altogether incredible – inviting you to go fast and kick arse in equal parts.
Kirby Air Riders is set to be a perennial title for solo or multiplayer play for me. If you’re on the fence about getting a Switch 2 or are looking for a new title to pick up, this is the best the system has to offer so far.
Kirby Air Riders is surprisingly catchy racing title with different modes, vast gameplay and nice selection of tracks & riders. Several main modes are bringing lot of quality content a different way of playing. But the fun is always here, content amount is very solid and Kirby with his crew are welcome especially in the multiplayer selection.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
With its boost‑and‑drift mechanics and chaotic action, the concept may take some time to fully click. Once it does, Kirby Air Riders becomes an exhilarating, stylish racer with plenty of depth. Road Trip brings real longevity, the returning modes are better than ever, and the wealth of unlockables keeps the momentum high. It’s a colourful, technically impressive showcase and a passionate revival of a cult favourite. Kirby Air Riders is a Nintendo Switch 2 essential, built with passion and unbound fun at its core.
Kirby Air Riders is a masterclass in game design and in how to make an anticipated sequel. It has everything that made the original game so incredible, and it adds so much content that it seems like an infinite title. You can play it by yourself or with friends in local or online multiplayer, and in any way it will make you have a blast.
Review in Spanish | Read full review