Introduction
Kirby and the Forgotten Land marks one of the most significant turning points in the long-running Kirby franchise. For the first time, Nintendo and HAL Laboratory took their beloved pink puffball from 2.5D side-scrolling into a fully realized 3D world — and the result is one of the most charming, creative, and polished platformers on the Nintendo Switch. This Kirby and the Forgotten Land review covers everything from gameplay mechanics and age rating to critical scores, DLC value, and how it compares to other recent Kirby titles.
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Quick Summary
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land is the first mainline 3D Kirby game, released March 25, 2022 on Nintendo Switch.
- It introduces Mouthful Mode, a standout mechanic where Kirby engulfs real-world objects like cars and vending machines.
- The game holds an 84/100 on Metacritic and is widely praised as one of the best Nintendo Switch exclusives.
- It is rated ESRB E10+ / PEGI 7, making it family-friendly and appropriate for most ages.
- 2-player local co-op is supported throughout the entire main campaign.
What Is Kirby and the Forgotten Land?
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a 3D action platformer developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the first mainline Kirby game to move entirely into three-dimensional space, a departure that redefines what the franchise can accomplish in terms of level design, exploration, and creative gameplay.
As the latest evolution of the long-running Kirby franchise, the game builds upon mechanics and ideas introduced throughout the series’ history while successfully transitioning into a fully three-dimensional format.
Developer, Genre, and Setting
The game was developed by HAL Laboratory — the studio behind every mainline Kirby title since the original 1992 release — and published by Nintendo. It falls squarely in the action platformer genre, with light puzzle elements woven into its stage design.
The setting is one of the game’s most visually compelling aspects. Players explore a mysterious post-civilization world where nature has overtaken the ruins of a modern urban environment. Shopping malls, theme parks, and highways now sit overgrown by vines and inhabited by wildlife. The contrast between Kirby’s bright, bubbly aesthetic and the eerie abandoned world around him creates a tone that is lighthearted on the surface but quietly atmospheric in a way the series rarely attempts.
The Story — A Simple but Charming Premise
The story is straightforward: Kirby arrives in the Forgotten Land after a mysterious vortex pulls him through a dimensional rift. Upon landing, he discovers that the Beast Pack — a faction of animal enemies — is capturing Waddle Dees across the world. Kirby’s mission is to explore each region, defeat the Beast Pack’s leaders, and rescue as many Waddle Dees as possible.
There is no complex narrative here, and that is entirely intentional. The game’s storytelling is visual and environmental rather than dialogue-heavy, making it accessible to young players while still rewarding observant adults who notice the worldbuilding details hidden across each stage.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land Release Date and Platform Availability
Kirby and the Forgotten Land was released on March 25, 2022, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. It is playable on all Switch hardware variants, including the standard model, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED.
The game is also playable on the Nintendo Switch 2 via backwards compatibility. A dedicated Switch 2 Enhanced Edition has been made available, offering improved visual fidelity and frame rate performance over the original Switch version — making it an even stronger release for players who have upgraded hardware.
The Star-Crossed World DLC was released as paid post-launch content, adding a new themed world with additional stages designed for players who have completed the main game.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land Age Rating — Is It Safe for Kids?
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is rated E10+ by the ESRB (Everyone 10 and Up) and PEGI 7 in Europe, making it one of the most family-friendly major releases on the Nintendo Switch.
The ESRB rating cites mild cartoon violence — enemies are defeated in visually harmless ways, and there is no blood, gore, or mature thematic content. The “fear rating” concern some parents raise stems from certain boss designs in the later stages, which are slightly more intense visually than early-game enemies. However, these encounters are never genuinely frightening and are far tamer than most action games aimed at the same demographic.
In practice, the game is suitable for children aged six and up, though the E10+ designation reflects that some younger children may find certain boss encounters briefly startling. The game also includes adjustable difficulty settings — players can increase their maximum health before starting the game — and the co-op mode allows a more experienced player to assist a younger one throughout the entire campaign.
Based on our gameplay experience at Prime Games Arena, children as young as seven can comfortably play and enjoy the main campaign independently, particularly with the health boost active.
Gameplay Mechanics — What Makes Kirby and the Forgotten Land Stand Out?
The 3D Transition — How It Changes Everything
The jump to full 3D is the defining creative decision of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and it pays off entirely. Rather than simply mapping classic Kirby mechanics onto a 3D space, HAL Laboratory redesigned stage structure, enemy placement, and ability interaction to take genuine advantage of the third dimension.
Nintendo fans who enjoy Kirby’s move into full 3D exploration may also appreciate our Super Mario Odyssey Reviews: Complete Guide & Honest Rating (2024), another standout Switch platformer that showcases creative level design and rewarding exploration.
Levels are structured as contained, explorable stages rather than open-world environments. Each stage has a clear forward direction but hides Waddle Dees and hidden rooms off the main path, encouraging light exploration without overwhelming players with open-world navigation. In our testing, this structure strikes the ideal balance between accessibility and discovery — a hallmark of Nintendo’s best platform design.
Mouthful Mode — Kirby’s Wildest New Ability
Mouthful Mode is the breakout mechanic of Kirby and the Forgotten Land. When Kirby encounters certain large real-world objects — a car, a traffic cone, a water pipe, an arcade cabinet — he stretches his body around it, partially engulfing it and gaining unique movement and attack abilities tied to that object.
Car Mouthful Mode lets Kirby accelerate and crash into enemies at full speed. Vending Machine Mode lets him fire cans as projectiles. Cone Mode lets him drill into soft ground to uncover buried items. Every Mouthful ability is used in distinct, cleverly designed puzzles that are introduced and expanded across the game.
This mechanic represents one of the most genuinely creative additions to the Kirby formula in years, and it never outstays its welcome. HAL Laboratory introduces each Mouthful ability in a safe context before escalating its use in more complex situations — a textbook example of good game design progression.
Copy Abilities and the Upgrade System
Classic Copy Abilities return in full force: Sword, Fire, Ice, Hammer, Tornado, Ranger, and several others are all present and redesigned for 3D space. Each ability has a dedicated set of moves that function well in the new perspective.
New to Forgotten Land is the Ability Upgrade system. Players can spend in-game currency and collectible blueprints at Waddle Dee’s Weapons Shop in Waddle Dee Town to evolve their Copy Abilities into stronger variants. For example, the basic Fire ability can be upgraded to Dragon Fire, which shoots sustained flame arcs instead of individual fireballs. These upgrades are not required to complete the game but provide meaningful additional power for harder stages and challenge rooms. For veteran Kirby players looking for extra depth, this system delivers.
Co-op Mode — Playing Together
Kirby and the Forgotten Land supports 2-player local co-op throughout the entire main campaign. Player 2 controls Bandana Waddle Dee, a spear-wielding character with his own move set. The co-op implementation is seamless — Player 2 can drop in and out at any time, and the camera dynamically adjusts to keep both players in frame.
The co-op mode does not reduce difficulty, meaning two players share the same challenge as a solo run. In our gameplay testing, this made the game noticeably easier when played with an experienced second player, but also significantly more entertaining. It is one of the best couch co-op experiences available on Nintendo Switch for a mixed-skill audience — such as a parent playing alongside a child.
The one limitation worth noting: co-op is local only. There is no online multiplayer option, which is a genuine missed opportunity for the platform.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land Review — Visuals, Performance, and Sound
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is one of the best-looking games on the Nintendo Switch. HAL Laboratory achieved a level of visual polish that exceeds what many would expect from the hardware, delivering rich environments, smooth character animations, and detailed lighting effects across every stage.
Performance in both docked and handheld modes is stable. The game targets 60 frames per second in docked mode and maintains that target consistently throughout standard gameplay, with only minor dips during the most particle-heavy boss encounters. Handheld mode runs at a lower resolution but remains smooth and visually clear.
The soundtrack is a particular highlight. Composed primarily by Jun Ishikawa and Hirokazu Ando — the series’ longtime composers — the score blends orchestral arrangements with the series’ signature upbeat energy. Tracks like Welcome to the New World and the various boss themes stand out as some of the best music in the franchise’s history. Audio design throughout is equally strong: ability sound effects are satisfying, and the ambient sounds of the Forgotten Land’s ruined environments add genuine atmosphere.
Is Kirby and the Forgotten Land Worth It? — Honest Verdict
Yes — Kirby and the Forgotten Land is unambiguously worth purchasing for the right audience, and that audience is very broad.
If you’re building a collection of must-play Nintendo exclusives, our Best Zelda Game Ranked: Ultimate Top 10 Guide highlights several other essential adventures available for Nintendo players.
Best for:Â
- Families with children aged 6 and up
- Casual players who want a polished, enjoyable experience without heavy difficulty
- Nintendo Switch owners looking for a visually impressive exclusive
- Players new to 3D platformers
- Anyone who enjoyed previous Kirby titles
Less ideal for:
- Players seeking a long, difficult campaign (the main story runs approximately 10–12 hours)
- Those who prioritize online multiplayer
- Hardcore platformer fans who want a significant mechanical challenge from the outset
The post-game content meaningfully extends value. After completing the main story, players unlock a harder remixed version of the campaign — The Ultimate Cup Z in Colosseum mode — and harder challenge stages in Waddle Dee Town. Collectible hunters will find plenty of hidden Waddle Dees and rare items to chase. At its standard retail price, the base game plus DLC represents strong value for a Nintendo Switch title.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land — Pros and Cons
Pros:
- First fully 3D Kirby game — a genuine franchise evolution
- Mouthful Mode is inventive, consistently surprising, and well-designed
- Accessible to all skill levels without feeling trivial at any age
- Smooth 2-player local co-op throughout the full campaign
- Outstanding visual presentation for Nintendo Switch hardware
- Memorable orchestral soundtrack
- Generous post-game content with meaningful added challenge
- DLC adds further value for players who want more
Cons:
- Main campaign may feel brief or too easy for veteran platformer players (10–12 hours)
- Co-op is limited to 2 players locally — no online multiplayer
- Higher difficulty is gated behind post-game content rather than offered upfront
- Mouthful Mode abilities, while creative, are stage-locked and cannot be chosen freely
Kirby and the Forgotten Land Critical Reception — What Did Reviewers Say?
Kirby and the Forgotten Land was received with strong critical acclaim upon release. The game holds a Metacritic score of approximately 84 out of 100, based on aggregated professional reviews — placing it among the higher-rated first-party Nintendo Switch releases.
Key review highlights:
- IGN praised the game’s creativity, calling Mouthful Mode one of the most inventive ideas in a Nintendo platformer in years
- Nintendo Life awarded the game a near-perfect score and described it as one of the best games ever released on the Switch
- GameSpot highlighted the accessibility design, noting that the game manages to be genuinely fun without compromising its mechanical depth
Community reception on Reddit mirrored critical sentiment. The game is consistently cited in discussions of the best Nintendo Switch exclusives, and threads asking “is Kirby and the Forgotten Land worth it?” are almost universally answered with strong affirmatives. Prime Games Arena rates it an 8.5 out of 10, with points deducted only for the brief main campaign length and absence of online co-op.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land DLC — Star-Crossed World Review
The Star-Crossed World DLC is a paid expansion that adds a complete new themed world to Kirby and the Forgotten Land. It was released after the base game’s launch and targets players who have already completed the main campaign.
The DLC introduces stages built around a cosmic, space-influenced aesthetic that contrasts with the Forgotten Land’s earthly environments. Crucially, the difficulty in Star-Crossed World is noticeably higher than anything in the base game — these stages are designed for players who have mastered the mechanics and want a genuine test of skill.
For players who felt the main campaign was too accessible, the Star-Crossed World DLC is a worthwhile purchase. It provides several additional hours of content, introduces new puzzle and combat scenarios, and offers a satisfying conclusion to the experience for dedicated players. For players who found the base game challenging, the DLC is best approached after completing some of the post-game challenge content first.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land vs. Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe — Which Is Better?
Both games are excellent, but they serve meaningfully different audiences. Here is a direct comparison:
| Feature | Kirby and the Forgotten Land | Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe |
| Dimension | Full 3D | 2.5D Side-Scrolling |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2023 |
| Co-op Players | 2 (local) | 4 (local) |
| Difficulty | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate |
| Signature Mechanic | Mouthful Mode | Super Abilities |
| DLC Available | Yes (Star-Crossed World) | Yes (Magolor Epilogue) |
| Metacritic Score | ~84 | ~80 |
| Best For | Solo/duo, 3D exploration | Groups of 3–4, classic feel |
Verdict: Choose Kirby and the Forgotten Land for a solo or two-player experience with a modern, exploratory structure and the most inventive mechanics the series has ever offered. Choose Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe for four-player couch co-op and a more traditional side-scrolling Kirby experience. Both are strong purchases — if budget allows, owning both is worthwhile.
Players who prefer classic side-scrolling platformers should also check out our Super Mario Bros U Deluxe Review: 7 Essential Pros & Cons, which examines one of Nintendo’s strongest traditional platforming experiences.
Common Beginner Questions About Kirby and the Forgotten Land
How long is the main story?
The main campaign runs approximately 10 to 12 hours for most players. Collecting all Waddle Dees and completing every optional objective can extend this to 15–20 hours. Post-game content adds several additional hours for dedicated completionists.
Is there a hard mode?
Yes. After completing the main story, players unlock a harder remixed version of the game that includes tougher enemy placements, more aggressive boss attacks, and additional challenge stages not present in the base campaign.
Can two people share one Nintendo Switch for co-op?
Yes. The game supports split Joy-Con play, meaning two players can share a single Nintendo Switch using one Joy-Con each — no additional controllers required.
Does the game have online multiplayer?
No. Kirby and the Forgotten Land only supports local co-op for two players. Online multiplayer is not available in any mode.
What is Waddle Dee Town and why does it matter?
Waddle Dee Town is a hub world that grows and evolves as players rescue more Waddle Dees throughout the campaign. As the town expands, it unlocks new facilities: a shop to upgrade Copy Abilities, a café that restores health, a cinema to replay cutscenes, challenge stages, and more. It serves as both a progress tracker and a source of ongoing rewards, giving players a clear incentive to find every hidden Waddle Dee in each stage.
Conclusion
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is not just the best Kirby game ever made — it is one of the most confidently designed platformers on the Nintendo Switch. By committing fully to 3D while preserving the accessibility, creativity, and warmth that define the series, HAL Laboratory delivered a game that works for virtually every type of player. The Mouthful Mode mechanics are inventive and expertly implemented, the visual and audio presentation is excellent, and the co-op support makes it an ideal game to share. Whether you are approaching it as a standalone Kirby and the Forgotten Land review recommendation or comparing it against other recent Kirby titles, the answer is the same: this game earns its place among the Switch’s essential library. It is a clear and strong recommendation from Prime Games Arena.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is Kirby and the Forgotten Land rated?
The game is rated E10+ by the ESRB and PEGI 7 in Europe. It contains mild cartoon action and some mildly intense boss designs, but no blood, gore, or mature content. It is broadly suitable for children aged 6 and up.
Q2: When did Kirby and the Forgotten Land release?
Kirby and the Forgotten Land was released on March 25, 2022, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
Q3: Is Kirby and the Forgotten Land worth buying?
Yes. It is one of the highest-rated Nintendo Switch platformers available and is especially recommended for families, casual players, and anyone new to the series. Its post-game content and DLC add significant replay value beyond the main campaign.
Q4: Does Kirby and the Forgotten Land have co-op?
Yes. The game supports 2-player local co-op throughout the full main campaign, with Player 2 controlling Bandana Waddle Dee. Co-op can be started or exited at any time during gameplay.
Q5: What is Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s Metacritic score?
The game holds approximately an 84 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on aggregated professional critic reviews — placing it among the top-rated first-party Nintendo Switch releases.
Q6: How does Kirby and the Forgotten Land compare to Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe?
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a fully 3D adventure focused on exploration and Mouthful Mode; Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a 2.5D platformer with 4-player co-op and a more traditional structure. Forgotten Land scores higher critically (~84 vs ~80 on Metacritic) and offers the more modern experience, while Return to Dream Land Deluxe is better suited for larger groups.
Q7: Is the Star-Crossed World DLC worth it?
Yes — particularly for players who completed the base game and want a more challenging extension of the experience. The DLC adds a full new themed world with harder stages not present in the main campaign and provides solid additional value for dedicated players.
