Hold up, player! While your enthusiasm for a “Kirby Air Riders 2” is totally understandable, the game you’re likely thinking of, and which just dropped today, November 20, 2025, is actually titled **Kirby Air Riders** (without the “2”) for the shiny new Nintendo Switch 2. It’s the long-awaited sequel to the beloved GameCube cult classic, *Kirby Air Ride*.

As your resident gaming expert, GameJinn is here to give you the lowdown on this fresh, chaotic racer!

### Kirby Air Riders (Nintendo Switch 2) Review

**Overview:**
*Kirby Air Riders* is a vibrant and frenetic action-racing hybrid that blends elements of *Mario Kart* and *Super Smash Bros.*, bringing back the unique gameplay of its GameCube predecessor and ramping it up for the Nintendo Switch 2. Directed by Kirby series creator Masahiro Sakurai, it marks his return to the Kirby franchise as a director since the original *Kirby Air Ride* in 2003. The game launched on November 20, 2025, and has been met with a mix of praise for its chaotic fun and engaging multiplayer, alongside some criticisms regarding its single-player depth and perceived high price tag.

**Gameplay & Modes:**
*Kirby Air Riders* offers several distinct modes, each providing a different flavor of racing and combat:

1. **Air Ride:** This is the core racing mode, where up to 6 players compete on various tracks. The controls are deceptively simple, often relying on a single button for acceleration and braking, with steering handled by the control stick. However, mastering drifts, quick spins, and utilizing copy abilities requires significant skill. The game encourages aggressive play, demanding that you inhale NPCs and use their abilities or boost to attack foes. While reviewers note that races can feel short and repetitive if you don’t delve into different character and vehicle combinations, the sheer chaos and competitive aspect keep it engaging, especially with friends.
2. **City Trial:** This mode is often highlighted as the heart of the *Air Riders* experience, much like its predecessor. Players have a set time to freely roam a large city map, collecting power-ups to boost their machine’s stats (speed, defense, HP, glide, turn, weight, offense). After the collection phase, players clash in a random mini-game, which can range from races to combat challenges. The possibilities for customization and the volume of unlockables make completing checklist challenges exhilarating. However, some found the final events in City Trial to be anticlimactic at times.
3. **Top Ride:** Similar to Air Ride but played from a top-down perspective on much shorter, more chaotic tracks, reminiscent of *Micro Machines*. This mode is praised for its immediate party-game appeal and ease of understanding for multiplayer.
4. **Road Trip:** A new single-player story mode where Kirby and friends embark on a linear journey, blending conventional races with various minigames. While it offers a good range of gameplay and shows off the breadth of *Air Riders*, some reviewers found the narrative simple and the mode not massively engaging for a solo adventure, suggesting players temper their expectations if seeking a deep single-player experience.
5. **Lessons:** A series of tutorial missions to help players grasp the game’s mechanics.

**Characters and Machines:**
The game boasts a robust roster of over 20 playable riders and 24 Air Ride machines, including all those from the original *Kirby Air Ride*. Each machine handles differently, offering unique quirks that require adaptation. Any rider can now use any machine, and there’s extensive machine customization available, which includes a marketplace for designs. The character roster is a “celebration of Kirby,” featuring enemies, friends, and villains from across the series, each with their own stats and a “Final Smash-like special move.”

**Visuals and Sound:**
*Kirby Air Riders* is lauded for its gorgeous visuals, with vibrant colors that pop and consistent frame rates, even during intense on-screen action. The game features a bombastic soundtrack, mixing original tracks with fresh rearrangements of classic Kirby songs, which many consider a highlight.

**Tips and Cheats (General Gameplay Advice):**

* **Always Be Boosting:** Boosting is crucial in *Air Riders*, especially on larger tracks. Look for every opportunity to boost, whether it’s from defeating enemies, hitting other riders, using specials, or new abilities.
* **Master the Quick Spin:** The quick spin attack has been improved from the original game, with easier activation (a quick back and forth on the stick) and increased hitboxes. Use it frequently for offense and invulnerability frames.
* **Manage Air Time:** Gliding is essential