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Kirby

Nintendo

Kirby is Nintendo's relentlessly cheerful pink hero who has starred in inventive 2D platformers since 1992, with a landmark full-3D adventure arriving on Switch in 2022. His signature move is the Copy Ability: swallow an enemy and gain its power — sword, fire, ice, beam, and dozens more — turning each level into a toybox of different playstyles. Unlike most long-running series, Kirby games share no connected story and no timeline, so every game is its own self-contained adventure and you can start with whichever one looks best to you.

SINCE 1992 · 17 GAMES

▶ WHERE DO I START?
  1. 1990s

    Kirby's Dream Land

    1992 · Game Boy

    The 1992 Game Boy debut that introduced Kirby: a bite-size platformer where the pink hero inhales foes and floats through Dream Land.

    For fansMainline2D Platformers

    3 releases & editions

  2. Kirby's Adventure

    1993 · NES

    The 1993 NES game that invented the Copy Ability — Kirby's most important mechanic — and remains one of Nintendo's most technically impressive NES titles.

    Mainline2D Platformers

    6 releases & editions

  3. Kirby's Dream Land 2

    1995 · Game Boy

    The 1995 Game Boy sequel that added Animal Friends — Rick the Hamster, Coo the Owl, and Kine the Fish — who change what each Copy Ability does.

    For fansMainline2D Platformers

    3 releases & editions

  4. Kirby Super Star

    1996 · SNES

    The beloved 1996 SNES mega-game: eight separate Kirby adventures in one cartridge, from epic quests to quick arena challenges.

    Mainline2D Platformers

    5 releases & editions

  5. Kirby's Dream Land 3

    1997 · SNES

    The 1997 SNES closer to the Dream Land trilogy, featuring a hand-drawn crayon art style and expanded Animal Friends alongside new Copy Abilities.

    For fansMainline2D Platformers

    5 releases & editions

  6. 2000s

    Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

    2000 · Nintendo 64

    Kirby's 2000 N64 adventure, where combining two Copy Abilities creates wild hybrid powers — mix fire and ice for a giant hot-and-cold breath attack.

    For fansMainline2D Platformers

    4 releases & editions

  7. Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

    2002 · Game Boy Advance

    The 2002 GBA remake of Kirby's Adventure, with updated visuals, a new sub-game, and four-player multiplayer — still one of Kirby's finest platformers.

    MainlineRemake2D Platformers

    3 releases & editions

  8. Kirby Air Ride

    2003 · GameCube

    A 2003 GameCube racing game where Kirby glides on a giant star — one-button controls strip everything back to steering and timing.

    LaterSpin-off

  9. Kirby: Canvas Curse

    2005 · Nintendo DS

    A 2005 DS spin-off where you never directly control Kirby — draw ink lines with the stylus to guide a helpless rolling Kirby through each level.

    For fansSpin-off

    2 releases & editions

  10. Kirby Super Star Ultra

    2008 · Nintendo DS

    The 2008 DS remake of the beloved SNES compilation, expanded with new adventures including a brutal True Arena and a full new storyline.

    MainlineRemake2D Platformers

    2 releases & editions

  11. 2010s

    Kirby's Epic Yarn

    2010 · Wii

    A 2010 Wii platformer where Kirby and the entire world are made of yarn and fabric — you unravel enemies instead of inhaling them.

    LaterSpin-off

    2 releases & editions

  12. Kirby's Return to Dream Land

    2011 · Wii

    The 2011 Wii game that brought classic Kirby platforming back after years of spin-offs, with four-player co-op and screen-clearing Super Abilities.

    Mainline2D Platformers

  13. Kirby: Triple Deluxe

    2014 · Nintendo 3DS

    The 2014 3DS game where levels have two depth planes — Kirby leaps between the background and foreground to solve puzzles and reach new paths.

    For fansMainline2D Platformers

  14. Kirby: Planet Robobot

    2016 · Nintendo 3DS

    The 2016 3DS game where Kirby pilots a giant mech suit that can also copy abilities, fighting to free Dream Land from a cold corporate robot invasion.

    Mainline2D Platformers

  15. Kirby Star Allies

    2018 · Switch

    A 2018 Switch game where Kirby throws hearts to convert enemies into friends, then teams up with up to three of them for four-player co-op.

    Mainline2D Platformers
  16. 2020s

    Kirby and the Forgotten Land

    2022 · Switch

    The 2022 Switch game that took Kirby fully 3D for the first time: explore a post-human world and use new Mouthful Mode to inhale cars, vending machines, and traffic cones.

    Start hereMainline3D Platformers