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← Full Kirby guide

Where to start with Kirby

Nintendo's pink puffball who inhales enemies to steal their powers — beginner-friendly, wildly creative, and the perfect series to start anywhere.

Start with Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby's first fully 3D adventure is joyful, inventive, and designed to welcome new players — the ideal place to start.

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.

Mainline3D Platformers

Then play…

  1. Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe

    2023 · Switch

    The 2023 Switch remaster of the 2011 Wii classic, with updated visuals, new abilities, and a full Magolor Epilogue story mode as bonus content.

    MainlineRemaster2D Platformers

    The best classic 2D Kirby you can buy new on Switch today — refreshed visuals, a new Mecha Copy Ability, and a full bonus epilogue campaign.

  2. 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

    A welcoming four-player co-op Kirby on Switch — great for playing with friends and a comfortable next step after Forgotten Land.

  3. 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

    Widely considered one of the best 3DS platformers — a great entry if you can get your hands on the hardware.

  4. 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

    An exceptional DS remake of the SNES classic — eight Kirby games in one cartridge, each showing a different side of the series.

    2 releases & editions

Honest skips / for later

Kirby's Dream LandFor fans

The very first Kirby game is a fun curiosity — charming but extremely short and without the Copy Ability that defines the series.

Kirby's Dream Land 2For fans

A solid Game Boy sequel that introduced Animal Friends, but there are much stronger modern entries to discover first.

Kirby's Dream Land 3For fans

A gentle, painterly SNES game with a unique crayon-art style — a lovely fan experience, but not the place to start.

Kirby 64: The Crystal ShardsFor fans

A charming N64 game with a fun power-combining system, but it's slow-paced and best visited once you're already a Kirby fan.

Kirby Air RideLater

A fun one-button racing spin-off with a devoted following, but it's a GameCube-only relic and not how you want to meet the series.

Kirby: Canvas CurseFor fans

A clever touchscreen spin-off where you draw paths for a rolling Kirby — inventive and DS-era unique, but not the core experience.

Kirby's Epic YarnLater

A gorgeous yarn-craft platformer, but it removes Copy Abilities entirely — save it for after you've fallen for the series.

Kirby: Triple DeluxeFor fans

A polished 3DS platformer with a clever foreground-background mechanic, but 3DS hardware is harder to access now — best after you're already hooked.

Open the full Kirby guide