Kirby Air Riders launches November 20 exclusively on Switch 2

Nintendo has announced the exclusive release of Kirby Air Riders on the Switch 2 console on November 20. The game is a modern revival of the 2003 GameCube cult classic Kirby Air Ride, developed by Kirby's creator, Masahiro Sakurai. The announcement came during a 45-minute Nintendo Direct event. The game features a roster of playable characters, including King Dedede, Meta Knight, Bandana Waddle Dee, and Knuckle Joe, each with distinct traits and special attacks. The ride mechanics are straightforward, allowing players to boost, drift, glide, and rail-grind their way around. Kirby Air Riders includes two major modes: Air Ride, a straightforward racing mode, and City Trial, where players can explore a floating island called Skyah, encounter random events, and power up their vehicles. The game supports local multiplayer for up to eight players and online lobbies for up to 16 players. A demo version of Kirby Air Riders will be available for attendees of PAX West 2025 in Seattle and at Gamescom in Cologne this week. The game's release on November 20 marks another Switch 2 exclusive coming early in the console's life cycle, following the success of Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World.