Summary
In 1992,Kirby’s Dream Landkicked off theKirbyvideo game series. The franchise would go on to produce over 35 titles — including remakes and non-traditional installments. Nintendo has released newKirbygames consistently since then, all the way up until 2023’sReturn to Dream Land Deluxe. With so many titles to choose from, there’s plenty of competition for Kirby’s most enjoyable adventure in over 30 years.
Many of theKirbygames — main and otherwise — have performed exceptionally well. The video game series also paved the way for otherKirby-themed media, such as the anime seriesKirby: Right Back at Ya!, as well as several manga series and children’s novels.In three decades ofKirby, these are some of the best games to come from the franchise.
Kirby Air Rideranks low here due to its restrictive gameplay style, which requires the player to control a vehicle of some sort, such as the Warpstar (seen in otherKirbygames). Both Meta Knight and King Dedede are unlockable characters, but players start out controlling Kirby, who can ride different vehicles and — as always — use his Copy Ability to gain power-ups.
Kirby Air Ridefeels reminiscent of olderMario Kartgames,and the tracks are well-designed. However, due to simplistic mechanics and a limited selection of playable characters, the gameplay can get repetitive after a while.Kirby Air Ridedoesn’t have the same competitive edge asMario Kart.
ForLittle Big Planetfans,Kirby’s Epic Yarnplays a lot like the PlayStation exclusive. The game sees Kirby transformed into yarn and transported to Patch Land, a world made of fabric.Kirby’s Epic Yarnscores points for unique visuals, asthe game takes Kirby on an adventure in new, unfamiliar territory. But the biggest drawback forKirby’s Epic Yarnis how disappointingly easy the game can be. It offers few challenges and plays more like a cozy game than an action-adventure one.
Regardless,Kirby’s Epic Yarntook home many prestigious gaming awards upon release — well-deserved at that. It even inspired a spiritual successor,Yoshi’s Woolly World. It’s perfect to play for a pick-me-up after a long day, and there’s a certain joy to it that otherKirbyinstallments could never replicate.
In a surprise twist toKirbylore,Kirby: Triple Deluxeforces the titular protagonist to embark on an adventure to rescue his arch-nemesis from Taranza.Kirby: Triple Deluxeoffers compelling level designs, graphics, and a killer soundtrack, as well as simple controls. As withKirby’s Epic Yarn, the game’s biggest flaw is its simplicity, as much of the combat isn’t challenging.
Kirby: Triple Deluxehas interesting boss battles and utilizes 3D well, but doesn’t require much skill or thought to enjoy. This could be a good or bad thing.The color palettes are mesmerizing, bringing to life the weird and wonderful worlds that Kirby must traverse.Kirby: Triple Deluxeoffered Kirby more power-ups than ever before, which set the stage for future games to capitalize on the variety.
Serving as a spiritual sequel toKirby: Triple Deluxe, the story ofKirby: Planet Robobotsees Kirby defend Planet Popstar from alien invaders using a mecha suit known as the Robobot Armor. Once again, as seems to be a recurring theme for the Kirby series,Kirby: Planet Robobotreceived criticism for its low difficulty level. However, it was praised for its score, graphics, and overall gameplay.
There’s no denying thatKirby: Planet Robobotis an enjoyable game, even if the unconventional theme of robotics isn’t interesting to everyone.It strikes a good balance between mech-oriented puzzles and levels and regular Kirby antics.
Kirby’s Return to Dreamlandwas released for the Nintendo Wii along withKirby’s Epic Yarn, but the former outmatches the latter. Players can controlKirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight, and Bandana Waddle Dee in a cooperative multiplayer mode.Kirby’s Return to Dreamlandmarked a welcome return to the franchise’s rootsthat had been lacking in other games, while the levels remained beautifully designed and nostalgic of earlier titles.
While the multiplayer mode madeKirby’s Return to Dreamlandmuch less challenging, the game became so memorable and beloved that Nintendo produced a remake in 2023 for the Nintendo Switch. Many Wii games have failed to hold up well over the years, but to anyone who still owns a Wii console, dusting offKirby’s Return to Dreamlandcouldn’t be more rewarding.
5Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
A Thoroughly Entertaining Platformer
Kirby 64was the first in the series to feature 3D computer-generated graphics. It alsointroduced Power Combos, which are combinations of two Copy Abilities. If there’s one big take-away forKirby 64, it’s that Nintendo’s early 2000s era was incredibly fun.Kirby 64is an exemplary platformer during a transitional period for the series.
The replay value isn’t very high, which is an issue with many Kirby games. Regardless,Kirby 64is a shining example of pure, unadulterated fun for all ages. The game’s disappointing length fails to compete with theother bohemoth platformers of the millennium, such asDonkey Kong 64.However, the ability to combine powers still setsKirby 64apart from the other installments and makes it an excellent introduction to the franchise.
Kirby Super Star Ultrafor the Nintendo DS serves as a remake ofKirby Super Star, released for the SNES in 1996. The remake retains all original game modes and even sprinkles in a few extra, along with enhanced visuals.Kirby Super Star Ultrahass high replay value thanks to additional content, including four new game modes and even a multiplayer mode.It feels much more at home on the Nintendo DSthan its late ’90s counterpart, as the dual screens allow for a more accessible experience.
Additionally,Ultraintroduces larger movesets for Kirby’s Copy Ability. For example, it allows Sword to generate many slashes for a nice combo, rather than just a one-and-done motion. In the eyes of some fans,Kirby Super Star Ultrafleshed out the formula that would carry through theKirbyseries going forward.
For fans of the Metroidvania sub-genre,Kirby & the Amazing Mirrormight be the bestKirbygame ever made. For others, it’s still a top-three contender. In fact, the top-three games on this list are interchangeable, as all of them can offer a compelling case as to why they rule above the rest.
Kirby & the Amazing Mirroris an easy fan-favorite of the “traditional” platformer games of the franchise, but it’s the multiplayer aspect that takes the cake. As the GameBoy Advance title provides exploration that feels endless, the multiplayer mode allows for players to roam the map freely and reunite according to their set tasks. This adds depth to the game that is largely absent from theKirbyseries. It would be enchanting to see the return of the “Kirbyvania” formula someday, as it enhances his Copy Abilities in an engaging open-world format.
Kirby’s Adventureshaped the childhoods of manyKirbyfans. It received praise for its originality, especially in terms of unique enemy designs. The game is undeniably charming, encapsulating all the best bits of the NES era of gaming. The rich color scheme doesn’t try and botch the 16-bit enhancements of the time, but rather strives to make 8-bit as beautiful as possible.
Kirby’s Adventurehas withstood the test of time as a title thatKirbyfans find themselves gravitating toward.It is consistently ranked among the best NES games, a sentiment with which very few would disagree. The Copy Ability would go on to become a staple of futureKirbygames.
As technology has advanced, Nintendo has adapted and evolved.Kirby and the Forgotten Landbecame the first-everKirbygame to be made completely in 3D. Not only is itthe best-sellingKirbygame of all time, but also one of the Nintendo Switch’s best-selling games overall.
Kirby and the Forgotten Landremedies the biggest issue with the Kirby video game series, which is poor replay value. With exploration-based level design and a whole host of optional challenges, each level inKirby and the Forgotten Landfelt more substantial.Copy Abilities were taken to a whole other levelwith the signature mechanic known as Mouthful Mode, which sees Kirby inhaling much larger objects than usual. Car-Mouth Kirby has even became something of a mascot for theKirbycommunity.
