I’m so happy Kirby Air Riders is Real

A short appreciation for a niche title.

There have only ever been a small handful of game announcements that have almost given me a heart attack. Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Pikmin 4, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life remake — and the list ends there.

So when I tell you I almost screamed bloody murder when Kirby Air Riders was announced way back in April 2025, you’d best believe me. Kirby Air Ride was one of the many Nintendo GameCube games that I have fond memories of playing as a kid. My sister and I almost never touched the game’s Air Ride and Top Ride modes and would play hours upon hours of City Trial, a free-for-all mode where players must collect upgrades and new vehicles within a large city before competing in a random arena event.

It wasn’t the greatest GameCube game ever made, let alone a great competitive racing title. But it was fun, chaotic, and unique. I truly never thought it would ever get a sequel. So I can only be grateful that it’s a real game. I was also happy to see Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai directing it following the final Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Directs and his own YouTube series. When he announced he was working on a secret project, most people (including myself) rightfully assumed it was another Super Smash Bros. game. Air Riders certainly isn’t Smash, though its graphic design certainly borrows the style and flair that Ultimate has. And it has the roster that you’d expect from a Smash Bros. game, with dozens of characters representing every aspect of the Kirby franchise. You can even play as Rick, the hamster from Kirby’s Dream Land 2 and Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards.

There’s a ton of customization too, both for characters and vehicles. You can purchase headwear using miles, a currency accumulated throughout the game. You can also purchase decals and paint to decorate your unlocked vehicles. If you’re crafty enough, you can make some visually interesting designs. The best I’ve seen is the Wagon Star designed to resemble the indigo-colored GameCube.

Kirby Air Ride is a niche title, and Air Riders isn’t too different. It won’t appeal to everyone, and it’s definitely an acquired taste. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying my time with the game. It’s fast, fun, and chaotic — which is what the original GameCube was. And it has a decent story mode — for a racing game.

It’s nothing to write home about. It’s a road trip in which you travel across different worlds, competing in various challenges to upgrade your machine. You’ll encounter several bosses along the way, including iconic ones like Zero Two and Nightmare.

Kirby Air Riders isn’t going to be an easy sell for those who aren’t interested in kart racers. While it is very similar to Mario Kart (Sakurai has suggested as much), it’s definitely has more an arcade-like feel to it than the traditional lap-based races Mario Kart has. It isn’t a game that I thought would ever come back with how niche and different it is compared to other Kirby spinoffs. But, it’s here, and it’s glorious.