Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World is a 3D action-adventure platformer that places Kirby in an expansive ruined world filled with overgrown structures and hidden paths. Players guide the pink hero through linear stages that emphasize exploration, precise jumping, and creative use of abilities to overcome obstacles and enemies. The core loop revolves around inhaling objects and foes to gain temporary powers while progressing toward objectives like rescuing allies and uncovering secrets.
Gameplay
The gameplay centers on fluid movement across three-dimensional environments where Kirby runs, floats, and interacts with the surroundings in creative ways. Inhaling enemies grants copy abilities that alter attacks and traversal options, while Mouthful Mode lets Kirby stretch over larger objects to transform into vehicles, tools, or structures for puzzle-solving and combat. These transformations integrate directly into level design, turning everyday items into key mechanics for reaching new areas or defeating groups of foes.
New Mouthful Modes appear in the expanded content. Spring Mouth allows high leaps followed by powerful slams to break through floors or stun targets. Sign Mouth flattens Kirby into a board for controlled slides down slopes and quick directional changes. Gear Mouth equips Kirby with a rotating mechanism suited for gripping walls, ceilings, and vertical surfaces to climb or spin through hazards. These additions expand the range of platforming challenges without replacing the established systems from the original adventure.
Combat involves timing dodges and ability use against varied enemy types, including tougher crystal-infused variants in later stages. Collection elements reward thorough play, with hidden items and objectives scattered throughout each region. Two-player couch co-op supports a second player controlling Bandana Waddle Dee alongside Kirby for shared progression. Difficulty options let players adjust health or reward multipliers to suit different experience levels.
Game Modes
The primary experience follows a story-driven campaign across six distinct regions, each containing multiple stages that build in complexity. Completion of main objectives unlocks further areas and post-game content. Starry Stages integrate into the same map structure, adding remixed versions of familiar locations with altered layouts, new collectibles, and increased enemy density.
The Colosseum serves as a dedicated challenge hub where players tackle boss rushes and tournaments. Ultimate Cup Z EX presents a high-difficulty sequence of consecutive boss encounters that test mastery of abilities and movement. Figure collection through the Gotcha Machine provides an ongoing side activity, with new EX Figures obtained via exploration or currency earned in Starry Stages.
These modes blend seamlessly, allowing players to switch between story progression, targeted challenges, and collection runs without leaving the central hub of Waddle Dee Town. The structure supports both linear playthroughs and repeated visits for full completion.
Story and Setting
Kirby arrives in a forgotten land marked by remnants of an ancient civilization. The base narrative involves rescuing Waddle Dees captured by the Beast Pack while uncovering the world's mysteries. Star-Crossed World introduces a meteor impact that scatters Starries across the map and raises new threats, including the entity Galactal. Players navigate the consequences through the added stages, which feature crystalline effects and modified environments that tie back to the original regions.
New NPCs such as Astronomer Waddle Dee and Star Guide Waddle Dee appear in town to support the expanded plot and provide guidance on objectives. The combined story maintains a light tone while layering additional stakes onto the existing adventure.
Performance on Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition runs the full experience at a consistent 60 frames per second with improved resolution and visual clarity in both docked and handheld modes. These technical upgrades enhance the readability of platforming sections and the detail in environments without altering core mechanics. The enhancements apply across the original content and the new Star-Crossed World stages alike.
Is It Worth Playing?
This edition delivers the complete original campaign alongside 12 new Starry Stages, three additional Mouthful Modes, expanded collectibles, and an upgraded Colosseum challenge. The performance improvements make movement and combat feel more responsive, while the integrated expansion extends playtime for those seeking more stages and objectives. Existing owners benefit from the upgrade path that adds meaningful content without requiring a full repurchase. Newcomers receive a polished entry point into a focused 3D platformer that balances accessibility with depth in its ability systems and level variety. The package suits players who enjoy exploration-driven adventures with light combat and co-op options, particularly those looking for a refined experience on the newer hardware.
