The 10 best Kirby games to adventure through

It's time to put the pink puffball in the spotlight by celebrating the best Kirby games of all time.

Some of my earliest memories are of playing Kirby's Dream Land on the original Game Boy. But the lovable little hero from Planet Popstar has seen many adventures since then, with almost 35 years worth of releases. From racing to golfing games, and platforming delights, Kirby has some of the best DS games and the best Switch exclusives to his name.

And with 2027 set to mark his big 35th anniversary, we're going to see a new game in Kirby and the World Beyond. Announced as an exclusive upcoming Switch 2 game during the Nintendo September 2026 Direct, it looks like it could very well be the very first open world entry Kirby has featured in. But as we await what's next, join me as I look back over the series and take you through the best Kirby games.

10. Kirby Air Riders

Over two decades after Kirby Air Ride brought the pink puffball in the racing world on GameCube, Kirby Air Riders landed on the Switch 2 to bring us a shiny, upgraded sequel.

With Kirby and Super Smash Bros creator Masahiro Sakurai at the helm as director, you can see the Smash Bros influence with its blend of racing, fighting, and roguelike elements - and plenty of minigame fun. For more, be sure to check out our Kirby Air Riders review.

9. Kirby & The Amazing Mirror

Kirby and The Amazing Mirror cemented the Kirby series as one of Nintendo's most creative. In it, the pink puffball finds himself split into four separately colored entities and given the job of reassembling the pieces of a magic mirror to save the inhabitants of Mirror World.

In a refreshing twist on his usual side-scrolling format, Kirby and The Amazing Mirror played as a Metroidvania adventure that had players unlocking new areas with different abilities and discovering all the secrets, hidden pathways, mini-games, and bonuses within the title's nine worlds. Adding to its appeal, Kirby and The Amazing Mirror featured the ability to call Kirby's other personas via cellphone to lend their unique skills to any given situation.

8. Kirby's Dream Land 2

The success of Kirby's Adventure for the NES in 1993 earned Kirby enough gaming cred to branch out into two side projects: Kirby's Pinball Land and Kirby's Dream Course. By 1995, however, fans were itching for a return to Kirby's roots, and Nintendo delivered in spades with Kirby's Dream Land 2 for Game Boy.

Kirby's Dream Land 2 pushed the series forward with gameplay improvements, design tweaks, and some of the best 2D platforming the Game Boy had to offer. Old abilities were fine-tuned, and new allies like Rick the Hamster, Kine the Ocean Sunfish, and Coo the Owl were introduced to lend a hand. HAL Laboratory's return to Dream Land was an all-around success, launching Kirby's Dream Land 2 into the Game Boy's top seller list and securing it a top spot in Best Game Boy games lists for all eternity.

7. Kirby 64: the Crystal Shards

Kirby's debut on the Nintendo 64 didn't rock the gaming world, but it did carry the Kirby flame forward in some new and innovative ways. Though still a side-scrolling platformer at heart, Crystal Shards' 2.5D environments and the illusion of Super Mario 64-esque freedom were a refreshing change of pace. What's more, the N64's beefier processing power gave the pink puffball a fresh, modern look compared to that of his Game Boy Advanced titles.

Above the graphical improvements, Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards improved upon Kirby's traditional moves. In addition to inhaling and assuming his enemy's traits, Kirby was upgraded with the ability to combine different powers for various effects. Swallowing an electric enemy and a sword, for instance, created a lightsaber; while gobbling electricity and ice created a healing refrigerator. The combo system brought more substance to Kirby's 64-bit upgrade.

6. Kirby's Return to Dream Land

Kirby's Return to Dream Land brought the pink hero back to his roots in a delightfully colorful adventure on the Wii. It offers a 2.5D platforming game reminiscent of Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards in both visual style and gameplay mechanics. This was partly due to the fact that production on Kirby's Return to Dream Land actually began immediately after Kirby 64, but it took HAL and Nintendo nearly 11 years to bang it into shape for a Wii release.

And the investment paid off. Nintendo put a pause on innovating the series to put out a solid platforming adventure featuring Kirby doing what he does best: inhaling foes, spitting them out, and occasionally copying their style. New features like super abilities and drop-in cooperative multiplayer only added to the fun. Kirby's return may have taken place on an alien planet, but it felt close to home. Read our Kirby's Return to Dream Land review for more.

5. Kirby and the Rainbow Curse

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse really brought the Wii U to life with its delightful claymation-style offering. With gameplay reminiscent of Kirby: Canvas Curse on the DS, Rainbow Paintbrush sees you draw out Kirby's path through each stage or shield him from enemies on the Wii U touchpad.

Taking the form of a little clay ball, the colorful adventure once again shows off the creativity of the series, with an eye-catching world that brings renewed life to the platforming. It really is a memorable treat.

4. Kirby's Epic Yarn

Kirby's Epic Yarn took full advantage of its unique look, incorporating the game's arts-and-crafts aesthetics into every aspect of gameplay. Items crinkled, backgrounds folded, and enemies fell apart as if they were put together by felt, string, and glue sticks.

Gone were Kirby's standard moves and, in their place, the ability to reshape his yarn body into whatever vehicle or device the situation demanded. It was a refreshing twist on an aging formula with bundles of charm. Find out more in our Kirby's Epic Yarn review.

3. Kirby Super Star Ultra

1996's Kirby Super Star for SNES was an all-you-can-eat buffet of awesome, offering eight meaty Kirby games in one delicious cartridge. As the first Kirby game to introduce co-op, it was packed with sixteen games. Every one of its offerings feels like a polished, standalone entry.

Whether it's spelunking in the Great Cave Offensive, rising through the ranks in Helper to Hero, or going back to basics in Spring Breeze, there's very little that feels tacked on to increase the remake's game count. Dripping with fan service, Kirby Super Star Ultra reminds us why we've grown to love Nintendo's puffball over the years. Read our Kirby Super Star Ultra review for more.

2. Kirby: Planet Robobot

In 2016, Kirby landed on the 3DS in a memorably mechanized way. Kirby: Planet Robobot made the most of the handheld's 3D functionality to deliver a platforming adventure that played around with the depth of field by moving the pink puffball back and forth between the levels.

The generous variety of abilities on offer is also endlessly fun to play around with and copy. But what really sets Planet: Robobot apart is the introduction of the mech suit Kirby can pilot. As well as giving Kirby new powers in combat, the armor also comes into play to solve puzzles in inventive ways.

1. Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby and the Forgotten Land brought the inhaling hero back for a new adventure entirely in 3D. With more open platforming, a mysterious setting with visually striking stages, and a host of features, Forgotten Land is a big step up for the pink puffball. And to add to its charm, the Waddle Dee Town homebase is a delight, offering a variety of mini-games, collectibles, stores, a cinema, a colosseum, and more.

Kirby's latest entry (excluding the 2023 remake of Kirby's Return to Dream Land) is a refreshing take on a series that never really strayed from its side-scrolling formula. Showing off the creativity of HAL Laboratory with inventive level designs and the addition of new skills like Mouthful Mode, Forgotten Land takes Kirby to new heights. We can hardly wait to see where the series will go next. Read our Kirby and the Forgotten Land review.

Looking for more adventures? Why not check out our roundup of the best Switch 2 games.