I've been playing Kirby games for 30 years, but you won't catch me with Kirby and the Forgotten Land on Switch 2

Photo by Rosalie Newcombe of a Kirby toy sitting in-front of a Switch 2 that's running Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
(Image credit: Future/Rosalie Newcombe)

I've been playing Kirby games since the days before the puffball was even pink on the box, but Kirby and the Forgotten Land totally fell off my radar.

Now that the Star-Crossed DLC has arrived, it feels like the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with one of the past best Switch games, but I definitely won't be grabbing that new Nintendo Switch 2 boxed copy to do so.

Instead of adding another physical Switch 2 game to my collection, I've got my sights set on grabbing the original game, which is down to $44.99 at Woot, and the Switch 2 upgrade pack through my Switch 2 handheld's eShop. I will need to attempt to free up some space on the already bustling OG Switch game collection shelf, but the cash saved and cute adventures to be had will make it worth it in the long run.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land | $59.99 $44.99 at WootSave $15

Kirby and the Forgotten Land | $59.99 $44.99 at Woot
Save $15 - If you haven't ever played through Kirby and the Forgotten Land before, this Woot saving is still worth your time, as it's $15 less than the game's MSRP. Not only that, you can grab this copy and buy the Switch 2 upgrade pack from the eShop for $19.99, and save $14 as opposed to grabbing the Switch 2 boxed edition with its $79 MSRP today.

UK: £36.95 at Amazon

It doesn't matter if I get my copy from Woot or grab Kirby and the Forgotten Land for $49.49 at Amazon, as either way it'll still be cheaper when combined with the Switch 2 upgrade pack.

As alluring as a new Switch 2 game on my shelf is, why should I buy the new version for $79 at Amazon when I can instead pick up the original game at Woot and its upgrade pack for $19.99 at Best Buy or directly through your handheld's eShop, saving me $14 in the process?

I'm well aware $14 isn't the biggest saving in the world. However, at a time when Nintendo tech is getting pricier by the second, and when their games are already notorious for not receiving the biggest discounts even years after launch, I'll take whatever I can get. If you have a tight gaming budget to stick to, you should too.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Star-Crossed World screenshot of Kirby looking up at a little starry character with Astronomer Waddle Dee (who wears a beret with star decals) and the blue chinchilla-like companion Elfilin

(Image credit: Nintendo)

In an ideal world, these upgrade packs wouldn't cost me (or you) a dime, and some of them are included with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership (Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom). However, in the case of Kirby, forking out for the new $19.99 upgade pack feels like like a blow to the bank account as you're also getting access to the brand-new Star-Crossed World content and the Switch 2 upgrades for the game, which include improved frame rates and graphics.

This is exactly what I did for Super Mario Jamboree, as again, it was cheaper to stick with the original game and grab the upgrade pack on the eShop than it was to pick up the Switch 2 boxed copy of the game.

As a physical collector, I'm a bit sad my Switch 2 collection is lacking as a result. Now there's just Donkey Kong Bananza and No Sleep for Kaname Date sitting there looking all lonely.

However, sticking with the original Kirby Switch game means saving some cash and filling up a missing spot in my handheld collection, which is a lovely pink-puffball-shaped bonus I won't take for granted.

Check out our ultimate Switch 2 starter pack, which is filled to the brim with the best Nintendo Switch 2 cameras, the best Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express cards, and lots of other accessories to get you started on your new Ninty handheld journey.

Rosalie Newcombe
Hardware Editor

Ever since I first held a NES controller in my hand I've been obsessed with gaming, and the hardware it runs on. I could hook up a NES and SNES to a telly, without instructions, before I could walk. Even now, nothing is more exciting then taking a console, or handheld, out the box for the first time and setting it up. This obsession transformed into a love of games and game music, which lead to my music degree and dream of becoming the Scottish Nobuo Uematsu. After sharing my love of games through music, I began to share my love through words on sites like TechRadar and iMore. This lead to becoming a Hardware staff writer for PCGamesN, and later the Senior Tech Writer for Dexerto, covering all things Steam Deck, PlayStation and Nintendo. With that experience, I was able to level up as Hardware Editor for GamesRadar+, where I'm still just as Nintendo, PlayStation and gaming tech obsessed as ever.

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