Kirby Air Riders is available to pre-order, but the lack of bonuses has got me down

Image of the Switch 2 Kirby Air Riders box and a Kirby cup sitting on a pink GamesRadar+ background. — (Image credit: Future/Nintendo UK)

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FAQ

Over 20 years after the original game, Kirby Air Riders for the Nintendo Switch 2 is gearing up for release on November 20, 2025.

With every new Switch 2 game comes pre-orders, and the adorable sequel is available to order right now for $69.99 (Best Buy) and £66.99 (Nintendo UK) in the US and UK, respectively, but so far, there's only one cute pre-order bonus to be found.

Those lucky enough to be based in the UK have the opportunity to get a cute reusable cup covered in a cavalcade of adorable Kirby characters, if they pre-order the game via the official Nintendo UK online store. It took a while for the cup to appear, so I had high hopes that US retailers would have pre-order bonuses of their own to show off, but that just hasn't been the case. At least in lieu of more pre-order gifts, there is a Kirby Air Riders Global Test Ride continuing on November 15 and 16, if you want to play the game a bit ahead of its launch date, which is better than nothing.

Kirby Air Riders Pre-Orders in the US

Kirby Air Riders Pre-Orders in the UK

Kirby Air Riders FAQ

What is the Kirby Air Riders release date?

Kirby Air Riders for the Nintendo Switch 2 will launch on November 20, 2025 at a price of $69.99 / £69.99.

Is there a Kirby Air Riders demo?

There is a Kirby Air Riders demo for the Nintendo Switch 2, known as the Kirby Air Riders Global Ride Test.

This first weekend of the Global Ride Test has already commenced, and occurred on November 8 and November 9. However, there's still a chance to tune into the next test being held on Saturday, November 15 at 12am to 6am PT and 4pm to 10pm PT, and Sunday November 16, from 7am to 1pm PT.

What's new in Kirby Air Riders?

Kirby Air Riders now lets you choose your rider from a variety of iconic Kirby characters, including King Dedede and Meta Knight, and includes a new control scheme that utilizies two buttons instead of one.

The game also features new modes including a new City Trail Mode where riders can explore a floating city sandbox, collect power-ups scattered throughout within a time-limit and battle it out with other players.

Is the full Kirby Air Riders game on the cart?

Yes, the full Kirby Air Riders game is available on the Switch 2 cart if you grab a physical copy. Just like Donkey Kong Bananza, the physical version includes the full-game and is not a Game-Key Card.

Is Kirby Air Riders available on the original Switch?

No, Kirby Air Riders is only available for the new Nintendo Switch 2. If you want to play the GameCube sequel for yourself, you'll need to have access to your own Switch 2 handheld.

Our best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories guide is full to the brim with accessories like the best Nintendo Switch 2 cameras and the best Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express Cards to get you started on your new Ninty handheld journey.

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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.