DaRmaZat Nintendo and Sora Ltd. director Masahiro Sakurai have unveiled a wealth of new details for Kirby Air Riders during the game’s second dedicated Nintendo Direct presentation. The 60-minute broadcast highlighted several major additions coming to the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 release, including the all-new story-driven Road Trip Mode, the return of Top Ride from the 2003 GameCube classic Kirby Air Ride, and a two-weekend “Global Test Ride” demo event set for November 8–9 and November 15–16. Sakurai also confirmed that no downloadable content is planned and that Kirby Air Riders will not become a recurring series.
The presentation introduced Road Trip Mode, a story-focused campaign that ties together races, battles, and events inspired by Air Ride, City Trial, and Top Ride. Players will collect machines, take on unique challenges, and follow a narrative starring Kirby, King Dedede, Bandana Waddle Dee, and other returning characters. Meanwhile, Top Ride returns as a fast-paced top-down racing mode supporting up to eight players online or local multiplayer on a single system. Players can mix and match riders and machines, use Copy Abilities such as Flash, and wield new exclusive items to outpace their rivals.
Newly revealed features include the Paddock, a social lobby where players can meet, chat, and set up matches; the Swap Relay, allowing racers to switch vehicles mid-race; and the Transform Star, a machine that shifts between flight and ground modes in real time. The Checklist system returns, tracking progress across game modes and unlocking new content, while larger two-part amiibo figures—featuring pairs like Meta Knight & Shadow Star and King Dedede & Tank Star—launch throughout 2026 with in-game functionality.
Online multiplayer has been expanded with features like Global Win Power, a new ranking system; Licenses, customizable player profiles; and Team Battles for up to 16 players. Solo players can refine their skills in Time Attack, Free Run, and other practice options. A growing roster of characters, including Taranza and the duo Lololo & Lalala, joins the lineup of playable riders.
Customization is central to Kirby Air Riders. Players can earn Miles, the in-game currency, to purchase machines, decorations, and music in the Miles Shop. The My Machine system lets players personalize vehicles and garages, even selling custom builds in an online marketplace. Collectible Gummies, My Music playlists, multilingual announcers, and full control remapping further enhance the experience.
Nintendo also announced the Global Test Ride, an online demo event for Nintendo Switch Online members running November 8–9 and November 15–16. Participants can race in Air Ride and City Trial modes across courses like Floria Fields, Waveflow Waters, and Mount Amberfalls. The demo supports up to 16 players per paddock, while the full version will expand to 32. The downloadable client will be available via Nintendo eShop starting November 7.
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