Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Guide, Reviews, Switch 2 Edition

Kirby and the Forgotten Land marks HAL Laboratory’s first full-scale departure into three-dimensional platforming for Nintendo’s pink protagonist, launching worldwide on March 25, 2022. Set within a mysterious world abandoned by an ancient civilization, the game tasks Kirby with rescuing captured Waddle Dees from the Beast Pack while navigating fully realized 3D environments.

This Nintendo Switch exclusive introduces Mouthful Mode, allowing Kirby to wrap himself around vehicles and objects rather than simply inhaling them. By March 2024, the title had sold 7.52 million copies, establishing it as the best-selling entry in the franchise’s three-decade history.

What Is Kirby and the Forgotten Land?

1. First mainline 3D Kirby: The game maintains linear stage design while operating in full 3D space, a series first.
2. Mouthful Mode innovation: Kirby can engulf large objects like cars, vending machines, and scaffolding to gain unique traversal powers.
3. Local co-op support: Two players can share the adventure locally, with the second player controlling Bandana Waddle Dee.
4. Historical sales performance: 7.52 million copies sold by March 2024, surpassing Kirby’s Dream Land (5.13 million).
5. Critical recognition: Received strong acclaim and won Best Family Game at The Game Awards 2022.
6. Enhanced reissue: A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition launched August 28, 2025, featuring technical improvements and new content.
7. Post-apocalyptic setting: Features remnants of a lost civilization, distinguishing it from Kirby’s typical vibrant Dream Land environments.

Key Gameplay Features in Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Mouthful Mode and Copy Abilities

Core mechanics center on Kirby’s signature inhale ability, returning Copy Abilities such as Drill and Ranger. The signature innovation, Mouthful Mode, expands Kirby’s repertoire by allowing him to stretch over and control large objects including cars, lights, and vending machines. These transformations grant unique powers necessary for navigating environmental puzzles and reaching hidden areas.

Level Design and World Structure

Stages retain the series’ traditional linear progression while utilizing full 3D space. Players traverse abandoned shopping malls, overrun amusement parks, and dilapidated industrial zones, each containing captured Waddle Dees to rescue. The game balances platforming challenges with optional discovery, though specific completion time metrics remain unspecified in available sources.

Is Kirby and the Forgotten Land Multiplayer?

The game supports local co-op multiplayer for two players. Player 1 controls Kirby, utilizing the full range of Copy Abilities and Mouthful Mode transformations. Player 2 assumes control of Bandana Waddle Dee, wielding a spear with distinct attack patterns. Online multiplayer is not available.

This local-only restriction means both participants must share the same console, though the second player can join or exit without disrupting progress. The cooperative mode applies to the main story campaign, with both players sharing screen space as they navigate the Forgotten Land’s stages.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Reviews and Scores

The game received strong acclaim upon release, winning Best Family Game at The Game Awards 2022. Commercial performance matched critical reception: the title topped sales charts in the UK and Japan during its launch window, became the 14th best-selling game in the United States for 2022, and reached 2.1 million global units within two weeks.

The game’s long-term commercial viability proved equally impressive. By March 2024, sales reached 7.52 million copies, establishing it as the highest-selling Kirby title in franchise history and nearly doubling the previous record held by Kirby’s Dream Land.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land DLC and Post-Game Content

The Star-Crossed World Expansion

The original 2022 release received no traditional DLC. However, the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, released August 28, 2025, includes an exclusive story campaign titled Star-Crossed World (also referenced as Star-Cursed Ruins). This new narrative explores a meteor mystery and introduces enhanced Mouthful Modes.

Owners of the original Switch version may purchase an upgrade pack to access the Switch 2 Edition content. This enhanced version runs at 1440p resolution with 60 frames per second, offering improved visual fidelity and smoother performance over the original release.

When Was Kirby and the Forgotten Land Released?

1. September 23, 2021: Nintendo reveals the game during a Nintendo Direct broadcast
2. January 12, 2022: Pre-orders open through Nintendo retail channels
3. March 3, 2022: Free demo becomes available on Nintendo eShop
4. March 25, 2022: Original Nintendo Switch version launches worldwide
5. December 8, 2022: Receives Best Family Game award at The Game Awards
6. August 28, 2025: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World releases exclusively for Switch 2

What Is Confirmed About Kirby and the Forgotten Land?

How Does Kirby and the Forgotten Land Fit Into the Series?

As the first mainline Kirby title to operate in full 3D, the game represents a significant technological evolution from the series’ 2D roots. While previous entries experimented with 3D graphics, Forgotten Land maintains HAL Laboratory’s design philosophy of accessible difficulty while expanding spatial complexity. The Children and Families Act 2014 recognizes the importance of family gaming experiences, a demographic Nintendo specifically targets with this entry’s cooperative features and balanced challenge curve.

The post-apocalyptic aesthetic departs from the franchise’s typical vibrant Dream Land settings, offering narrative ambiguity that contrasts with the series’ usual straightforward storytelling. This environmental storytelling approach, combined with record-breaking sales, suggests the experiment succeeded in broadening appeal while retaining core fans.

What Do Critics and Sources Say?

“Kirby explores a post-apocalyptic world with remnants of a lost civilization, saving kidnapped Waddle Dees from the Beast Pack alongside Elfilin.”

— GameSpot Coverage

“It became the 14th best-selling US game of 2022, and sold 7.52 million copies by March 2024—the highest in Kirby series history.”

— Wikipedia Aggregate Records

Is Kirby and the Forgotten Land Worth Playing?

For platforming enthusiasts and families seeking cooperative experiences, the game offers substantial value through its technical polish and content volume. The 2025 Switch 2 Edition addresses hardware limitations of the original release while adding narrative content through Star-Crossed World. Those interested in cinematic narrative experiences might compare its storytelling approach to films like You Were Never Really Here, though the tone diverges significantly toward accessibility and charm.

Frequently Asked Questions