Kirby was the reason I did not regret buying the Switch 2

At least quality-wise I seriously think Kirby has become one of the strongest Nintendo franchises from the last couple of years. Kirby Air Riders has the single-player content I very much craved from Mario Kart World. The Open World structure didn’t click with me. I prefer a more predefined design that allows for denser gameplay sessions. The rogue-like nature of Air Riders’ engaging campaign was something I didn’t know I wanted from an arcade racer. I can’t think of a similar style of campaign that takes elements from modern rogue-like classics whilst still having a similar structure to genre fathers like OutRun.

Then, there is Kirby and the Forgotten Land. It’s linear levels were a welcome contrast to the open playground of Donkey Kong Bananza. Still, the game retains a sense of wonder and exploration. Thanks to levels having hidden missions the player can fulfill, it offers an optional way to engage with the game in a more in-depth manner that get rewarded. Both extrinsic with currency and intrinsically with creative challenges or charming ideas. Forgotten Land just has everything. Interesting level design, upgradable power-ups, and memorable boss fights, just to name a few of its strong suits. The world itself is beautifully crafted and invites you to hang out with Kirby to enjoy the good vibes.

This isn’t to denounce these other games. Probably many more people are enjoying them than Kirby. But I think its space in the Nintendo ecosystem is important. After having a somewhat bitter taste in my mouth, these two games brought me joy that I hoped to find in DK Bananza and MK World. I’m thankful that they exist. Luckily Pokopia has become another game that brightens up my days, so I at least know that I’m not allergic to modern Nintendo games.