Fans eager to see more about the long-awaited sequel to the GameCube classic were treated to a surprise Nintendo Direct focused on Kirby Air Riders.
Taking place on the official Nintendo of America YouTube Channel on October 23rd, 2025, the Direct were treated to a full hour of details hosted by the legendary and enigmatic Masohiro Sakruai. The first thing fans were treated to is the return of the game mode “Top Ride,” which features a smaller racetrack with a top-down perspective.
In keeping with Kirby Air Riders’ new style and mechanics, tracks are a bit larger than before to suit the new boost and machine/rider combos—as well as the size of modern TVs, as Sakurai joked. Players can set the camera to follow their rider or pull the camera back for a more classic feel. Top Ride will feature new tracks based on the ones in Kirby Air Riders, as well as new items. Top Ride will also feature bot offline and online play.
Sakurai also highlighted another new game mode, called “Road Trip,” which combines elements from Air Ride, Top Ride and City Trail. Players will travel down a road of challenges, choosing challenges, power-ups and different routes to travel along. Players also got a small taste of online functionality, like the ability to create a personalized driver’s license and a gathering-hub style “Paddock” where players can run, jump and interact before choosing which racing match they want to participate in.
Players were also given a small glimpse at some of the new Copy Abilities available during races—Needle, Freeze, Sleep, Fighter, Drill, Flash, and Missile. Sakurai also showed off some of the new stages for Air Ride, including Airtopia Ruins, Crystalline Fissure, Steamgust Forge, and a mysterious track highlighted by the music from the Marx battle music from Kirby Super Star.
Alongside these new tracks, all nine courses from Kirby Air Ride will also be featured in this new game, bringing the track list for Air Ride up to 18. Players will need to unlock the classic stages by playing through the new Kirby Air Riders modes. On top of this, Sakruai showed off a new game mode called Swap Replay, where players choose machines based on the number of laps, and change at the start of every lap.
On top of some new items to be featured in City Trail, Sakurai showed off the return of Legendary Machines—which he joked players might recognize from a little game called Super Smash Bros. If players collect all three parts of a Legendary Machine, they can deal some devastating damage during City Trails.
Fans were also treated to some new characters, including: Trananza, who can use her webs for tight turns, Lololo & Lalala, who swap places with every Quick Spin—though only for visual effect—Daroach, who can steal abilities. Sakurai also showed off Rocky, Rick Scarfy Marx and Waddle Dee. Alongside some new Machines, a new machine called a Transform Star that can change shapes with a Quick Spin was also highlighted.
While Sakruai did show off some of the more basic modes, like Time Attack, Free Run, and several of the new modes available as part of City Trail, he also provided details for the new Vs. Boss mode, which now features a massive battle against a transforming Robo Dedede, as well as other familiar bosses from the Kirby series.
Sakurai also showed off “My Machine,” which allows players to decorate their machines with various patterns, stickers, accessories and effects. Players have an incredible range of customization and placement options to really make their machines their own. Players can earn customizations through in-game challenges or by purchasing them with the in-game currency called “Miles.” Players will also be able to customize their riders with stylish headwear.
For fans of the music from the Kirby series, players will also have access to the “My Music” feature, similar to that of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Players will be able to choose the frequency of themes that play during tracks, as well as just listen to the music through the in-game music player—though the music will be made available on the Nintendo Music app.
Sakurai also showed off three new Amiibos coming to Kirby Air Riders, including Meta Knight, King Dedede and Chef Kawasaki, alongside three new Machines, which will feature customizable parts. Amiibos will work similarly to Super Smash Bros., where players can train their amiibos
Saving the best for last, the presentation ended with a little glimpse of the game’s new expansive story mode, featuring fully voiced narration and some spectacular animation. Kibry Air Riders will launch for Nintendo Switch 2 on November 20th, 2025.
