Kirby News

January2018

December2017

November2017

  • Review Kirby Battle Royale (3DS)

    With added cheese

    When Nintendo confirmed a 'multiplayer-focused' Kirby title plenty speculated over the approach it would take, but Kirby Battle Royale ultimately delivers a rather predictable spin-off release. What we have, once you get past an initial introduction that suggests a different style entirely, is a minigame collection, one...

  • News The Results of the First Kirby Copy Ability Poll Are In

    Guess what won?

    Kirby has got a good year ahead of him, with the spin-off Kirby Battle Royale due out on the 3DS later this year and with Kirby Star Allies on track to deliver a more conventional Kirby experience sometime this spring. Kirby has always been defined by his copy abilities, so Nintendo has taken to running a poll to see which copy...

October2017

September2017

August2017

July2017

  • Review Kirby's Blowout Blast (3DS eShop)

    A Past from the Blast

    After 25 years, the Kirby universe has enough material to fill a Hyrule Historia-like compendium (hint, hint). Many games along the way have added little quirks and abilities to shake things up, but Kirby’s Blowout Blast takes a decidedly throwback approach by channelling the veteran hero’s first game. Blowout Blast strips...

June2017

  • News Kirby’s Blowout Blast Releases in North America on 6th July

    Just a week to go

    Much akin to how the minigames of Kirby: Triple Deluxe were later given fleshed out standalone releases on the eShops, the minigames of Kirby: Planet Robobot are also getting their own chance at the spotlight. Kirby’s Blowout Blast is particularly notable, however, for being the first game to take the super-tuff pink puff into a...

  • News Nintendo Confirms a New Kirby Game for Switch in 2018

    Has the Kirby curse broken?

    At Nintendo's E3 Spotlight event everyone's' favorite pink puffball made his Switch debut. In his latest adventure Kirby will be "recruiting enemies as helpers" and will also use his trademark copy abilities such as "Sword, Fire and Water" before joining "forces with up to three friends for a different kind of team-up...

May2017

April2017

  • Gallery Kirby's 25th Birthday Is Celebrated With Special Events In Tokyo

    For he's a jolly pink fellow

    As we all know, Kirby turns 25 this year. To mark this momentous milestone, Nintendo has arranged various events in Tokyo which will run through the rest of the month and into early May. Two of them started today. One can be found in Ueno's Yamashiroya toy store and comes complete with cake and message board. As you...

  • News Adorable Kirby Accessories Added to Official Japanese Anniversary Website

    Did someone say Warp Star headphones?

    After last week's Nintendo Direct reminded us all that 2017 will be Kirby's 25th anniversary, it's no surprise that more merchandise is being created to celebrate the landmark. Over on the official Japanese anniversary website more goods have been added, all displaying colourful style for the pink puffball...

  • News Japanese eShop Sale Celebrates Kirby's 25 Anniversary

    Only available for four days and in Japan

    From 27th April to the 30th April, Japanese Nintendo fans will have access to an eShop sale for many Kirby classics, with many games available at 25% off. As of right now, this sale is only confirmed for the Japanese eShop, but Nintendo of Europe and America often announce promotions like these as they go...

  • News Satoshi Ishida Hints at the Upcoming Kirby Multiplayer Game

    An action fighting game?

    Kirby: Planet Robobot was a standout release on the 3DS last year, polishing the gameplay of Kirby: Triple Deluxe even further while adding in some interesting new elements. As per series tradition, Planet Robobot also had some fun minigames that offered something a bit different form the core gameplay, and both are being...

  • News New Kirby Titles Releasing In Honor Of 25th Anniversary

    You're going to need to bring some friends

    Today on the Nintendo Direct showcasing 3DS and Nintendo Switch titles, not one, not two, but three new Kirby titles were announced for the Nintendo 3DS. Retaining the stereotype that Nintendo likes to mark the end of its console support with a multitude of Kirby titles. The first of which is releasing...

  • News Fighter Kirby Announced for First 4 Figures Range

    Pre-orders go live 11th April

    Makers of high-end collectibles First 4 Figures has announced Fighter Kirby will be its latest product. Originally featured in Kirby Super Star, the SNES figure sees Fighter Kirby performing an emphatic kick in his trademark pose. As with the all First 4 Figure statues there will be a regular version and an exclusive...

January2017

December2016

November2016

  • News Four Lost Satellaview Kirby Games Have Been Recovered

    Three to go

    The Satellaview represented a fascinating chapter in Nintendo's long history. The peripheral allowed Japanese players to tune in to special satellite broadcasts that distributed various forms of unique and exclusive game content to their consoles. The problem is, many of the games that were part of the Satellaview have been lost due to...

October2016

September2016

  • News Kirby Gear is Coming to Miitomo

    How dreamy

    Miitomo has been gradually incorporating clothing and items from various other Nintendo franchises, with Super Mario, Metroid, Zelda, and Splatoon all making an appearance in timed events over the past several months. Now, it seems that everybody's favorite super-tuff pink puff is about to get in on the action; Kirby gear is coming to...

  • News Kirby: Planet Robobot Director Discusses How Copy Abilities Are Chosen

    Balancing is key

    Though the Kirby series is well known for branching out frequently into new and different gameplay styles, the core platforming series still firmly remains centered around Kirby's cope abilities. Ever since Kirby's Adventure, dozens of copy abilities have made their debut, though many have a tendency to disappear for a few games...

July2016

  • News North Americans Get Two New Kirby Games on Wii U VC This Week

    Mass Attack and Epic Yarn join the fray

    Kirby has always sort of been an experimental franchise for Nintendo. Of course, the power-stealing platforming type of game has always been the foundation, but the Big N hasn't been afraid to branch out with new or weird gameplay ideas featuring the Super-Tuff Pink Puff. Over the years, this has resulted in...

  • News The Full Site For Kirby Café is Now Open

    *Cue Gourmet Run music*

    A couple weeks ago, it was revealed that there would be a Kirby Café coming to Japan. The Café remained shrouded in mystery for a time, other than the logical assumption that it would feature Kirby themed food and drink. Fortunately, a full site recently opened for the Café, revealing everything that lucky Japanese Kirby...

  • Review Kirby's Dream Course (New 3DS / SNES)

    Kirby's Krazy Golf

    Super NES title Kirby's Dream Course has made it to the New Nintendo 3DS, and we had to see how this non-conventional Kirby title has held up since its initial release in 1994. Kirby's Dream Course is effectively crazy golf with our little pink pal acting as the ball. Kirby has three lives with four attempts each, and unless...

June2016

May2016

April2016

March2016

December2015

  • Feature A Celebration of HAL Laboratory - Forever Focused on Fun

    Kirby, Pokemon, Smash Bros., and Box Boy...

    From now until the start of the new year we're going to be republishing some of what we feel are our best features of 2015. Hopefully this will offer the chance for newer readers to catch up on content they might have missed and allow long-time fans to reacquaint themselves with features they enjoyed the...

  • Review Kirby Mass Attack (Wii U eShop / DS)

    Safety in numbers

    Known in Japan as Atsumete! Kirby, Kirby Mass Attack is the final title in the long-running HAL Laboratory series for the Nintendo DS. Originally released in 2011, Mass Attack moves away from traditional platform game design in preference of a completely touch-driven experience. Thankfully, unlike the original 2005 entry for DS –...

  • Review Kirby: Power Paintbrush (Wii U eShop / DS)

    Time has passed

    Kirby: Power Paintbrush – also known as Canvas Curse in North America – was originally released on the Nintendo DS in 2005. Following the trend of many other franchises during this new generation of handheld gaming, the HAL Laboratory-developed title moved away from traditional platform game conventions by utilising the defining...

  • News Shinya Kumazaki Commemorates Kirby's 23rd Birthday on Miiverse

    Claims his favorite spin-off game is Kirby Air Ride

    Kirby is one of Nintendo's most beloved characters, having appeared in numerous games since his debut in 1992. While the super tough pink puff stars in his own series of mainstream platformers, Kirby is arguably most notable for how much experimentation he's been subject to. Kirby games are known...

November2015

September2015

July2015

May2015

  • Out Now Kirby And The Rainbow Paintbrush

    The drawn out release is here!

    As you may have noticed we've been going kooky for Kirby this week, as the round, pink protagonist's latest adventure, Kirby And The Rainbow Paintbrush, has finally come to European shores. It's been a few months since the game's North American release, so you may already know quite a bit about it, a game we called "a...

  • Video Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush Launch Trailer Brings a Colourful Clay Overload

    Finally arrives in PAL territories this week

    Gamers in North America have been able to tackle Kirby and the Rainbow Curse on the Wii U for some time, wearing out GamePad touch screens in the latest HAL title starring the pink puffball. Its journey to PAL regions - as Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush - has taken longer, but it's finally due this week...

  • Feature Here Are Our Fondest Kirby Memories

    Rainbow Paintbrush finally launches in Europe this week, so we talk Kirby

    This week sees the release of Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush (Rainbow Curse to you North Americans) in Europe, and we thought it would be the ideal time to share some of our most treasured Kirby-related memories with you, our dear readers. Since he bounded into our lives in...

  • Feature A Fit-To-Burst History Of Kirby Games

    In 22 easily swallowable installments

    Kirby has always existed to present an appealing leaping-in point for beginner players, a job he has performed well for nearly two dozen years now. And yet, many of the players who helped cut their gaming teeth on a Kirby title still stick with the series after all this time. As more games are added to the Kirby...

April2015

  • Weirdness Care for Your Own Virtual King Dedede

    And pick up his royal poops

    Remember Tamagotchi, the virtual pet on a keychain you could take care of until it died either through neglect or being sent through the wash? Artist Paperbeatsscissors has brought back all the fun in browser-based form, and with everybody's favourite stretchy, penguinny dictator! It's enough to fill that King Dedede...

  • Video Super Smash Bros. Glitch Turns Kirby Into A Great Ball Of Fire

    It's a hot trick

    It's only inevitable for a game like Super Smash Bros. to have its glitches emerge on a regular basis due to the amount of playtime that it is subjected to by millions of players everyday. Each match consists of a multitude of factors, triggering all kinds of events. In fact, a strange outcome of becoming 'Fire Kirby' has recently...

March2015

February2015

January2015

December2014

November2014

September2014

  • Developer Profile Masahiro Sakurai

    About the man behind two of Nintendo’s most significant franchises

    "I decide what goes in the game; nobody else." These were the words of Masahiro Sakurai during a 2008 interview with Official Nintendo Magazine about Super Smash. Bros. Brawl. It's a quote that stands out because it contrasts quite starkly with the modest way in which the man...

  • Review Kirby Fighters Deluxe (3DS eShop)

    Popstar wars

    Ever since Kirby’s Adventure introduced the pink puffball’s trademark copy abilities in 1993, they’ve been at the heart of his every hobby, from Dream Course’s mini-golf to Air Ride’s racing. With Kirby Triple Deluxe, players were given the chance to use those powers in Kirby’s newest pastime — all-o

  • Review Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe (3DS eShop)

    Hammer time

    Though he might be best known for his platforming antics, Kirby is no stranger to spin-offs – from racing and pinball to madcap mini-golf, the pink puffball and his friends have been genre-hopping happily since 1993. Lately, Dreamland’s semi-benevolent King Dedede has spent some time in the spin-off spotlight himself, with his...

August2014

  • News Kirby Mini-Games Now Available on North American eShop

    Straight from Triple Deluxe

    You can now download two of the mini-games from Kirby: Triple Deluxe from the eShop without buying the full title if you happen to live in North America. The two games in question are Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe and Kirby Fighters Deluxe and promise to contain enhanced gameplay features rather than just being a straight...

  • News The First 4 Figures Sword Kirby is Cute But Costly

    Over $200 if you want one

    We do like the varied collectible figurines offered by First 4 Figures here at Nintendo Life, even if they're slightly unobtainable luxuries due to their hefty price tags. Fans of cute pink fluffball Kirby should take note, then, as Sword Kirby is the latest offering on the way in Q1 2015. Standing at 16 inches tall, this...

July2014

June2014

May2014

  • News Kirby: Triple Deluxe Drops Outside UK Top 20 But Survives Another Week

    Hang on little buddy!

    The weekly UK charts have seen a number of 3DS titles deliver a decent début performance before falling out of the reckoning; no 2014 releases have yet hit that magical consistency enjoyed by some major titles of 2013. There are more significant games on the way to the portable, of course, and the latest visitor to the charts...

  • News Kirby Seizes Top Ten Single-Format Chart Début in the UK

    16th in all-format results, though

    While gamers in North America have been enjoying Kirby: Triple Deluxe since 2nd May, it arrived two weeks later in the European market. Its début UK chart results are in, then, and the outcome is solid if unspectacular. The happiest outcome is that Kirby's latest is 9th in the single-format chart, mixing it with...

  • Out Today Kirby: Triple Deluxe (Europe)

    Triple the fun

    It's great being a Nintendo fan in Europe these days isn't it? Nowadays we normally get games at the same time as our cousins across the pond. Not so in the case of Kirby: Triple Deluxe, however — how dare NoE make us wait an extra two weeks for the loveable pink puffball? Only teasing, what's a few weeks between friends? Kirby's...

  • News Nintendo Confirms Kirby: Triple Deluxe eShop Deal, Get Kirby's Dream Land 2 Free

    Suck that up, Europe

    Update: Nintendo of Europe has corrected the dates from the original announcement below. To qualify Kirby: Triple Deluxe must be downloaded by 12th June following its release, and the Dream Land 2 code must then be redeemed by 13th July. Original Article: With Kirby: Triple Deluxe around the corner in Europe — it's already...

April2014

  • News HAL Laboratory Director Explains Why Kirby Tends To Be A Ball Of Rage On Western Covers

    "We know there is a serious side to Kirby as well"

    If you're a keen import gamer, then you may have noticed a slight disconnect between Kirby's games in the east and in the west — the Japanese boxart usually has a happy, smiling Kirby, while the covers of his western releases showcase a more determined — even grumpy — expression. Kirby:...

  • Review Kirby: Triple Deluxe (3DS)

    The pink puff goes for the hat trick

    Kirby, Nintendo’s pink puffball of concentrated cuteness, arrives on 3DS with a big bumper of a package, promising a trifecta of portable happiness. And it’s sure tough to not smile at the game’s chirpy demeanor and cheery world as the little guy floats and bops his way along his first 3DS adventure. But...

  • Month of Kirby A Series With Rewarding Game Design

    The Great Cave Offensive, anyone?

    It’s been 22 years since Kirby made his debut in the 1992 Game Boy confection Kirby’s Dream Land. In that time, players have seen the lovable pink puffball grow to become one of Nintendo’s biggest stars, scoring it big in hit after hit on both consoles and portables. Those not quite in the know about...

  • News Nintendo Gets Dramatic in New Kirby: Triple Deluxe TV Commercial

    Best. Commercial. Ever.

    We've seen some terrific TV commercials in our time, some of them from Nintendo, but this new offering for Kirby: Triple Deluxe is right up there with the best. It's utterly ludicrous, and that's why we love it. It has music... dramatic orchestral music with a choir. Its lyrics are as follows: KIRBY KIRBY...

  • Month Of Kirby Minigame Mania

    Look cute, lose friends

    Kirby’s now comfortably over twenty years old at this point; HAL’s pink puffball is firmly entrenched in gamer’s minds as a Nintendo icon and the star of many, many games. When he’s not off saving Dreamland from the gluttonous King DeDeDe or going toe-to-toe with Mario in the latest Super Smash Bros., however, Kirby...

  • Video Nintendo Now Shows Kirby's Super Cute Side in New Triple Deluxe Trailer

    D'awwwwww

    In recent times Nintendo has been releasing new trailers for Kirby: Triple Deluxe that show off the mascot's various characteristics, such as being mischievous or disturbingly powerful. The latest example taps into one of the pink ball's strongest abilities — super-duper cuteness. For those of us that love Kirby games, part of the...

  • Month Of Kirby Kirby's Lost Levels

    Kirby's Cancelled Curse?

    In the first of a series of features that'll form a mini Month of Kirby — ahead of the release of Kirby: Triple Deluxe in May — we look at a few games starring the pink mascot that never saw the light of day. Kirby has had a storied run as one of Nintendo’s most recognizable characters, having appeared in traditional...