Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star Crossed World Review

Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World on the Nintendo Switch 2 is a confident, charming, and content-rich platformer that quietly cements itself as the peak of the Kirby franchise. The original release on Switch 1 was already lauded as an equally impressive platformer that contributed to bringing Kirby into fully 3D environments with more ambitious level design and an oddly distinct post-apocalyptic tone.

This new coat of paint gave the game an exceptionally fresh design in the Kirby universe, launching to universal critical acclaim as well as smashing sales records in the Kirby franchise, Forgotten Land selling over 7.52million units as of March 2024. With the Switch 2 edition, Nintendo hasn’t just ported the game over; they’ve refined it technically, expanded it meaningfully, and added enough to make it feel genuinely worth revisiting. For me personally, it was my first time playing through this game, and I’m glad my journey began with this experience on the Switch 2 as a combined pack.

From the beginning, the game immediately impresses with its visual polish. On Switch 2, it runs at a consistent 60 fps, and the difference is more than just technical. The smoother frame rate brings a level of responsiveness and visual clarity that elevates the already playful world. One of the biggest improvements is how distant enemies and background elements are handled. In the original Switch version, far-away enemies would appear jittery or heavily compressed to preserve performance. Now, they move fluidly, with increased detail and behaviour intact from a distance, creating a much more cohesive world with little to no performance trade-off.

The game opens in the ruins of a world that feels like it was once inhabited by humans, now it’s overrun by nature and oddly cheerful monsters. This fusion of the eerie and the cute works surprisingly well. It’s like someone blended The Last of Us and added sunshine, happiness, peppered with golden stars. Each environment, from abandoned shopping malls overtaken by plant life to derelict amusement parks, feels handcrafted and distinct. Every single level is packed with secrets, side objectives, and reasons to go off the beaten path, albeit you can’t go too far. There are numerous paths to take in your adventure, in some instances, as you explore every nook of this fun-filled world, you can easily get caught up in its charming world.

The level design strikes a careful balance between approachability and depth. Levels are straightforward to complete but dense enough to reward exploration, and every stage offers secondary missions that encourage replaying with a purpose. Reminds me of the old school games of the 90s, these missions aren’t compulsory, but they are definitely a lot of fun to achieve if you want more to your gaming session.

Star-Crossed World kicks in early in the game, right after you complete the first boss, and apart from the technical improvements, this is arguably the most important change to this edition. You gain access to these alternate versions of existing levels to complete the DLC, but these aren’t lazy reskins or mirrored layouts; they’re full-on redesigns of the level. It’s great to revisit areas and go on a completely different section with new enemies, hazards, optional objectives, and a new crystallised aesthetic. They come in pairs in each stage, with two levels given the star-crossed remix per area. It easily differentiates itself from the main game as you access these stages from the world map.

Kirby’s copy abilities are the backbone of combat and puzzle-solving, and here they’re as varied and fun as ever. From sword swings to fire blasts to tornado spins, each ability can be upgraded using blueprints found in the game. Every ability is fun to use; you’ll get your favourites that you will purposefully seek out. Interactions with the level design, partnered with your abilities, provide meaningful progress rather than just combat leaning.

Then there’s Mouthful Mode, the new mechanic where Kirby stretches over giant objects like cars, vending machines, or even staircases. These segments break up the core platforming with short, quirky set pieces that allow the game to flex its creativity. They don’t demand much skill, but they’re entertaining, well-paced, and frequently surprising. Star-Crossed World has its own set of abilities that differ from the main game and they are as equally as fun, the variety that this game offers on a consistent basis always keeps things fresh.

I might overuse the word “fun” in this review, but it’s a genuine term to describe my time with the game. It’s always surprising me in a positive way. The game is packed full of things to collect, such as the mentioned blueprints, figurines, coins, just so much variety on so many levels that if you’re a Kirby fan, you are eating good here. For completionists, this game is a goldmine. Every level contains layers of secrets, and Star-Crossed World adds even more to uncover. The game rewards curiosity without becoming overwhelming. Nothing is ever too far out of reach, and progress always feels smooth and, to be honest, a little too easy.

This is where the game falters, mainly in its low difficulty and limited enemy variety, specifically sub-bosses. Most combat encounters are easy, even more so with upgraded abilities. Boss fights are visually spectacular but mechanically far too simple. There’s a noticeable repetition in enemy types by the time you’re midway through the game, and while the environments remain fresh, the threats within them sometimes feel like little annoyances rather than challenges.

But this has always been part of Kirby’s design philosophy, accessible to everyone. Kirby games are meant to be easily digested, pun intended. It’s meant to be a relaxing gaming experience rather than demanding or punishing. If you’re seeking a hardcore platformer challenge, this won’t scratch that itch, not even a little bit. However, if you’re open to a more chill, joyful experience with moments of creativity and cleverness, it delivers in spades.

Waddle Dee Village acts as your home base and evolves as you progress. The more Waddle Dees you rescue, the more buildings and features you unlock. You can rewatch cutscenes in the cinema, take on combat trials in the Colosseum, and even work shifts in a fast-paced restaurant. A mini-game that feels like a lighthearted nod to the chaos of real-world service jobs, which kinda sucks, pun intended again. The village is more than a hub. It’s a visual growth garden that expands as you progress deeper in the game. Returning to it after each mission gives the game a satisfying rhythm. There is so much here as well, you’ll interact with hidden lore, shopkeepers, and also my favourite feature, which is access to co-op. Playing couch co-op is a big highlight for me as it allowed me to tackle the game with my toddler-aged son.

I haven’t touched much on the story, and truth be told, it’s rather forgettable. Both the main story and the Star-Crossed Worlds narrative remain simplistic. The main driver of the game is its strong gameplay, coupled with its gorgeous visuals and an almost infinite amount of content. The soundtrack complements this tone perfectly. Bright, bouncy melodies dominate the adventure. It’s not an emotionally heavy game; it is the pop soda of gaming, easy to consume.

As for pricing for the DLC , the Switch 2 edition upgrade costs $30 if you own the original, while the full bundle goes for $109.95. Whether that’s worth it depends on how much you loved the base game. If you’re a returning fan, the added content, improved visuals, and new performance standard make the upgrade easy to justify. If you’re a newcomer, this is the version to play, no question. It’s the most complete, polished, and rewarding version of the game.