As one of the tough pink puff’s rare forays away from Planet Popstar, Kirby and the Forgotten Land stands out as a fantastic platformer that also has an incredibly distinct visual identity compared to the rest of the series.
Gone are the pleasant, bucolic Green Greens and the Float Islands; instead, the titular Forgotten Land is a modern world disconcertingly similar to ours, although advanced in its decay. I felt a strange thrill plodding Kirby through concrete jungles, dead malls and sunken construction sites — places the pink puffball doesn’t “fit in,” which left me wanting to explore even more of this world.
The actual gameplay is standard fare for a mainline Kirby game, though that isn’t a ding against it. The platforming is entertaining, with additional obstacles and enemies placed about to account for our hero’s ability to float over most gaps. Kirby’s copy abilities also return — my favorite was the Ranger ability, which allows our puffball to tote around an adorably oversized blunderbuss — and unlocking upgrades for them in the endgame helps balance the odds in some surprisingly difficult boss fights.
If you’re a massive Kirby fan, fascinated by liminal spaces like the ones featured in the game or just enjoy a fun, family-friendly platformer, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is the perfect match for you.
Release date: March 25, 2022
Genre: Atmospheric 3D platformer
Developer: HAL Laboratory
Switch 2 features: Paid upgrade pack that includes a brand-new set of levels and additional abilities for Kirby
– Tyler Graham
