Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World Review

When Nintendo announced Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World as a launch window title for the Switch 2, I wasn’t sure what to expect. On paper, it’s a re-release of 2022’s Kirby and the Forgotten Land bundled with new, Switch 2 exclusive DLC called Star-Crossed World. You can either buy the whole package fresh for Switch 2, or, if you already own the original on Switch 1, pay for an upgrade to access the new expansion and enhanced features. What I found is that this isn’t just a straight port with shinier graphics, it’s a thoughtful refresh of one of Kirby’s best adventures, with some meaningful new content tucked in.

The base game is still the same Kirby and the Forgotten Land we played a few years ago, but if you missed it the first time around, here’s the setup. Kirby gets pulled into a strange, post-apocalyptic world where the remnants of a once thriving civilization are scattered like playgrounds for his pink puffball antics. Instead of the usual side-scrolling approach, the game made the leap into full 3D platforming, and it still feels fun and refreshing even now.

Kirby’s core abilities carry over beautifully into 3D. You inhale enemies and objects, copy their powers, and then use those powers to blast through enemies or solve environmental puzzles. It’s not just combat either, the powers are cleverly baked into the level design. Maybe you need the Drill ability to burrow under a wall, or the Ranger ability to shoot distant enemies or switches. It’s the kind of design that makes every level feel like a toybox of possibilities rather than a straight line of obstacles.

Collectibles also drive the game forward. Each stage hides Waddle Dees to rescue, which unlock new parts of the hub world, Waddle Dee Town. Then there’s the Capsule Gacha machine, giving you little toy figures of enemies and items. It sounds like fluff, but it scratches that itch perfectly if you’re a person that loves to go after every collectible on offer in a game. Add in upgradable Copy Abilities where you can strengthen and evolve powers into flashier versions and there’s always something new to chase.

And then there’s the presentation. Forgotten Land has an incredible soundtrack, mixing bouncy Kirby cheer with sweeping orchestrations that make every boss fight feel grand. The environments, from ruined malls to overgrown amusement parks, give a sense of mystery and adventure without ever straying too far from the franchise’s kid-friendly charm.

On the technical side, the Switch 2 edition runs smoother and sharper than the original release. Resolution and framerate are both boosted, and while the first version of the game never looked bad, the bump in clarity is noticeable, especially when you’re looking across larger environments. Textures and lighting feel a little crisper, too. These upgrades don’t redefine the experience, but they make returning players feel like they’re playing the definitive version.

The real hook of this package is the new DLC campaign, Star-Crossed World. You can access it after clearing the first world of the base game, so you don’t have to finish the entire adventure to dive in. Story-wise, it’s nothing groundbreaking. Kirby must collect scattered “Starries” to seal away a new big bad villain threatening the world, but it gives you a reason to explore the new content.

What I really like is how Star-Crossed World integrates into the existing game. Instead of being locked away in a separate menu, its stages are slotted into the existing maps as additional and remixed levels. You’ll revisit familiar environments, but with new layouts, hazards, and enemy arrangements that keep things fresh. It feels more like an extension of the Forgotten Land than a detachable side story, which is exactly the right approach.

The new stages, dubbed Starry Stages, are the highlight here. They push you to think differently about Kirby’s toolkit. Some areas focus on precision platforming, others on chaining abilities together quickly to bypass hazards. It never gets brutally difficult, the series still aims to be accessible for younger players, but there’s more bite than in some of the main game’s earlier worlds.

New enemies and dungeons help shake things up. I especially enjoyed the creative enemy designs that tie into the celestial “star-crossed” theme, with glowing star motifs and cosmic attacks. There are also new music tracks that stand out, Nintendo clearly didn’t phone it in here. The remixes of older Kirby themes blended with cosmic, spacey tunes make these stages feel distinct from the rest of the game.

All told, Star-Crossed World adds around five hours of new content if you’re just playing straight through. But, as with the main game, there’s replay value in tracking down hidden collectibles and secrets. If you’re a completionist, expect to almost double that playtime.

As much as I enjoyed the DLC, it does feel more like an expansion pack than a true “second chapter.” It’s complementary content rather than a full-blown sequel. That’s not inherently a bad thing, but I couldn’t help wishing Nintendo had gone further.

The biggest disappointment? No new major bosses. The existing bosses in Forgotten Land are great, and the DLC’s Starry Stages remix some encounters, but I wanted at least some brand new, over-the-top boss fights. Kirby games live and die by their climactic battles, and Star-Crossed World could’ve really shined with a fresh showdown.

The length is another limitation. Five hours of new content is solid, especially for an expansion, but if you were hoping for a meaty addition like what Bowser’s Fury provided for Super Mario 3D World, this doesn’t quite reach that level. It’s best thought of as a fun excuse to revisit the game rather than a massive reimagining.

Taken together, though, Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World is a fantastic package. For newcomers, this is an easy recommendation. You’re getting one of Kirby’s best games ever, plus a polished side story that slots naturally into the main adventure. For returning players, the value depends on how much you loved the original. If you’re the type who enjoys hunting down every collectible and maxing out every ability, Star-Crossed World gives you a great reason to dive back in.

Nintendo has smartly avoided making this feel like a cash-grab port. Between the Switch 2 upgrades, the seamless integration of the DLC, and the overall polish, it feels like a definitive edition. Sure, I wish the DLC had gone bigger with bosses and scope, but what’s here is charming, creative, and worth the return trip.

Final Thoughts

Kirby and the Forgotten Land was already a milestone for the series, bringing the pink puffball into 3D with confidence and style. The Switch 2 edition, bundled with Star-Crossed World, doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does polish it to a shine and add some fun new spokes.

If you’ve never played it before, this is the best way to experience Kirby’s modern leap into 3D platforming. If you already have, the new content isn’t essential, but it’s more than enough to justify another run through one of Nintendo’s most delightful recent adventures.

A Nintendo Switch 2 review code was provided by Nintendo for the purpose of this review.

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