Kirby Air Riders on Switch 2: Sakurai’s “Not Mario Kart” Racer Brings City Trial Back With Style

Why Kirby Air Riders Isn’t Just “Mario Kart with Kirby”

Let’s get this out of the way: Kirby Air Riders instantly caught my eye. Not just because it’s a sequel to a cult classic, but because the first thing Sakurai said backstage at the demo was, “This is not Mario Kart.” That’s a bold (and necessary) statement, considering every cute-character-racer inevitably gets slapped with the Mario Kart comparison. However, after an hour hands-on at the gamescom preview, I’m convinced: fans of wild racing, chaos, and accessibility have more to look forward to than just another “me too” title.

• City Trial is back and bigger than ever, with up to 16-player mayhem online
• Accessible controls-only a stick and two buttons, but far from shallow gameplay
• Feels more like F-Zero meets Kirby than Mario Kart
• Sakurai’s trademark polish and wild mechanics are front and center

Key Takeaways: What Gamers Need to Know

Kirby Air Riders isn’t just a nostalgic throwback; it’s a genuine return to Sakurai’s vision of racing, where the joy comes from mastering simple controls in complex scenarios. The game’s essential appeal? Speed, chaos, strategy, and accessibility all at once. Here’s what stood out immediately:

• City Trial mode is still the star: Gather powerups and upgrades across a massive floating map for five minutes, then duke it out in randomized finale events. It’s almost like a battle royale mini-season-chaotic, unpredictable, and clever, with room for true strategy in what you upgrade and how you sabotage others.
• Minimal input, maximal depth: The controls are stripped down to left stick, turbo, drift, and one signature attack per character. On paper, it sounds basic; in practice, it’s about learning when to use what, especially as random events and enemy abilities force you to adapt every lap or trial.
• Kirby absorbs still rule: The ability to swallow enemies for new powers is back and is a real differentiator from other racers. It changes the balance mid-race, letting you shift tactics and keep both newbies and veterans guessing.

Breaking Down the Announcement: Beyond Kart Racing

After two decades, bringing Kirby Air Ride back is a big deal. Most developers would have just settled for an HD remaster, but this is Sakurai we’re talking about-someone known for cramming depth and secrets into every inch of his games (see: Smash Bros). Calling Air Riders a “vehicle action game” rather than a “racer” isn’t just semantics. The City Trial mode in particular, which is playable for up to 8 locally and 16 online, feels like a fast-paced minigame collection woven around racing that only gets better the more chaos ensues. These elements—random events, sabotage, creative upgrades—just aren’t present in Mario Kart. Frankly, City Trial alone could have been its own spinoff, and hardcore Air Ride fans have been hungry for it to return for ages.

What jumped out to me wasn’t just the absurd speed (fans of F-Zero, eat your heart out), but how the game balances pick-up-and-play friendliness with real skill progression. One minute you’re coasting easy, next you’re panicking as the stage throws a curveball or another player steals your best upgrade. This is chaos, sure, but it’s the fun kind—the kind of mess that makes great playground stories and “just one more match” sessions.

Industry Context: Why This Is a Big Deal for Switch 2

Nintendo has been tightening its grip on evergreen party racers, but the last few years have felt creatively safe—remasters, DLC, and endless Mario Kart 8. Kirby Air Riders, by contrast, is all new and isn’t afraid to take risks. Sakurai’s reputation for innovation (Smash Bros, Kid Icarus: Uprising) shows he’s not content to rest on nostalgia. If this lands, it’ll be Switch 2’s first truly fresh party multiplayer hit, not just more Mario Kart rehash.

I can’t ignore that, for all its color and accessibility, Kirby Air Riders has always been a niche favorite. The original GameCube game found its audience over time, not overnight—and it’s possible Nintendo will have to fight to convince Mario Kart superfans that there’s more to racing on Switch 2. Still, between true online multiplayer and that blend of action and strategy, there’s a lot here for both veterans and newcomers.

TL;DR

Kirby Air Riders isn’t just “Mario Kart with a twist”—it’s a return to Sakurai’s action-packed, skill-heavy take on racing. Between the chaotic City Trial, streamlined controls, and unpredictable play, this could be Switch 2’s secret multiplayer weapon for 2025—one with room for both chaos and mastery.