Switch 2’s Kirby Air Riders is here — physical vs digital, Amiibo, and the one catch you should know

Kirby Air Riders Buying Guide: What to Grab, What to Skip, and Why It Matters

Kirby Air Riders hits Nintendo Switch 2 on November 20, and the most gamer-friendly detail is hiding in plain sight: the physical version has the full game on the cart. In a year where “key cards” and day-one downloads are creeping in, this one’s a true, install-and-play release. If you’re deciding between physical and digital, juggling storage, or eyeing those $50 Amiibo dual packs, here’s the no-frills breakdown of what actually makes sense on day one.

Key Takeaways

• Price is $70; the physical cart contains the full game data-no forced download.
• Digital is 21.7GB, roughly a tenth of Switch 2’s onboard storage, so plan for a microSD Express card if you buy digital-heavy.
• Two Amiibo dual packs launch alongside the game at $50 each; they train Figure Players and unlock rider/machine combos, but aren’t required to enjoy the game.
• Local multiplayer supports up to four on one console, eight wirelessly, and up to 16-player online events for Switch Online members.

Physical vs. Digital: The Smart Buy Right Now

For once, physical buyers get a clear win. The boxed edition of Kirby Air Riders includes the complete game on the cartridge. That means no mandatory first-boot download and no storage anxiety beyond saves and patches. It’s also better for collectors and anyone who likes to lend, resell, or just have the thing on a shelf. Given Nintendo’s own shift toward “Game-Key Card” releases next year (Pokémon Pokopia is going that route in March), this truly physical Switch 2 release is worth savoring.

Digital still makes sense if you bounce between games frequently or share a household library, but the 21.7GB footprint eats a noticeable chunk of internal storage. If you go digital, consider budgeting for a microSD Express card and aim for 256GB minimum. Prices are hovering around $59 for 256GB and about $100 for 512GB depending on brand and retailer. Faster microSD Express cards should help with loading, especially in a racer that streams assets on the fly.

Amiibo Dual Packs: Cute Collectibles or Must-Buy?

Two Amiibo dual packs drop alongside the game: Kirby & Warp Star and Bandana Waddle Dee & Winged Star. They’re adorable (of course) and $50 per set (less adorable). Functionally, scanning figures lets you train and level a Figure Player (FP) and mix rider/machine combos. If you buy both launch sets, you can swap machines between Kirby and Bandana Waddle Dee to create new FP builds. It’s a neat metagame for fans who love tinkering, not a gameplay requirement.

More Amiibo are on the way in 2026: Meta Knight & Shadow Star on March 5, followed by King Dedede & Tank Star and Chef Kawasaki & Hop Star later in the year. With the full lineup, you’ll be able to create up to 25 rider/machine combinations. My take: if you’re a Kirby collector or you loved min-maxing City Trial builds back on GameCube, these are easy buys. If you’re just here to race and vibe, don’t let FOMO push you into dropping an extra $50; the core game stands on its own.

What You’re Actually Getting on Day One

Kirby Air Riders is a sequel to the 2003 cult classic Kirby Air Ride, and it leans hard into the mode that made the original legend: City Trial. You’ll scramble across a large floating island for five minutes, hoovering upgrades and parts before a Stadium showdown. Air Ride and Top Ride return as core racing modes, and there’s a new single-player story called Road Trip plus a social hangout space called the Paddock. Nine tracks from the original are included along with nine brand-new circuits-exactly the kind of respectful sequel cadence fans wanted.

The single-button control scheme that split opinions in 2003 has been modernized. Now it’s two buttons: B for boosting and Y for specials, tricks, and swapping machines. That preserves the pick-up-and-play Kirby feel while giving veterans more control over mastery. The roster is delightfully deep: beyond Kirby, you’ll see King Dedede, Bandana Waddle Dee, Meta Knight, Magolor, Gooey, Susie, Taranza, and more. Local four-player split-screen is supported, you can go up to eight players wirelessly, and Switch Online members can jump into 16-player online events.

Storage and Multiplayer Prep

If you plan to mainline digital, a 256GB microSD Express card is the practical floor for 2025-era Switch 2 gaming; 512GB is the stress-free sweet spot if you play first-party heavy. For couch sessions, remember you’ll need enough controllers for up to four players. For online, expect event-based matchmaking to be the heartbeat-Nintendo’s racer communities live or die on weekly events, so we’ll be watching stability and rotation closely in the first month.

Why This Launch Matters

Two big reasons. First, Masahiro Sakurai is back directing a Kirby game for the first time in ages, co-developing with Sora Ltd. and Bandai Namco—the same tandem that turned Smash Ultimate into a content machine. Second, City Trial’s underground fanbase kept the original alive for two decades; giving that crowd a proper sequel with modern online play is a rare “we heard you” moment from Nintendo. The double Nintendo Direct treatment signals confidence. My only skepticism? The $50 Amiibo tax creeping into meta progression. Thankfully, it’s additive rather than mandatory.

TL;DR

Buy physical if you can—the full game’s on the cart. Go digital only if you’ve got storage headroom (21.7GB). Amiibo are fun for Figure Player tinkering but optional. The modes lineup looks strong, multiplayer breadth is there, and Sakurai’s return gives this sequel real weight.