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Kirby and the Forgotten Land turns cute chaos into a big adventure

29 June 2026

A kid friendly AxelGamer look at Kirby and the Forgotten Land, with car mouth racing, hidden Waddle Dees, boss fights, copy abilities, and bright 3D platforming chaos.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is one of those games that looks adorable, then suddenly gets really intense in the best way. It came out on Nintendo Switch in 2022, and it is still heaps of fun because it feels like Kirby got dropped into a big mystery world full of beaches, cities, theme park bits, silly enemies, and secrets everywhere. I like games where you can just run around and try stuff, and this one is perfect for that.

The biggest thing that makes it feel different from older Kirby games is that the stages are in 3D. You are not just going left and right the whole time. You can walk around corners, search behind things, dodge big enemies, and notice little paths that are easy to miss. It makes each level feel like a tiny adventure instead of just a straight track. When a game is bright and cute, I sometimes think it will be too easy, but Kirby and the Forgotten Land can still surprise you if you get careless.

One of my favourite parts is Mouthful Mode. Kirby does not just copy enemies in this game. He can also stretch around giant objects, which is ridiculous and amazing. Car Mouth is probably the funniest one because Kirby turns into a pink car and zooms around like he is in a race. The Circuit Speedway stage is awesome because you have to boost, steer, avoid mud, and try not to crash into everything. It feels silly because it is Kirby driving without really being a proper car, but it also feels exciting because you want to beat your time.

I also like how the game hides Waddle Dees. You do not just finish a stage and move on. There are little goals, cages to break, secret rooms, and challenges that make you want to replay levels. Sometimes you think you have explored properly, then the results screen shows you missed something and you go, wait, where was that? That is a clever way to make the game last longer without making it boring.

The copy abilities are still one of the best Kirby ideas ever. Fire is fun because you can blast enemies and keep pressure on bosses. Sword feels cool if you want to get close and slash. Cutter is good when you want to attack from a safer spot. The best thing is that you can pick what feels right for you. If a boss keeps smashing you, you can try a different ability and see if it helps. It makes winning feel like you actually figured something out, not just pressed buttons randomly until it worked.

The bosses can look cute or goofy, but some of them are proper scary when you are playing. They charge, jump, flatten the ground, and make you panic when your health gets low. I like that feeling where you are running around saying no, no, no, then you finally land the last hits and win. It is not too scary for kids, but it is exciting enough that beating a boss feels like a real achievement.

Another thing I enjoy is how the world looks. The game has abandoned buildings and rusty places, but it is not gloomy the whole time. Kirby makes everything feel colourful and friendly. It is like exploring a strange place after everyone has left, except there are cute enemies, coins, snacks, and rescued friends. The music also helps heaps. Some stages feel relaxed, then a race or boss fight starts and the music makes everything feel way more dramatic.

For family gaming, I think this is a really good pick because it is easy to understand but still has skill. Younger players can enjoy moving Kirby around, eating enemies, and finding snacks. Older players can try to collect everything, beat time challenges, and learn boss patterns. It also has a nice balance between silly moments and actual challenge. That is important because a game can be cute and still be interesting.

The only thing that can be annoying is the camera or steering when you are rushing. In Car Mouth, if you panic, you can bump into things or go the wrong way, which is funny until you are trying to get a good time. But that also makes the racing bits more memorable. Half the fun is messing up, laughing, then trying again because you know you can do better.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land works because it does not try to be too serious. It knows that turning Kirby into a car is silly. It knows that rescuing Waddle Dees is cute. It knows that boss fights should make you gasp a little. All of that comes together into a game that feels happy, clever, and exciting.

If you like bright adventures, hidden collectibles, funny powers, and a bit of chaos, this is definitely worth playing. Kirby might be small and round, but in this game he feels like a proper hero. Also, any game where you can become a car and race through a level gets bonus points from me.