Games

Published on September 1st, 2025 | by Paul Stuart

Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World: Switch 2 (Review)

The burning question for this review: if you already possess an original 2022 Switch version of Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Forgotten Land), is it worth $20US for an upgrade? Alternatively, if this your first foray into the Kirby series, is the Switch 2 version a good pickup at full price? Fortunately, I’ve played the original on said Switch thus can provide an informed answer to these questions. Yes, and definitely yes!

Like many Nintendo published Switch 2 near-/launch titles carried over from the original Switch, Kirby and the Forgotten Land received a visual and performance upgrade. Unlike most, this one has a price point attached to it. Nintendo’s justification would be the addition of Star-Crossed World, with approximately two-hours of gameplay inherent.

Specifically, Star-Crossed World infuses an additional story layer onto the original game, a now race against time to seal an evil meteor. Once the first Forgotten Land boss battle is completed, Star-Crossed World is introduced as a meshed storyline. This add-on also includes three new Kirby abilities (Spring, Gear and Sign, respectively), all an absolute blast to play and wonderfully aligned with Star-Crossed stages. It is likewise a visual treat to revisit previously completed areas literally presented in an entirely new way, each requiring new pathways and abilities to complete them.

Having played and enjoyed the original Forgotten Land, I completely underestimated the degree of positive impact of a true visual and performance upgrade. The 2022 version of Forgotten Land was certainly enjoyable and whimsical, but visual limitations of the original Switch resulted in the game appearing a bit washed out. This was an absolute shame, as several Kirby ability transformations are nothing short of amazing. Also – and a staple of the Kirby series – color scheme is deliberately minimalistic, and lower resolution in a 3D environment wasn’t doing it any visual favors.

Thus, playing Forgotten Land in a literally new way makes Switch 2 easily its best version. Everything pops, abilities sing across the screen, and audio likewise a lot clearer on upgraded Switch 2 speakers and supporting immersion technology. I absolutely adored the fun and engaging soundtrack.

If you’re either new to Kirby or a lapsed player, this is – as stated – the most visually appealing version of our pink hero yet. Dynamics are classic Kirby: rescue Waddle-Dee’s, unlock and upgrade copy abilities, and collect mini figures. Each level encourages replay to complete all challenges resulting in maximum Waddle Dee’s and coins. Scattered throughout are shorter bonus levels requiring completion via a specific copy ability and under time constraint. Successful completion rewards with special stars – when combined with coins, augmented via blueprints – upgrades copy abilities. Each stage features an array of hidden goals, presented at completion if/when accomplished.

Level design is spectacular, as Forgotten Land does a magnificent job in gently encouraging widest exploration. Interactive elements – buoyed by suction power and abilities – are smile inducing in what they unlock. Controls are absolutely perfect, with nary a cheap death buoyed by wonderful shadows midflight to help ensure proper landings. I also adore how bosses can be defeated via almost any ability to include default Kirby. Ergo, Forgotten Land is not trying to defeat the player, rather encourages taking gentle risks and experimentation throughout.

This is not to insist Kirby is a kid’s game. While it will not push challenge boundaries, that was never the intent of the series or its protagonist. Thus, combined with the very creative Star-Crossed World add-on, Forgotten Land can serve a welcome change of pace for overly difficult titles. Forgotten Land enemies certainly keep you on your toes, but there isn’t endless memorization required of attack patterns, and checkpoints are appropriately spaced, in tandem.

If there’s a criticism of Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World is that even the original wasn’t a spectacular genre moving title by any means. This isn’t the remastered version of Breath of the Wild, as a comparison point. Thus, even the improved offering doesn’t yield anything revolutionary as source material, an enjoyable experience but not a flagship offering. Kirby is arguably due for a reboot that maximizes the terrific hardware of the Switch 2, and I’m confident it will be here by the end of 2026.

Still, there are not a lot of games available on the Switch 2 at present and the Forgotten Land upgrade – combined with the stellar Donkey Kong Bananza – are two of the better original ones out there, with the Star-Crossed World addition being the caveat as ‘original.’

If you’ve never played a Kirby title before, the Switch 2’s version of Forgotten Land is an amazing entry point. It possesses solid audio and visuals, airtight gameplay, wonderful surprises, and a nice twist via Star-Crossed World. For those possessing the Switch original, I plead with you to spend the money for the upgrade and enjoy the game as it was intended. Star-Crossed World is arguably worth the price of admission itself.

Final Thoughts

Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World is the best looking and sounding version of the 2022 Switch offering, with some fun additional content and three new copy abilities. Replaying levels remains fun, as is exploring nooks and crannies of every wonderfully designed stage. Just realize the source material is a very good but not perfect title.

About the Author

Paul Stuart A gamer for over 30 years with 400+ reviews across four sites literally spanning the globe, Paul Stuart has an unhealthy obsession with Assassins Creed, God of War, and all things WETA.

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