I have never, in my entire life, ever met someone who doesn’t like Kirby. Everyone likes Kirby; he’s cute, he’s tough, he’s got an infinite void inside of him, and his games are fun and accessible. It’s thanks to this universal love that everyone immediately got hyped when Kirby and the Forgotten Land was announced, and that hype only multiplied after this week’s Nintendo Direct. If you’ve missed the boat, though, then you’re probably wondering: when does Kirby and the Forgotten Land release?
When does Kirby and the Forgotten Land Release?
Kirby and the Forgotten Land will launch exclusively on the Nintendo Switch on March 25, 2022. Pre-orders are already open for physical copies at most major retailers, as well as digital downloads on the Switch eShop. It’s a big release, one that just about every Switch owner will be buying day one.
In case you haven’t watched the trailers, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is going to be quite an evolution for the series. For one thing, it’s the first full 3D game in the series; while previous games have had 3D graphics, they’ve all been sidescrollers. Forgotten Land lets you walk anywhere you want, and while it is still a level-based affair, there will be plenty of secrets to uncover in typical Kirby fashion.
Three of the biggest new features are Waddle Dee Town, Mouthful Mode, and upgradeable Copy Abilities. As you rescue the kidnapped Waddle Dees from levels, they’ll all contribute their expertise to the construction of a town. This town will be full of shops to buy helpful items at, as well as fun minigames and pastimes for when you want to take a break from the main game.
With Mouthful Mode, Kirby can swallow large objects many times his size and incorporate them into his body. For example, by swallowing a car, he can drive it around and smash obstacles, while swallowing a vending machine lets him launch soda cans at enemies.
Finally, while Kirby still has his signature copy abilities (plus some new ones), you can now purchase upgrades to those abilities that enhance and alter their functionality, a first for the series! For instance, instead of one blade on Cutter Kirby, now you can throw two spiked chakrams!
Once again, that’s March 25, 2022. Be there, or be square, which Kirby very much is not.
