Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World Review

Kirby shines on Switch 2 with smoother performance and a starry new DLC that makes an already excellent platformer even better.

I’ve been along for Kirby’s adventures since the original Game Boy days, floating through levels and inhaling enemies. The series has always struck a great balance between approachable platforming and clever design. When Kirby and the Forgotten Land originally launched, it felt like a bold step forward, Kirby’s first fully 3D adventure, full of charm and creativity. Revisiting it now on the Nintendo Switch 2, enhanced with improved performance and a brand-new expansion, Star-Crossed World, I was curious to see whether it still held the same magic. The answer: absolutely, with a few thoughtful refinements that make the experience even more rewarding. Let’s dive into Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World on the Nintendo Switch 2 and see if it adds enough new content to return.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World Game Details

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch 2

Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch 2

Developer: HAL Laboratory (with support from Vanpool)

Publisher: Nintendo

Genre: 3D Action-Platformer

Available Game Modes: Single-Player, Local Co-Op

ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+

Meteor Mayhem and Starry Rescues

The base game’s story takes place in a mysterious world reclaimed by nature, where Kirby must save his friends from an unknown threat. It sets a surprisingly atmospheric tone while keeping the lighthearted spirit the franchise is known for. The Star-Crossed World expansion introduces a new layer: fragments called “Starries” are scattered across the land after a meteor crash, and Kirby must collect them to prevent an ancient evil from awakening. While the narrative is simple, it provides a clear, enjoyable motivation to revisit the familiar worlds. I appreciated how seamlessly it ties into the existing campaign rather than feeling like a disconnected side story.

Star-Crossed World Add-On Details

This new set of content integrates smoothly after completing the first world, adding 12 new stages spread across the six base game areas. Each level introduces new traversal mechanics and clever environmental twists, making them feel distinct while complementing the main adventure. The highlight is the trio of new “Mouthful Mode” transformations: Spring, Gear, and Sign, each offering unique (and sometimes hilarious) ways to navigate levels and engage enemies.

"The highlight is the trio of new “Mouthful Mode” transformations: Spring, Gear, and Sign, each offering unique (and sometimes hilarious) ways to navigate levels and engage enemies."

Spring Mouth lets Kirby bounce high into the air and slam down to break obstacles and stun enemies. Gear Mouth allows him to roll along walls and ceilings to reach hidden areas. Sign Mouth turns Kirby into a high-speed sled, careening downhill to smash through barriers with playful momentum. These additions keep the experience fresh without overcomplicating gameplay. The expansion offers three to four hours of content, which may sound modest, but it’s tightly designed and consistently enjoyable.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World Gameplay

At its core, the game remains a classic Kirby experience: inhaling enemies, copying abilities, and solving platforming challenges with whimsical creativity. The move to 3D still feels like a natural fit, and the Switch 2 Edition only reinforces that impression with smoother gameplay and more fluid combat. I enjoyed experimenting with the new Mouthful Modes, which bring both humour and a lot of gameplay variety.

"I enjoyed experimenting with the new Mouthful Modes, which bring both humour and a lot of gameplay variety."

There are no new Copy Abilities added beyond these, but the level design makes such good use of Kirby’s existing toolkit that it rarely feels like a limitation. Overall, the gameplay loop is engaging, approachable, and, most importantly, fun.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World Graphics and Performance

This is where the Switch 2 Edition truly shines. Running at 1440p docked and 1080p in handheld mode, with a locked 60 frames per second, the visual upgrade is immediately noticeable. The world feels sharper, more vibrant, and more stable compared to the original release.

"The world feels sharper, more vibrant, and more stable compared to the original release."

Small details like draw distance and framerates have increased, making exploration that much more enjoyable. Performance is consistently smooth, eliminating the minor dips that occasionally cropped up on the original Switch. While the art style remains the same, the technical polish gives Kirby’s a small bump in performance.

Final Thoughts on Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World

Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World is not a radical reinvention but rather a thoughtful refinement of an already excellent platformer. The smoother performance, sharper visuals, and seamlessly integrated DLC make this the definitive way to experience Kirby’s 3D debut.

"The smoother performance, sharper visuals, and seamlessly integrated DLC make this the definitive way to experience Kirby’s 3D debut."

While the add-on content is brief and the story remains light, the creativity packed into each level and the joy of experimenting with new transformations make it well worth the return trip. For newcomers, this is the best version to pick up. For longtime fans like me, it’s a wonderful excuse to revisit one of Kirby’s finest adventures.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World Pros

+Smooth 60fps performance and higher resolution visuals

+Cleverly designed Star-Crossed World DLC levels with fun new transformations

+Full of charm and accessibility options

Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World Cons

– DLC story is minimal and largely supplemental

– No entirely new Copy Abilities added

– Price may feel steep for returning players

Overall Assessment of Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World

Gameplay: 9/10

Graphics: 9/10

Sound: 8/10

Lasting Appeal / Replayability: 8/10

Overall Score : 34/40 (85%)

A copy of the game was provided by Nintendo for this #review.

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About the Author - Matthew "Dapper Tux" Rondina

Matthew has been involved in all things gaming since the 8-bit era. He is a video game and tech industry veteran who has been passionate about technology and gaming for over 20 years. In addition to being the Managing Editor of dappertux.com, he has bylines with Best Buy, Cineplex Entertainment, Mobile Syrup and Walmart. Follow Matthew’s gaming + tech adventures on multiple social platforms with the handle @dapper_tux via X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and join in on the fun!

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