Summary

• Kirby, with over 20 games and a Grammy (!), is one of Nintendo's most iconic and lovable characters.
• Basically every Nintendo system has a Kirby title, and almost all of them rely on Kirby's Copy ability as their main mechanic.
• From Dream Land to Forgotten Land, Kirby's 3D transition marks a culmination of iconic features.

Who's the greatest pink puffball character of all time? (Hint: it isn't Jigglypuff). Kirby is one of Nintendo's most iconic figureheads. He's been the star of over 20 games, appearing on every major Nintendo console. He has manga, a popular anime that aired back in the early 2000s, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:and even a Grammy. He's also been featured as a prominent character in every Super Smash Bros.

Starting in 1992, Kirby games have always been known for their casual, whimsical take on the side-scrolling genre and their distinctive, colorful worlds. And of course, Kirby's ravenous Copy ability will always be the biggest thing separating the series from its peers – but which adventures hit the highest heights? We'll be taking a look at every main Kirby game ranked from worst to best.

Updated on May 22, 2024, by Bobby Mills: Kirby's star has continued to rise in recent years, with such fantastic titles as The Forgotten Land and Return to Dreamland Deluxe hitting shelves. In honour of everyone's favourite clobber-averse hero, we thought we'd take a moment to spruce up our ranking, including a couple of titles we'd forgotten. Enjoy!

15 Kirby's Dream Land

We've All Gotta Start Somewhere

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:This is the game that started it all. Every Kirby game owes its existence to Dream Land. From the now-iconic Green Greens theme to the battle against Whispy Woods, Kirby's Dream Land offered players a fun little platformer when it was released back in 1992. It's held up well enough, but its sequels make it feel more like a prototype these days.

Dream Land's level design is good, and it's overall a fun time. But its sequels eventually perfected the formula. Dream Land didn't even have Kirby's Copy ability power. (We wouldn't see that until the next game.) Perhaps the biggest reason why it's placed last is its playtime; you can beat it in under an hour, and if you're fast, just a half-hour. Dream Land is a legacy game and deserves respect, but it's definitely the weakest Kirby platformer.

14 Kirby Star Allies ♊

Getting By With A Little Help From Your Friends

Kirby's debut on the Nintendo Switch was highly anticipated but wasn't able to leave as strong of an impression as other 2017 releases like Breath of the Wild or Super Mario Odyssey. Star Allies was Kirby's long-awaited return to home consoles after a seven-year break. It showed potential for a fun multiplayer experience but failed to innovate the series in any meaningful way.

It's nice to venture back to a simpler version of Kirby games, but without compelling mechanics like mech-suits or new abilities, it doesn't feel as fresh as other entries. The multiplayer can be fun for families to play together though, and the amount of recognizable characters from the series' past is a nice touch as well.

13 Kirby & The Amazing Mirror 🍌

Upon Reflection, It's A Beaut

Forღ the most part, the Kirby series has stuck to the formula established in Dream Land, but the series has taken some diverse turns. One such game that took a break from linear platforming was Kirby & The Amazing Mirror - by far one of the most ambitious Kirby games to date.

Unlike most Kirby games, there are no linear levels. Instead, it's one giant world with interconnecting parts. Instead of going through the levels in a standard fashion, the game encourages exploration and backtracking, much like a Metroid game. This works in Mirror's favor sometimes but also acts as a detriment. It gets tiring having to revisit the same places, and the map system needs serious work. Mirror is worth checking out if you have a lot of patience.

12 ꦅ Kirb✤y: Triple Deluxe

Triple The Games, Triple The Fun

Every major Nintendo console has brought a new Kirby game. Triple Deluxe was released in 2014 for the 3DS. It brought Kirby back to basics on the portable console. It also introduced a couple of new gameplay mechanics, such as being able to go into the background of a level and the Hypernova ability. It's a well-made game, though a terribly easy one.

Most of the levels are a bit too easy, and even acquiring the collectibles is often simple. The Hypernova ability is fun the first few times, but after a while, it grows stale because it makes an already easy game even easier. If the level design was a bit better, then this wouldn't be as big of a deal. Triple Deluxe isn't a bad game in the slightest; there are just more engaging installments in the series.

11 K🃏irb⛎y: Planet Robobot

Kirby Goes Transformers

Planet Robobot is the second adventure Kirby has on the 3DS. It takes a lot of cues from Triple Deluxe, including the ability to travel to the background of a stage and a new super ability, this time the Robobot Armor. It also shares some of the same negatives as well, such as the total lack of any challenge. But it's a more engaging installment and a satisfying enough entry in the series.

Unlike the Hypernova ability, which slowed down the gameplay in Triple Deluxe, Kirby's Robobot Armor feels more like an organic part of the gameplay. Like the puffball himself, the armor can copy enemy abilities - Jet mode can be used to shoot opponents and Bomb mode can be used for puzzles. Planet Robobot's level design isn't bad either, but its epic final act is unforgettable.

10 🔥 Kirby: Squeak S♒quad

Just About Squeaks By

As long-time Kirby fans can attest to, most of the games follow a similar pattern. Go through linear levels, copy enemy abilities, and seek out hidden collectibles; this is what the franchise is known for. Squeak Squad did nothing to change that when it was released in 2006. One could argue that it is the most generic Kirby game. Sure, there are no major innovations, and it's relatively simple. However, while Squeak Squad may be more of the same, it does it all very well.

Whereas Triple Deluxe and, to a lesser extent, Planet Robobot, feel a little slow at times, Squeak Squad is a fast-moving game. The level design is solid, and the backgrounds are great. It's great that Kirby can store abilities on the bottom screen of the DS and use them at any time. Squeak Squad may not be the most original, but it's a great example of what a quality Kirby game should look like.

9 Kirby's Dream Land 2

Better Second Time Around

Despite having a '2' in its title, 1995's Dream Land 2 is the third Kirby game, coming after the first Dream Land and Adventure. Like Dream Land, Dream Land 2 was released for the Game Boy and wasn't quite as good as NES's Adventure, but it has enough content to provide a satisfying Kirby experience.

The gameplay is identical to the franchise's previous two games, but it does add an important new feature: Kirby's Animal Friends. Whether it be having an advantage on land while riding on Rick the hamster, soaring through the woods with the owl Coo, or swimming along with the fish Kine, these happy helpers nicely add diversity to the gameplay. Combine that with solid level design, and we have another memorable installment in the Kirby series.

8 Kirby's Return To Dreamland

Wii're Down With This One

As shocking as it may sound, there was once an 11-year gap between traditional Kirby games on a home console. Kirby 64 was released in 2000, and it wouldn't be until 2011 when Kirby's Return to Dream Land came out. The wait was worth it because Return to Dream Land brought back the iconic gameplay for old-school fans and people picking up a Kirby game for the first time.

After years of playing Kirby on smaller consoles, it was good to see the puffball back on the big screen for a classic adventure. Super Abilities was an explosive new feature and made you feel epic every time Kirby would slash a boss with his Ultra Sword. Multiplayer was an awesome addition as well. Combine that with one of the best climaxes in the series, and Kirby's Return to Dreamland remains a fine installment, and one of the best to pick up if you're new to the series.

7 Kirby's Return To Dreamland Deluxe

Who'd Have Thought A Party Mode Would Be The Key?

It might technically be cheating to have the same game twice, back to back, in our ranking – but Return to Dreamland's Deluxe remake on the Switch adds so much, and nips and tucks just enough, to warrant its own spot. Chief among these douple-dipper enticements is the minigame-centric Merry Magoland. You and a bunch of friends can take on all kinds of wacky scenarios, and you can quite easily sink a comparable amount of time to the main campaign here.

The Arena, too, has received a glow-up, and Magolor gets a new side-story to play out, not unlike Meta Knight has in the past. It certainly makes the obligatory third-act villain twist a tad more impactful, getting a chance to play as ol' Maggy himself. All told, Deluxe edges out its Wii cousin by a comfortable margin.

6 Kirby's Dream Land 3

The Game That Committed Necromancy

Kirby's Dream Land 3 was released on the SNES after the Nintendo 64 had come out (i.e. very, very late in its lifespan) so the game isn't as well known as its predecessors since most people had already bought Nintendo's newest hardware. It's a shame Dream Land 3 had the misfortune of releasing as the Super Nintendo's last hurrah, and, as a result, isn't discussed as much today. It's a great game while also feeling a little different from other Kirby platformers.

Right from the onset, you'll notice something amazing about Dream Land 3: it's one of the prettiest looking games on the Super Nintendo, or rather, one of the prettiest looking games, period. It's too bad Nintendo has used a more generic aesthetic for modern games like Triple Deluxe and Star Allies. The music is upbeat, and the levels are f🙈un.