You play Kirby rolling and floating through jungles and overgrown malls that nature has swallowed up. Press a button to inhale enemies and objects, including cars and vending machines, and swallow them to copy their powers for a while. It moves in 3D now but stays easy to pick up, and the whole thing is built to be gentle and forgiving for younger or newer players.
Gameplay video
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Screenshots & review notes
The short version
It's a genuine surprise how well Kirby translates to three dimensions, delivering a confident, cheerful adventure without losing any of the series' softness.
In the hands
Mouthful Mode's car and vending machine transformations are goofy but clever, turning platforming and puzzle-solving into constant little gags.
Look and sound
The overgrown, abandoned mall aesthetic gives familiar post-apocalyptic tropes a candy-colored spin that's oddly beautiful and thoroughly charming.
The long haul
It's short and easy enough for young players, but hidden Waddle Dees and post-game content give it enough meat for veterans chasing full completion.
Frames captured from the gameplay video above; notes are our own take on the game.
What it's like to play
Kirby's first fully 3D outing translates the series charm into compact, inventive stages where every level hides secret waddle dees behind clever optional challenges. Mouthful Mode is the star gimmick, letting Kirby swallow cars, vending machines, and traffic cones to become goofy problem-solving shapes. Copy abilities can be evolved into stronger forms, giving the simple combat a satisfying upgrade path.
Difficulty is deliberately gentle, aimed at younger players and cozy sessions, though the post-game Forgotten Land stages and boss rushes add real challenge for those who want it. Co-op lets a second player join as Bandana Waddle Dee at any time, which works perfectly for parents and kids. The hub town gradually fills with minigames, a cafe, and a fishing spot as you rescue more waddle dees.
The fixed camera and 30fps target are mild technical compromises that rarely matter in practice. Treasure Road time-trial stages offer bite-sized mastery tests with generous rewards. It is a warm, polished platformer that punches well above its cute exterior, and one of the easiest recommendations on this entire list.