Kirby has always been part of my gaming life. On the Game Boy, I played those simple black-and-white games for hours, not really caring that they were basic. Over the years he’s jumped between side-scrolling classics, odd little spin-offs, and even party games. Then Kirby and the Forgotten Land arrived in 2022, and suddenly the series felt different. Moving into 3D gave it new energy, and it showed just how flexible that pink puffball really is.
With Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World, I got the chance to experience it all again in a new way. In this review, I’m covering both sides: the Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade and the Star-Crossed World expansion, since they come bundled together. The Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade doesn’t just tidy things up. It runs smoother, looks sharper, and feels more responsive. The Star-Crossed World expansion sits right alongside it, dropping in new levels, abilities, and challenges that slip naturally into the main adventure.
A New Chapter Begins
The story in Kirby and the Forgotten Land starts with a strange rift. Kirby and the Waddle Dees get pulled into a new world. At first, it’s just about saving friends. Then it grows. Suddenly you’re running through abandoned cities, broken-down factories, even a collapsing amusement park. For Kirby, that’s a bigger setup than normal. The tone is still light, but there’s always a clear goal. I liked how each area hinted at something bigger, even if the plot mostly stayed in the background.
Star-Crossed World Expansion
The Star-Crossed World expansion shows up after you finish the main story. A huge meteor crashes down, breaking open a heart-shaped crystal. Out comes the threat called the Star of Darkness. Kirby teams up with Astronomer Waddle Dee to stop it. The plan is simple: collect crystal shards, called Starries, before things get worse. Some are tucked away as secrets. Others unlock when you finish side challenges.
What I liked is that the expansion keeps things easy to follow. It gave me a reason to go back into areas I already knew. The meteor and darker story twist felt new, but it never lost the usual Kirby tone. Watching Kirby and Elfilin set off again had its own charm. I didn’t expect to care much about the story, but I actually wanted to see where it went.
Exploring the Forgotten Land
Kirby and the Forgotten Land marked a major shift for the series by moving into full 3D platforming. Levels took on a more open-ended design, encouraging you to explore side paths, collect Waddle Dees, and uncover secrets tucked away in corners. Mouthful Mode added another layer of creativity, letting Kirby inhale objects like cars, vending machines, and even staircases to solve puzzles or break through obstacles.
The structure was straightforward but effective. Each level had optional tasks, like rescuing hidden Waddle Dees or finding collectibles, that gave you reasons to replay and experiment. What I liked most was how the game balanced simplicity with challenge. You could breeze through the main stages, but chasing every hidden objective demanded patience and attention to detail. The boss fights were fun too, often mixing humor with creative attack patterns.
Expanding the Adventure in Star-Crossed World
The Star-Crossed World expansion builds on that foundation with 12 new levels spread across the original regions. These remixed areas introduce extraterrestrial twists, from icy pathways to crystal-covered landscapes, making familiar spots feel different without losing their charm. The new levels also tie directly to the story, as collecting Starries changes environments and unlocks new paths.
The big addition here is three new Mouthful transformations. Spring Mouth lets you bounce high into the air and smash through obstacles. Gear Mouth allows you to scale walls and crush barricades, while Sign Mouth turns stages into downhill obstacle courses. These additions fit naturally into the levels and often add creative challenges.
I had a blast using Spring Mouth to chain jumps across moving platforms. I almost slipped a few times, but sticking every jump felt great and made the stage way more fun.
A Sharper Look for Kirby’s Adventure
Kirby and the Forgotten Land already looked good on the Nintendo Switch, but the Nintendo Switch 2 version improves it noticeably. The game now runs at a steady 60 frames per second, hitting 1080p in handheld and 1440p when docked. Characters and backgrounds look sharper, and little details that used to blur stand out more clearly. I even noticed enemies off in the distance moving with smoother animation, which made levels easier on the eyes.
You can really see these upgrades in the Star-Crossed World expansion. Old areas came back with new twists, like icy paths that sparkled in the light and crystal formations jutting out of familiar spots. I also liked how effects like falling stardust and breaking shards looked sharp without slowing the game down.
I really enjoyed a stage that was packed with glowing crystal growths. The way the light bounced off the crystals made the stage feel totally different, and I stopped just to take a look at it. It felt like I was looking at a familiar place differently, with the Nintendo Switch 2 making the details clearer. The upgrade and expansion gave the world a new look and made me want to play through it again.
Multiplayer with Kirby and Waddle Dee
Co-op in Kirby and the Forgotten Land is simple to set up. All you need is a second controller, and a friend can instantly join as Bandana Waddle Dee. Unlike Kirby, Waddle Dee can’t use Mouthful Mode, but he isn’t just along for the ride. He comes equipped with a spear that lets him attack from range, poke at enemies, and even perform quick multi-jumps to keep up during tricky platforming sections.
This makes co-op feel more than just tagging along. While Kirby handles transformations and story objectives, Waddle Dee contributes in battles and can help collect items scattered around each stage. The balance works well, and it kept both roles interesting across the main campaign and the Star-Crossed World expansion.
I tried out a few stages in co-op and quickly realized how helpful Waddle Dee can be during crowded fights. At one point, while I was focused on using Spring Mouth to smash through obstacles, my son cleared enemies ahead and grabbed hidden collectibles. It made the level feel easier to handle and reminded me why I enjoy playing Kirby with someone else.
The Star-Crossed World expansion carries this over seamlessly, so every new level and boss can be tackled together. Whether you play solo or team up, the co-op feels like a natural part of the adventure rather than a side mode.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World Feels Familiar but Rewarding
Jumping into Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World reminded me right away why I loved the original. The smoother performance and sharper visuals are clear right away. Exploring older levels again felt more polished, and the technical boost gave the whole adventure a cleaner look and feel.
The Star-Crossed World expansion adds enough new content to make the return worthwhile. The 12 remixed levels may reuse familiar areas, but the extraterrestrial twists, new collectibles, and added challenges kept them interesting. I liked how the new Mouthful transformations, Spring, Gear, and Sign, fit naturally into stages and added new ways to approach platforming without overcomplicating the design. Co-op gave me more excuses to play with someone else and appreciate Waddle Dee’s role alongside Kirby.
Not everything here feels completely new. Some bosses and areas show up again, which reminds you this is an expansion and not a brand-new sequel. If you didn’t enjoy the original, nothing here is going to change your mind. But if you liked it the first time, the extra content fits in well and gives you a solid reason to play through again.
What I enjoyed most was getting to experience both the old and new content together. I still smiled at the same moments that got me years ago, but the new challenges and transformations managed to surprise me too. That mix of comfort and discovery made the whole thing feel worthwhile, and it reminded me why Kirby’s adventures keep pulling me back.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Star-Crossed World
Summary
Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World brings the full original adventure with sharper visuals and smoother performance on Nintendo Switch 2. The Star-Crossed World expansion adds 12 remixed levels, new Mouthful transformations, and tougher bosses that give returning fans plenty to enjoy. Some recycled content holds it back from feeling brand new, but the mix of upgrades and fresh challenges makes it rewarding for those who already loved Kirby’s 3D debut.
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