Kirby and the Forgotten Land is making its return on the Nintendo Switch 2 with a major upgrade and the Star-Crossed World expansion. This version offers visual enhancements, performance boosts, and new story content while keeping the charm of Kirby’s first 3D platforming adventure. Here’s everything to know before picking it up.
New Story Expansion: Star-Crossed World
The Switch 2 Edition adds Star-Crossed World, a new story chapter set alongside the original adventure. A heart-shaped meteor crashes into the Forgotten Land, creating a volcanic island and casting a shimmering blue glow over familiar locations. Crystal fragments called starries are scattered across the world, and Kirby must collect them to seal away a looming threat.
The expansion also changes the landscape: new climbable buildings, cleared oceans revealing the seafloor, and crystal-breaking routes that open hidden areas. These “starry stages” unlock after completing Natural Plains and progress alongside the main campaign.
Switch 2 Enhancements and Upgrade Path
Running on Switch 2 hardware, the game targets 1080p in handheld and tabletop modes, 1440p when docked, and 60fps across both. This is an improvement over the original’s 720p/1080p resolutions and variable frame rates.
Players who own the original game can upgrade for £16.99/$20, which includes the Star-Crossed World expansion. A full purchase costs £66.99/$80.
New Mouthful Modes in Star-Crossed World
Mouthful Modes return with three fresh transformations:
-
Spring Mouth – Kirby wraps around a spring to bounce continuously, perform one massive jump, or slam downward to smash ground and crystals.
-
Gear Mouth – Wrapping around a gear lets Kirby roll across terrain, climb vertical walls, and dash forward to break obstacles.
-
Sign Mouth – Kirby slides like a snowboarder, spinning through enemies and using ramps to launch into hard-to-reach spots.
These modes expand movement and puzzle-solving options, making exploration more varied.
Tougher Enemies and New Coliseum Challenge
The crystal impact boosts enemy strength, making them harder to defeat. Mid-bosses such as Wild Frosty now appear as Crystal Wild Frosty, and new armored foes emerge in the expansion.
The Coliseum gains the Ultimate Cup EX, a boss gauntlet likely featuring enhanced versions of Star-Crossed World’s toughest enemies. This mode unlocks after completing the DLC’s true ending and beating the original Ultimate Cup Z.
Starry Coins, Co-op Play, and Copy Ability Status
-
Starry Coins return in the new stages, with a trader in Waddle Dee Town, Astronomer Waddle Dee, offering Star-Crossed World exclusive EX figures via the Gotcha Machine EX.
-
Co-op play remains, with a second player controlling Bandana Waddle Dee, who retains his spear-based combat and mobility skills. No word yet on moveset changes.
-
Nintendo has not confirmed any new copy abilities for this version, suggesting the focus is on new mouthful modes instead.
