Kirby’s Dream Buffet Review: Hal Laboratory Serves Up Multiplayer Fun on Nintendo Switch eShop
When it comes to light-hearted multiplayer experiences, few franchises deliver as consistently as Kirby.
HAL Laboratory, the acclaimed developer behind mainline Kirby entries, brings its creative flair to a new spin-off: Kirby’s Dream Buffet.
Launched exclusively via the Nintendo Switch eShop on August 17, 2022, this multiplayer party game quickly rolled onto the scene just a month after its official announcement, capturing the attention of Kirby fans and newcomers alike.
Despite limited pre-release marketing, Kirby’s Dream Buffet has found its niche among party game enthusiasts on Nintendo’s popular hybrid platform. A Delectable Visual Feast Kirby’s Dream Buffet stands out immediately for its food-themed worlds, an aesthetic choice that feels both overdue and perfectly matched to the pink hero’s notorious appetite.
Players traverse courses filled with luscious cakes, doughnuts, chocolates, and other treats reminiscent of iconic Nintendo environments like Sweet Sweet Canyon from Mario Kart 8 and Luncheon Kingdom from Super Mario Odyssey.
In fact, almost every element of the game world is crafted to be visually appetizing.
While the culinary motif lends an irresistible charm, it also results in a stage selection that some players might find visually repetitive, with levels blending together despite their delicious allure. Gameplay: Rolling, Competing, and Power-Ups The heart of Kirby’s Dream Buffet lies in its Grand Prix mode, where up to four players compete in a sequence of events: two race rounds, a brief minigame, and a climactic battle royale segment.
Each round challenges players to collect as many strawberries as possible; the Kirby with the highest total wins.
At the end of each Grand Prix, bonus strawberries are awarded for distinctive gameplay milestones like hovering, collecting the most fruit, or defeating enemies, echoing the tradition of Mario Party's Bonus Stars. Controls are responsive and intuitive, evoking the feel of classic rolling games like Super Monkey Ball, but with a freer, more dynamic twist.
Collecting strawberries causes your Kirby to grow in size and speed, but with diminishing hovering abilities.
Power-ups, dubbed ‘Copy Food’ boxes, implement classic Kirby Copy Abilities in competitive ways, allowing for strategic play during races and frantic brawls alike. Breaking Down the Modes • Races: The core gameplay involves navigating food-laden obstacle courses, battling for the largest strawberry piles at the finish line.
Risky shortcuts reward daring players, adding an extra layer of competitive edge. • Minigames: Fast-paced and simple, these 20-second bite-sized challenges demand players grab as many strawberries as possible, free from power-ups or complex rules. • Battle Royale: The final round is a one-minute, winner-takes-all brawl.
Players use Copy Food power-ups to knock opponents off stage and steal their strawberries, ensuring late comebacks are always possible. Online and Local Play Options Kirby’s Dream Buffet shines brightest online.
Quick matchmaking pits players against others worldwide, while a playful hub world offers downtime entertainment between matches.
Private lobbies let friends enjoy the competition together, although Nintendo Switch's online infrastructure can occasionally impact performance if network connections are unstable. Local play supports solo or duo players sharing a single Switch system, but this mode limits local multiplayer to just two humans with the remainder filled by AI.
Positive features include adjustable CPU difficulty and the ability to jump directly into races, minigames, or battle royales for quick sessions. Progression, Customization, and Replay Value As players complete matches, they earn points toward improving their Gourmet Rank, unlocking a variety of customization items, including costumes, color variants, music tracks, and collectibles to decorate your hub cake.
Skill Level tracking and comprehensive victory stats encourage replayability, particularly for those seeking to unlock every cosmetic item.
However, the solo online experience can grow repetitive over time, making multiplayer with friends—or some Discord banter—a key ingredient for lasting enjoyment. An Affordable, Sweet Multiplayer Experience Kirby’s Dream Buffet is available on the Nintendo Switch eShop for £13.49, delivering a fun and competitively charged experience that proves most satisfying when shared.
While some may wish it was bundled as a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack bonus, it offers hours of lighthearted entertainment and represents a delightful addition to any Kirby fan’s library.
A review copy of Kirby’s Dream Buffet was provided by Nintendo UK.
The game currently boasts a strong community of passionate players online, solidifying HAL Laboratory’s reputation for inventive, accessible multiplayer fun.
HAL Laboratory, the acclaimed developer behind mainline Kirby entries, brings its creative flair to a new spin-off: Kirby’s Dream Buffet.
Launched exclusively via the Nintendo Switch eShop on August 17, 2022, this multiplayer party game quickly rolled onto the scene just a month after its official announcement, capturing the attention of Kirby fans and newcomers alike.
Despite limited pre-release marketing, Kirby’s Dream Buffet has found its niche among party game enthusiasts on Nintendo’s popular hybrid platform. A Delectable Visual Feast Kirby’s Dream Buffet stands out immediately for its food-themed worlds, an aesthetic choice that feels both overdue and perfectly matched to the pink hero’s notorious appetite.
Players traverse courses filled with luscious cakes, doughnuts, chocolates, and other treats reminiscent of iconic Nintendo environments like Sweet Sweet Canyon from Mario Kart 8 and Luncheon Kingdom from Super Mario Odyssey.
In fact, almost every element of the game world is crafted to be visually appetizing.
While the culinary motif lends an irresistible charm, it also results in a stage selection that some players might find visually repetitive, with levels blending together despite their delicious allure. Gameplay: Rolling, Competing, and Power-Ups The heart of Kirby’s Dream Buffet lies in its Grand Prix mode, where up to four players compete in a sequence of events: two race rounds, a brief minigame, and a climactic battle royale segment.
Each round challenges players to collect as many strawberries as possible; the Kirby with the highest total wins.
At the end of each Grand Prix, bonus strawberries are awarded for distinctive gameplay milestones like hovering, collecting the most fruit, or defeating enemies, echoing the tradition of Mario Party's Bonus Stars. Controls are responsive and intuitive, evoking the feel of classic rolling games like Super Monkey Ball, but with a freer, more dynamic twist.
Collecting strawberries causes your Kirby to grow in size and speed, but with diminishing hovering abilities.
Power-ups, dubbed ‘Copy Food’ boxes, implement classic Kirby Copy Abilities in competitive ways, allowing for strategic play during races and frantic brawls alike. Breaking Down the Modes • Races: The core gameplay involves navigating food-laden obstacle courses, battling for the largest strawberry piles at the finish line.
Risky shortcuts reward daring players, adding an extra layer of competitive edge. • Minigames: Fast-paced and simple, these 20-second bite-sized challenges demand players grab as many strawberries as possible, free from power-ups or complex rules. • Battle Royale: The final round is a one-minute, winner-takes-all brawl.
Players use Copy Food power-ups to knock opponents off stage and steal their strawberries, ensuring late comebacks are always possible. Online and Local Play Options Kirby’s Dream Buffet shines brightest online.
Quick matchmaking pits players against others worldwide, while a playful hub world offers downtime entertainment between matches.
Private lobbies let friends enjoy the competition together, although Nintendo Switch's online infrastructure can occasionally impact performance if network connections are unstable. Local play supports solo or duo players sharing a single Switch system, but this mode limits local multiplayer to just two humans with the remainder filled by AI.
Positive features include adjustable CPU difficulty and the ability to jump directly into races, minigames, or battle royales for quick sessions. Progression, Customization, and Replay Value As players complete matches, they earn points toward improving their Gourmet Rank, unlocking a variety of customization items, including costumes, color variants, music tracks, and collectibles to decorate your hub cake.
Skill Level tracking and comprehensive victory stats encourage replayability, particularly for those seeking to unlock every cosmetic item.
However, the solo online experience can grow repetitive over time, making multiplayer with friends—or some Discord banter—a key ingredient for lasting enjoyment. An Affordable, Sweet Multiplayer Experience Kirby’s Dream Buffet is available on the Nintendo Switch eShop for £13.49, delivering a fun and competitively charged experience that proves most satisfying when shared.
While some may wish it was bundled as a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack bonus, it offers hours of lighthearted entertainment and represents a delightful addition to any Kirby fan’s library.
A review copy of Kirby’s Dream Buffet was provided by Nintendo UK.
The game currently boasts a strong community of passionate players online, solidifying HAL Laboratory’s reputation for inventive, accessible multiplayer fun.
