Kirby and the Forgotten Land Lore Explained: In-Depth Story Rundown for Nintendo Switch

Kirby and the Forgotten Land has quickly become a standout entry in Nintendo’s celebrated Kirby franchise, developed by HAL Laboratory and released on the Nintendo Switch in March 2022.

As the first fully 3D mainline game in the series, it has earned critical praise not only for its imaginative gameplay and visuals but also for its surprisingly rich, interconnected lore that deepens the overall Kirby universe.

While veteran fans are familiar with the series’ penchant for subtle narrative hints, Kirby and the Forgotten Land brings important story details closer to the surface, creating new connections to past titles across the franchise. A New World, a Familiar Hero The adventure begins on Planet Popstar, with Kirby being unexpectedly whisked through a giant star-shaped portal into a mysterious, abandoned city.

Here, he meets Elfilin, a mouse-like character pursued by a group called the Beast Pack, who also threaten the familiar Waddle Dees transported into this strange realm.

Together, Kirby and Elfilin set out to rescue the captured Waddle Dees and explore the origins of this forgotten world.

As the journey progresses, iconic series characters like King Dedede reappear—initially as foes under strange influence—further raising the stakes and interweaving the game’s central mysteries. Unveiling the Secrets of Lab Discovera and the Beast Pack A turning point arrives with the introduction of Lab Discovera, a vast scientific facility built by an ancient civilization.

This is where players encounter ID-F86, a formidable entity once sealed by the ancients for its dangerous spatial powers.

Players discover that ID-F86 split decades earlier, with Elfilin representing its lost half.

The antagonistic Beast Pack, including King Dedede, have all been manipulated by the telepathic ID-F86 in a quest to reclaim its missing piece and restore its strength—shedding light on their motives throughout the campaign. The climactic narrative sequence sees ID-F86 merge with Elfilin, transforming into the unstoppable Fecto Elfilis.

In a spectacular battle featuring dimensional portals and high stakes for both Kirby’s home, Planet Popstar, and the new world, Kirby ultimately prevails.

Using his inventive Mouthful Mode ability, Kirby defeats Fecto Elfilis and averts a catastrophic collision between the two worlds. Connections Across the Kirby Franchise Beyond its self-contained narrative, Kirby and the Forgotten Land reveals foundational links to broader series lore.

Fans will recognize the lore surrounding star-shaped portals and dimensional travel as a major theme, tying directly to elements in previous games such as Return to Dream Land Deluxe and Kirby: Planet Robobot.

In both, ancient technology—often powered by entities like Fecto Elfilis—enables interdimensional journeys and epic confrontations. The game’s post-credits content explores even deeper mysteries.

After completing the main story, players learn Leongar’s soul is split inside Forgo Dreams, a pocket dimension crafted by the remnants of ID-F86.

The hero’s path intersects with major Kirby universe antagonists, including the enigmatic Morpho Knight and the final challenge, Chaos Elfilis, in the Ultimate Cup Z coliseum mode.

These sequences further unravel connections to other series villains and technology, blending science- and darkness-based antagonists in an ongoing narrative tapestry. Legacy and Ongoing Influence Kirby and the Forgotten Land has not only garnered significant player engagement and critical acclaim—it has also reframed storylines from earlier games, highlighting the central roles played by entities like Fecto Elfilis and the ancient civilization’s advanced science.

Developed by HAL Laboratory for the Nintendo Switch and available through the eShop, the game continues to inspire discussion among fans for its nuanced storytelling, making it a must-play entry for those eager to uncover the full scope of Kirby’s legacy. Kirby and the Forgotten Land remains available now on the Nintendo Switch, with ongoing sales and updates accessible from Nintendo’s official channels and the eShop.

For fans keen to dive deeper, replaying earlier games in the series—particularly Return to Dream Land Deluxe—offers further insight into Nintendo’s intricate approach to Kirby lore.

Kirby Nintendo Switch Nintendo Kirby and the Forgotten Land Switch Kirby series HAL Laboratory Return to Dream Land Deluxe Beast Pack King Dedede Elfilin ID-F86 Fecto Elfilis Lab Discovera Lor Starcutter Star Dream Galactic Nova Morpho Knight Hyness Void Termina Queen Sectonia Dimensional Mirror