Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Brings Star-Crossed World Expansion and Visual Upgrades

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World is poised to deliver an enhanced platforming adventure for fans of Nintendo's iconic pink hero.

Developed by the acclaimed HAL Laboratory, this updated release arrives on the next-generation Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, offering a visually stunning and content-rich experience.

Set for both physical and digital release via the Nintendo eShop worldwide on August 28, 2025, the game represents a pivotal milestone for the series, building on its best-selling success while addressing previous technical limitations. Originally launched for the Nintendo Switch in 2022, Kirby and the Forgotten Land quickly garnered critical and commercial acclaim, earning its place as the franchise's top-selling title.

Despite its success, the game faced challenges leveraging the aging hardware, often relying on technical optimizations to maintain its magical presentation.

With the capabilities of Nintendo Switch 2, HAL Laboratory has been able to reimagine the game, removing former limitations and introducing a range of enhancements. During the recent Nintendo Switch 2 Experience event in London, media in attendance observed significant graphical improvements firsthand while playing through Meteor Shower’s Arrival, the opening level of the enhanced edition.

The new release showcases upgraded visuals, running at a smooth 60 frames per second with resolutions of 1080p in Handheld Mode and 1440p on TV when docked.

The polished graphics and improved performance bring the vibrant world of Kirby to life, delivering an experience that both new players and longtime fans will find captivating. The most notable addition is the Star-Crossed World expansion, which opens with Kirby and his companion Elfilin witnessing a meteor shower that alters the Forgotten Land.

The falling crystal shards empower the game's Beast Pack enemies, bringing new attack patterns and tougher opposition.

This gameplay twist is distinct from similar mechanics in other Nintendo properties, such as the Terastal phenomenon in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, ensuring that Kirby’s world maintains its unique identity. Star-Crossed World remixes existing stages with increased challenge, drawing a parallel to how New Super Luigi U reworked New Super Mario Bros.

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The expansion welcomes both newcomers and seasoned players, offering fresh challenges and surprises even for those who have completed the original campaign.

Explorative elements have also been enhanced—interacting with in-game elements such as flowers or gems now conjures shimmering paths or reveals new platforms, leveraging the Switch 2’s improved hardware for more dynamic environments. A highlight of the updated gameplay is the introduction of new Mouthful Modes, expanding on the core mechanics that made the original release a standout.

One such addition is the Spring Mouth, enabling Kirby to perform powerful jumps, slam attacks, and access previously unreachable areas, adding verticality and new strategies to the platforming action. For completionists, Star-Crossed World introduces hidden collectibles called Starries, along with more challenging minibosses that feature updated attack sequences.

Multiplayer also returns, allowing a second player to join as Bandana Waddle Dee; while this character cannot use Copy Abilities or Mouthful Modes, the cooperative play remains a hallmark for the series, inviting friends and family to share in the adventure. According to official statements from Nintendo and HAL Laboratory, Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition sets a new technical and creative benchmark for the franchise.

With its expanded content, impressive visual fidelity, and refined gameplay, the upcoming release is set to be a major highlight of the Nintendo Switch 2's launch period.

Both Kirby veterans and those new to the series will have much to discover when the game arrives on August 28, 2025.

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