Kirby Air Riders City Trial Mode Returns on Nintendo Switch 2: Details from Latest Nintendo Direct

Nintendo delivered exciting news during its recent Nintendo Direct, unveiling new details about Kirby Air Riders' City Trial mode on Nintendo Switch 2.

Directed by celebrated game designer Masahiro Sakurai, this highly anticipated title builds upon its GameCube predecessor, Kirby Air Ride, which first introduced the innovative City Trial feature in 2003. City Trial was described as “the main event” by Sakurai during his presentation.

This signature mode returns even bigger and more dynamic, set on a vast new floating island known as Skyah.

The expansive Skyah environment is divided into several distinct areas and offers opportunities for players to explore, compete, and test their skills whether solo or in a group. For the latest iteration, City Trial allows up to 16 players to join a single session through both local wireless and online multiplayer.

Local wireless supports up to eight human participants, but players can add AI-controlled rivals to fill all 16 slots, ensuring every session is fully competitive.

Each participant begins by selecting a rider, but instead of choosing their starting machine, everyone is assigned the Compact Star — a vehicle designed for ease of handling but limited in power.

The central objective is to upgrade by locating better machines across the map while amassing key power-ups that boost stats such as Boost, Top Speed, Turn, Glide, Offense, and Defense. Throughout City Trial, the action is punctuated by dynamic, map-wide events.

Players can engage in challenges like Short Race, which segments the map for timed sprints, and Dustup Derby, a competitive battle mode.

Additionally, spontaneous occurrences may shake up the city: meteors might fall, hidden rooms could open, and towering pillars can suddenly erupt, introducing unpredictability each round.

Classic boss battles return as well, featuring formidable opponents like Dyna Blade and Kracko, familiar adversaries from the original Kirby Air Ride. After a five-minute session of power-up collecting and events, all players converge in Stadiums—minigames that determine the ultimate victors.

Selections include diverse challenges such as Kirby Melee, Air Glider, Drag Race, Target Flight, Dustup Derby, Skydive, and Gourmet Race.

Each offers unique ways for players to translate their accumulated upgrades into victory, whether defeating foes, flying the furthest, racing for speed, or gobbling up in-game food. Kirby Air Riders is set for a worldwide release on November 25th, 2025, launching exclusively for the new Nintendo Switch 2.

The game will be available digitally via the Nintendo eShop and continues the longstanding collaboration between Nintendo and HAL Laboratory, the studio responsible for many of Kirby’s acclaimed adventures. For competitive fans and long-time admirers of Kirby Air Ride, the latest evolution of City Trial mode reimagines the beloved gameplay for a modern era, raising the bar for multiplayer experiences on Nintendo hardware.

Nintendo Switch 2 Kirby Nintendo Switch Nintendo Nintendo Direct Kirby Air Riders Switch 2 Switch City Trial City Trial mode Masahiro Sakurai Kirby Air Ride HAL Laboratory GameCube Dyna Blade Kracko