Kirby (series) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kirby
Logo since 2022
Genres	Action platform
Developers	HAL Laboratory Good-Feel Flagship Dimps Arika Compile Banpresto Vanpool Nintendo R&D1 Nintendo R&D2 Sora Ltd. Bandai Namco Studios
Publisher	Nintendo
Creator	Masahiro Sakurai
Platforms	Game Boy NES SNES Nintendo 64 Game Boy Color GameCube Game Boy Advance Nintendo DS Wii Nintendo 3DS Wii U Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2
First release	Kirby's Dream Land April 27, 1992
Latest release	Kirby Air Riders November 20, 2025

Kirby is a super fun video game series. It features action and platforming challenges. HAL Laboratory develops these games, and Nintendo publishes them.

The series is all about the adventures of Kirby. He is a cute, pink, round hero. Kirby lives on a faraway place called Planet Popstar. He always fights to protect his home from many different dangers. Most Kirby games are side-scrolling adventures. They mix puzzle-solving with exciting battles.

Kirby has a special power: he can inhale enemies and objects! He can then spit them out like a projectile. Or, he can eat them. If he eats certain enemies, he gains their powers! This is called a Copy Ability. It gives him new weapons or special moves. The games are designed to be easy for new players. But they also offer challenges for experienced gamers.

The Kirby series has released 39 games so far. It has sold over 50 million copies worldwide. This makes it one of Nintendo's most popular series. It is also one of the best-selling video game franchises ever!

How to Play Kirby Games

Kirby can gain the properties of enemies or objects he eats– for example, by inhaling a sword-wielding foe, Kirby gains the Sword ability.

The main Kirby games are side-scrolling action platformers. You play as Kirby, the pink, round hero. Players run, jump, and attack enemies. You explore many areas, solve puzzles, and fight bosses.

Kirby's main power is inhaling. He can suck up objects and enemies, even big ones! He can then spit them out as a weapon. Or, he can swallow them. Swallowing certain enemies gives Kirby a Copy Ability. This lets him use that enemy's special skills. For example, if he eats a fire-breathing enemy, he can breathe fire! If he eats a sword-wielding enemy, he can use a sword.

Kirby can also puff himself up with air to fly. In most games, he can fly for as long as he wants. However, his attack options are limited while flying. He can only shoot small air bullets.

Many Kirby games have hidden items. Collecting these items can unlock new parts of the game. Sometimes, they are needed to reach 100% completion. These special items often help with the story. They might be used to create a special weapon. This weapon is usually needed to defeat the final boss.

The Kirby series also has many spin-off games. These games explore different styles. You can find pinball, puzzle, racing, and even motion-sensor games.

The Story and Characters

Main Characters and Their Roles

The main hero of the series is Kirby. He lives in Dream Land, a peaceful kingdom. Dream Land is on a star-shaped planet called Popstar. Life there is usually calm and happy. But when trouble comes, Kirby steps up to save his home. He protects everyone who lives there.

Many characters appear as friends and foes. King Dedede is a big, bird-like creature. He looks like a blue penguin. He calls himself the ruler of Dream Land. King Dedede first appeared in Kirby's Dream Land. He often clashes with Kirby because he can be selfish. Sometimes, he is controlled by evil forces. But when a bigger threat appears, he often teams up with Kirby. In newer games, he's more of a friendly rival. King Dedede has been in almost every Kirby game.

Another important character is Meta Knight. He is a mysterious, masked warrior. He looks a lot like Kirby. Meta Knight is very chivalrous. He wants to fight the strongest warrior in the galaxy. When he fights Kirby, he always offers Kirby a sword. His face looks like Kirby's, but their exact relationship is a mystery.

Popstar is also home to many common creatures called Waddle Dees. They appear in every Kirby game. They can be peaceful or aggressive, depending on the game. One special Waddle Dee is Bandana Waddle Dee. He wears a blue bandana and carries a spear. He often helps Kirby and is even a playable character in some games.

A recurring boss is Woods, a giant tree. He is often the first boss you fight in a game. Woods has also appeared in other Kirby stories.

How Kirby Games Were Made

Early Ideas and First Games

Kirby's Dream Land, released in 1992 for the Game Boy, was the first game in the series.

The Kirby series began in 1990. Masahiro Sakurai first imagined a ball-shaped character. Everyone liked this simple design so much that it became Kirby's final look! The character was first named Popopo. The game was called Twinkle Popo. Later, the name Kirby was chosen to honor a lawyer named John Kirby.

The very first Kirby game was Kirby's Dream Land. It came out in 1992 for the Game Boy. This game introduced Kirby's inhaling power. But he couldn't gain Copy Abilities yet. The game also had a harder "Extra Game" mode. Interestingly, the North American box art showed a white Kirby. The Japanese art had the correct pink color.

The second game, Kirby's Adventure, arrived in 1993 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. This game was a big step! It gave Kirby the amazing Copy Abilities. He could gain special powers by eating certain enemies. There were 25 different abilities to use. This game also made Kirby's pink color official. Kirby's Adventure had advanced graphics for its time.

After these first games, many spin-off titles appeared. These included Kirby's Pinball Land (1993) and Kirby's Dream Course (1994). Kirby's Dream Land 2 (1995) brought Copy Abilities to the Game Boy. It also introduced animal friends like Rick the hamster.

New Graphics and Ways to Play

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, released in 2000 for the Nintendo 64, introduced 3D graphics to the series, while retaining the classic 2D side-scrolling gameplay.

In 2000, Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards was released for the Nintendo 64. This was the first Kirby game with 3D graphics. It kept the classic 2D side-scrolling style. This game also let Kirby combine two Copy Abilities for new powers. King Dedede and a Waddle Dee were even playable in parts of the game.

Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble (2000) was one of Nintendo's first motion-sensor games. Players tilted the Game Boy Color to move Kirby. In 2003, Kirby Air Ride came out for the GameCube. This was a racing game, a big change for Kirby!

Kirby: Canvas Curse, released in 2005 for the Nintendo DS, introduced touch-based gameplay to the series.

Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land (2002) was a remake of Kirby's Adventure for the Game Boy Advance. It had updated graphics and multiplayer. Kirby & the Amazing Mirror (2004) for the Game Boy Advance let players explore levels in any order. You could even call up to three other Kirbys to help!

Touch Screens and Modern Adventures

Kirby's Return to Dream Land, released in 2011 for the Wii, returned traditional platforming gameplay to the series – the first in a home console since Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (2000) – featuring local multiplayer up to 4 players.

Kirby: Canvas Curse (2005) for the Nintendo DS introduced touch-based gameplay. Players drew paths with a stylus to guide Kirby. Kirby: Squeak Squad (2006) brought back traditional gameplay. It also used the touch screen to store items. Kirby Super Star Ultra (2008) was a remake of Kirby Super Star with new games.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land (2011) for the Wii brought back classic platforming. It allowed up to four players at once! Players could be Kirby, Meta Knight, King Dedede, or Bandana Waddle Dee. In 2012, Kirby's Dream Collection celebrated Kirby's 20th Anniversary. It included six classic games and new challenges.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe (2014) for the Nintendo 3DS added gameplay that moved between the foreground and background. It also had fun minigames like Kirby Fighters. Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (2015) for the Wii U continued the touch-based style of Canvas Curse.

Kirby: Planet Robobot (2016) for the Nintendo 3DS introduced Kirby's Robobot Armor. This gave him powerful new ways to play. In 2017, three new games celebrated Kirby's 25th Anniversary: Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, Kirby's Blowout Blast, and Kirby Battle Royale.

Kirby Star Allies (2018) for the Nintendo Switch let Kirby make friends with enemies. He could throw "Friend Hearts" to create allies. These friends could combine their powers. Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn (2019) was a remake of Epic Yarn. Super Kirby Clash (2019) and Kirby Fighters 2 (2020) offered more multiplayer fun on the Switch.

Kirby's Jump to Full 3D

In 2022, Kirby and the Forgotten Land was released for the Nintendo Switch. This was the first main Kirby game to be fully 3D! It became the best-selling game in the series. This game also introduced Kirby's new logo.

Later in 2022, Kirby's Dream Buffet was released. It is a fun multiplayer party game. In 2023, Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe came out for the Nintendo Switch. This was a remake of the Wii game with new abilities and a cool comic book art style.

In 2025, two more Kirby games were released. Star-Crossed World was an enhanced version of Kirby and the Forgotten Land. It featured higher frame rates and a new game mode. The second game was Kirby Air Riders, a sequel to Kirby Air Ride. Masahiro Sakurai, Kirby's creator, returned to direct this game.

Kirby's Impact and Other Fun Stuff

Kirby in Other Games

Left to right: Meta Knight, King Dedede and Kirby in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Kirby is a popular character in Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. fighting game series. He appears in every game! Meta Knight and King Dedede also join the fight in many Smash Bros. games. Many items from the Kirby series appear as items in Super Smash Bros.. These include the Maxim Tomato and the Warp Star.

Kirby has also made small appearances in other games. You can spot him in games like The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and EarthBound. If you have a Kirby Amiibo figure, you can scan it in Mario Kart 8. This unlocks a Kirby costume for your Mii character! You can also use it in Super Mario Maker for a Kirby costume.

Kirby Café

In 2016, the "Kirby Café" opened in Japan. It's a restaurant chain themed all around Kirby! There are two permanent locations in Japan. One is in Tokyo, and the other is in Fukuoka. The Kirby Café has also had many temporary locations.

Kirby in Other Media

The Kirby TV Show

The Kirby games inspired a Japanese animated TV series. It premiered in Japan in 2001 as Hoshi no Kirby. In North America, it was called Kirby: Right Back at Ya!. The show had 100 episodes and ended in 2003.

The show follows Kirby's adventures with his friends Tiff and Tuff. Kirby crash-lands in Dream Land (called Cappy Town in the English version). He is a legendary Star Warrior. He is meant to save the universe from an evil conqueror named Nightmare. But Kirby woke up too early! His powers are still developing, and he acts like a child.

King Dedede, the ruler of Dream Land, gets jealous of Kirby. He often orders monsters from Nightmare's company, Nightmare Enterprises. He tries to get rid of Kirby. Nightmare Enterprises looks like a delivery company. But it's actually a front for Nightmare's plans to take over the galaxy. Meta Knight, though seemingly loyal to King Dedede, often secretly helps Kirby. He trains Kirby to use his amazing abilities.

The show uses characters and ideas from the games. But it tells its own unique story.

Comics, Manga, and Books

Kirby also stars in several manga series. Many different artists have drawn these stories.

The longest-running Kirby manga was Kirby of the Stars: The Story of Dedede Who Lives in Pupupu. It was published for many years. It even released 25 books and sold over 10 million copies! This series was later published in English as Kirby Manga Mania.

Since 2013, a series of novels based on Kirby has been published. These books tell new stories about Kirby's adventures.

See also

In Spanish: Kirby (serie) para niños