“Kirby and the Forgotten Land”: An Unforgettable Leap to 3D

“Kirby and the Forgotten Land” is the latest installment of the long-running “Kirby” franchise, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. As the first 3D installment in a series that’s been 2D throughout its entire existence, it honors the legacy of everyone’s favorite pink “star warrior,” while also providing the ideal blueprint for future installments.

Taking place in a world lost to time and space, Kirby must travel the vast landscapes while encountering a wide array of special abilities, and meeting allies and enemies, both new and familiar. One standout new gameplay mechanic is the “mouthful mode,” which can allow Kirby to envelop objects ranging from cars to vending machines.

Visually, the game is an impressive artistic achievement, showing off stages chock-full of intricate details blended with the colorful graphics that have been a fixture of the series throughout its history. As you progress through the game, your hub world can be expanded with new buildings as you rescue more of your companions. Without spoiling anything, the true final boss of the game ranks among the most horrifying adversaries Kirby has faced since the release of “Kirby’s Dream Land” on Game Boy in the year 1992.

As a way to celebrate 30 years of adventure and as a blueprint for what comes next, “Kirby and the Forgotten Land” takes the series on an unforgettable leap to 3D that’s highly recommended for fans and Switch owners everywhere.

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: HAL Laboratories

Platform: Nintendo Switch

ESRB Rating: E10+