Over the course ofKirby’s 30+ years of history, over 40 titles starring the Hero of Dreamland have been released across Nintendo’s myriad cast of consoles. From the original Game Boy to the Nintendo Switch, Kirby entertained people of all ages. Of these 40 adventures, 13 of them are considered to be of the “main series.” These games have stood the test of time. Never are Kirby’s adventures bad or boring — even the least impressive of them are still good fun.
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Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe marks Kirby’s most recent adventure, with a return to form both figuratively and literally as a remake of one of Kirby’s most acclaimed titles. Kirby’s adventures have taken him all over — from the cozy and quiet Dreamland to the very edges of the universe itself. Kirby’s faced friends and foes alike in his quests, and he’s employed countless copy abilities along the way. It may be tough, but let’s take a page from Kirby and rank all of Kirby’s main adventures with a smile.
13Kirby’s Dream Land
The very first Kirby game, released for the Game Boy in 1992. Kirby’s Dream Land was a simple side-scrolling platformer, intended to be an entry point for new gamers as well as a fun experience for the casual audience. To work off this, Kirby’s iconic flight was introduced. If players were too confounded by platforming puzzles, they could simply hover across the gap and continue on their merry way. While it didn’t offer much in terms of challenge, Kirby’s Dream Land has to be respected for being the start of Kirby’s fantastic franchise, as well as having a high level of polish for a 30+ year-old game.
That being said, it ranks last on this list due to its simplicity. Yes, it is a Game Boy game, and it was designed to be simple to draw in casual audiences. However, future Kirby games would be designed similarly but with added complexity, involving Copy Abilities and other flashy moves. It will always hold a special place in the hearts of Kirby fans, though objectively speaking, it has little to offer beyond its platforming.
12Kirby’s Dream Land 2
Kirby’s Dream Land 2 would introduce two major hallmarks of the Kirby franchise: Kirby’s Animal Buddies — Rick the Hamster, Kine the Fish, and Coo the Owl — as well as Kirby’s most dangerous villain yet, Dark Matter. Dream Land 2 would also mark the start of the “Dark Matter Trilogy,” a series of games revolving around the titular villain.
The Dark Matter Trilogy is considered by many to be a great part of the franchise, and for good reason.
11Kirby Squeak Squad
Kirby Squeak Squad is all about treasure hunting. Kirby’s greatest treasure, his strawberry shortcake, has been cake-napped! It’s up to you to help Kirby get it back, as well as any treasure you may find along the way.
Scattered throughout the various levels of Squeak Squad are treasure chests that contain goodies, ranging from new colors for Kirby to songs in the game’s Sound Test. Collecting all of the treasures won’t be easy — especially while the Squeaks, a band of mouse-like bandits, compete with you for the treasure.
10Kirby And The Amazing Mirror
Kirby and the Amazing Mirror is perhaps one of the most experimental Kirby games, being a sort of open-worldMetroidvania with an emphasis on exploration. Levels are no longer linear and offer countless routes that lead to other levels, forming a large labyrinth full of goodies to find and enemies to fight. Kirby has been split into four copies of himself by a mysterious Meta Knight-lookalike. Trouble is brewing in the Mirror World, so the Kirbies move out to see what’s going on.
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What’s unique about the other three Kirbies is that they act independently of the player and traverse through the world on their own. The game also supports multiplayer through the use of the Game Boy’s Link Cable, with up to four players being able to adventure through the Mirror World on their own. Kirby and the Amazing Mirror offers a strange yet enticing experience that has yet to be revisited.
9Kirby’s Adventure / Nightmare In Dreamland
Kirby’s Adventure is the introduction to Kirby’s famous copy ability. Kirby’s Adventure was, in some ways, the true start to the Kirby franchise, as it introduced many of the iconic elements that make Kirby what he is today. Key characters like Meta Knight were introduced here, and the world was expanded beyond Dreamland.
The Gameboy Advance remake, Nightmare in Dreamland, offers polished sprite work and the introduction of the Meta Knightmare game mode, where you can play as Meta Knight in a challenge run of the main game.
8Kirby’s Dream Land 3
The second installment of the “Dark Matter Trilogy,” Kirby’s Dream Land 3 is most well known for its crayon-like art style. Kirby’s Animal Friends return, alongside the proper introduction of Kirby’s friend Gooey, who can be controlled by a second player.
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Kirby’s Dream Land 3 is most likely the start of the Kirby tradition of scary final bosses, with the intimidating Zero challenging players at the end of the game.
7Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Kirby: Triple Deluxe was Kirby’s first adventure on the 3DS, marking the start of a great era for Kirby. Many fan-favorite games would be released for the 3DS, and they can draw their history back to Triple Deluxe. Triple Deluxe followed the guidelines set by Kirby’s Return to Dreamland, being the second in the new “modern” series of Kirby games. Triple Deluxe iterated one these guidelines by incorporating three-dimensional level design; Kirby can go between the foreground and background, opening up new areas to explore and creating opportunities for new and inventive puzzles.
Kirby would also be able to access the Hypernova ability by swallowing special Miracle Fruits throughout the game. Hypernova would boost Kirby’s inhale ability up to eleven, and the game featured puzzle sections revolving entirely around the ability.
6Kirby And The Crystal Shards (Kirby 64)
Kirby’s first foray into the third dimension rounds out the Dark Matter Trilogy with this crowd favorite title. Kirby and the Crystal Shards, also called Kirby 64, revolves around the titular Crystal Shards that have been scattered around Planet Pop Star’s galaxy. In order to stop Dark Matter once and for all, Kirby teams up with King Dedede, Waddle Dee, Adeleine from Dream Land 3, and the fairy Ribbon to recover the Crystal Shards and free Ribbon’s home planet from Dark Matter.
Kirby 64’s primary feature is its unique Copy Mixing system; though it offers relatively few individual Copy Abilities, you’re able to mix any of the two in unique combinations. From the flaming sword of Fire-Sword to the exploding snowman of Ice-Bomb, the Copy Mixing system has been a fan favorite since inception. Perhaps one day it may return!
5Kirby’s Return To Dreamland / Return To Dreamland Deluxe
Kirby’s Return to Dreamland is perhaps one of the most important games of the franchise, as it re-invented the Kirby formula for a modern audience (modern at the time). After a long and troubled development history, Kirby’s Return to Dreamland offered a new and streamlined way to play Kirby. The Copy Ability’s complex input-based move sets returned from Super Star, and multiple mini-games were available to play in case you needed a break from traditional platforming.
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Also, Return to Dreamland offered collectible items that would unlock various rewards, ranging from copy ability rooms to test out copy abilities to new stages to play. Return to Dreamland was the start of modern Kirby, and it would pave the way for three more games that would follow its example.
4Kirby Star Allies
Though initially regarded as one of the weaker modern Kirby games,Kirby Star Alliesproved its worth after a series of free updates that expanded on the game’s content and roster of familiar faces. Kirby Star Allies could be considered a celebration of Kirby’s 25-year history. Indeed, many familiar faces return as Dream Friends who can join your adventure as AI-controlled Helpers or by a second player. From Gooey to Magolor, nobody is left out.
Kirby Star Allies is a fine game. It follows the Return to Dreamland formula, so you know you’ll be in for a treat. However, the game’s target audience seems to be fans of Kirby. While Star Allies is as good an entry point as any, those who would get the most out of it will be Kirby’s most dedicated fans.
