News
OfficialOfficial support note: update required before online play
Nintendo Support updated the Kirby Air Riders update guide on January 26, 2026.
updatepatchonlinesupportmaintenanceversion
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Timeline
OfficialNintendo support page updates maintenance guidance
Nintendo Support updated patching and online prerequisites for Kirby Air Riders.
Nintendo Support (Americas)official
Open pageNews
Reliable ReportReview Brief #1: Why the City Trial loop still defines the series
A synthesis of GamesRadar and wiki sources suggests replayability comes from uncertainty, not only speed.
reviewcity trialreplayabilitygamesradarwikirbyboth
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Reliable ReportReview Brief #2: Top Ride return improves short-session variety
Direct #2 footage plus community reactions indicate Top Ride is critical for quick multiplayer sessions.
reviewtop ridesession designdirect #2multiplayerair-ride-2
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Reliable ReportReview Brief #3: 16-player City Trial is exciting but balance-sensitive
Expanding to 16 players increases spectacle and chaos, but raises readability and fairness pressure.
review16-playercity trialbalancereadabilityair-ride-2
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Reliable ReportReview Brief #4: Expanded roster needs stronger role clarity
Roster variety is healthy, but discoverability of role identity becomes a UX challenge.
reviewrosterrole claritymeta knightmagolorair-ride-2
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Reliable ReportReview Brief #5: Machine meta continuity from KAR1 to KAR2
Wiki sources suggest player identity still forms around machine archetypes more than character pick alone.
reviewmachine metawarp starwheelie bikedragoonhydra
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Reliable ReportReview Brief #6: Map pacing shift from classic courses to Skyah
Classic loop races and the City Trial island now coexist at larger online scale, changing session planning.
reviewmapsskyahcourse pacingsession lengthboth
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OfficialStore page confirms multiplayer scale: City Trial up to 16 online
Nintendo store details list 16 online / 8 local wireless for City Trial and up to 6 for Air Ride.
city trial16-player8-player local wireless6-playermultiplayerair-ride-2
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OfficialOfficial launch date confirmed: November 20, 2025
Nintendo featured and store pages both list November 20, 2025.
release datelaunch2025-11-20switch 2air-ride-2official-news
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OfficialPaddock and party-rule specs clarified: up to 32 online
Store metadata lists Paddock at up to 32 online players, Team Battles up to 6 teams, and Swap Relay at 2-6 players.
paddock32-playerteam battles up to 6swap relay 2-6top ride 4-playerparty mode
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OfficialStore page details Road Trip: single-player progression and machine-part crafting
Road Trip is listed as a solo mode where treasure chests and rumors drive machine growth.
road tripsingle playertreasure chestsrumorsmachine partsprogression
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OfficialKirby Air Riders launches on Switch 2
Nintendo featured and store pages list 2025-11-20 as the release date.
Nintendo Switch 2 Featured Game Pageofficial
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OfficialStore page publishes in-game mode specifications
Nintendo Store confirms Road Trip as a single-player progression mode and lists Paddock at up to 32 online players.
Nintendo Store Product Pageofficial
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OfficialDirect #2 confirms course volume and growth systems
Nintendo states 18 Air Ride courses, 16 Top Ride courses, and class/licensing progression systems.
direct #218 courses16 top ride coursesspeed charge flightlicensesglobal win power
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OfficialDirect #2 expanded mode reveal: Top Ride, Road Trip, Paddock
Nintendo Direct #2 highlighted multiple mode additions and match variants.
direct #2top rideroad trippaddockswap relayteam battles
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Kirby Air Riders Direct #2
Official Direct #2 from 2025-10-23.
direct #22025-10-23top rideroad trippaddock
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Overview Trailer
Official overview trailer.
overview traileryoutube
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OfficialKirby Air Riders Direct #2
Nintendo added Top Ride, Road Trip, and Paddock while detailing course counts, machine classes, licenses, and party formats.
Nintendo News: Direct #2official
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OfficialDirect (Aug 19, 2025) established the lineup foundation
The first dedicated presentation set the baseline for roster and race structure discussions.
directlineup2025-08-19revealair-ride-2official-news
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Kirby Air Riders Direct 8.19.2025
First official Direct focused on lineup and mode framework.
direct2025-08-19lineup
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OfficialKirby Air Riders Direct (first presentation)
The first dedicated showcase formally outlined roster direction and race framing.
Nintendo News: Direct 8.19.2025official
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Reliable ReportMainstream press enters announcement coverage cycle
Outlets including Polygon began concentrated reporting on Kirby Air Riders announcements and reactions.
Polygon Kirby Coveragereliable-report
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Reliable ReportKirby Air Ride launches (Japan)
The GameCube original established the three-mode identity: Air Ride, Top Ride, and City Trial.
Wikipedia: Kirby Air Ridereliable-report
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Air Ride (KAR1)
Core race mode focused on line choice and machine handling.
air rideracekar1modes
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Air Ride (KAR2)
Confirmed race mode with expanded multiplayer presentation.
air ride6-playerkar2modes
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Air Ride Ruleset (KAR1)
KAR1 race sessions support lap, free-run, and time-attack style setup options.
air riderulesetlapstime attackkar1modes
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Checklist Progression (KAR1)
Achievement checklists provide long-tail progression and mastery targets.
checklistsprogressioncity trialkar1modes
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City Trial (KAR1)
Build-up phase plus random finals, the identity anchor of the franchise.
city trialrandom finalkar1modes
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City Trial (KAR2)
Officially listed at 16 online / 8 local wireless players.
city trial16-player8-player local wirelessskyahmodes
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City Trial Random Events (KAR1)
Random city events are a core reason City Trial creates high replay variance.
city trialrandom eventsvariancekar1modes
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Combo Racing (KAR2)
Direct-era mode framing built around chained race segments and transitions.
combo racingmode variantkar2modes
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Drag Race (KAR2)
Short-burst acceleration format referenced in sequel mode lists.
drag racesprint formatkar2modes
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Free Run (KAR1)
Low-pressure practice format for learning machine control and track flow.
free runpracticekar1modes
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Free Run (KAR2)
Low-pressure exploratory format commonly listed in sequel mode references.
free runpracticekar2modes
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Machine Parts Loop (KAR1)
Dragoon/Hydra part hunting is central to City Trial decision pressure.
city trialmachine partsdragoonhydrakar1modes
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Paddock (KAR2)
Direct #2 mode focused on setup and pre-race structure.
paddocksetupkar2modes
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Road Trip (KAR2)
Mode revealed in Direct #2, associated with route-oriented progression.
road tripdirect #2kar2modes
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Stadium Finals (KAR1)
City Trial culminates in one of many possible final event formats.
city trialstadiumfinal eventkar1modes
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Stat Item Economy (KAR1)
Stat items like Speed, Glide, and Turn shape machine growth each run.
city trialspeedglideturnitem economykar1
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Swap Relay (KAR2)
Relay-style format where role/machine handoff becomes part of strategy.
swap relayrelayteam formatkar2modes
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Team Battles (KAR2)
Team-oriented competitive format highlighted in sequel reveal materials.
team battlesteam modekar2modes
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Time Attack (KAR1)
One-player time challenge mode focused on line optimization and machine handling.
time attacksolo moderoute optimizationkar1modes
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Top Ride (KAR1)
Top-down mode optimized for short, high-conflict rounds.
top ridetop-downkar1modes
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Top Ride (KAR2)
Reconfirmed in Direct #2 as a major pace-layer mode.
top ridedirect #2kar2modes
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Top Ride Course Sets (KAR1)
Top Ride includes multiple elemental course themes with short-round pacing.
top ridecourse setsparty modekar1modes
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Bandana Waddle Dee
Recognizable KAR2 lineup member with high search frequency.
bandana waddle deelineupcharacters
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Cappy
Roster entry from expanded sequel character listings.
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Chef Kawasaki
KAR2 lineup member used in promotional materials.
chef kawasakilineupcharacters
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Daroach
KAR2 lineup character in wiki roster listings.
daroachlineupcharacters
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Gooey
KAR2 roster member with strong fan recognition.
gooeylineupcharacters
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King Dedede
Iconic heavyweight-style character in both eras.
king dededeheavycharacters
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King Dedede Role Profile (KAR1)
King Dedede is commonly read as a heavier profile in KAR1 local meta.
king dededeheavy profilekar1characters
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Kirby
Core franchise lead and central balance reference.
kirbycore rostercharacters
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Kirby Color Sets (KAR1)
KAR1 documents four default and four unlockable Kirby color variants.
kirbycolor variantsunlockableskar1characters
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Kirby Role Profile (KAR1)
Kirby works as the baseline control profile in KAR1 race learning.
kirbybaselinekar1role profilecharacters
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Knuckle Joe
KAR2 lineup character in multi-source roster lists.
knuckle joelineupcharacters
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Lololo & Lalala
Duo character slot referenced in expanded KAR2 roster tables.
lolololalalalineupcharacters
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Magolor
Officially surfaced in KAR2 featured materials.
magolorlineupcharacters
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Marx
High-interest legacy character listed in KAR2 references.
marxlineupcharacters
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Meta Knight
High-recognition character frequently linked to mobility playstyles.
meta knightmobilitycharacters
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Meta Knight Role Profile (KAR1)
Meta Knight is frequently tied to sharper mobility-oriented play in KAR1 discussions.
meta knightmobilitykar1characters
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Noir Dedede
Alternate Dedede form documented in extended sequel roster lists.
noir dededelineupcharacters
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Rick
Legacy companion character referenced in KAR2 roster summaries.
ricklineupcharacters
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Rocky
KAR2 character listing in multi-source roster documentation.
rockylineupcharacters
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Scarfy
KAR2 roster character with high recognition among series veterans.
scarfylineupcharacters
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Starman
Extended roster entry in sequel character compendiums.
starmanlineupcharacters
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Susie
KAR2 lineup character included in roster references.
susielineupcharacters
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Taranza
Roster-expansion character in KAR2 references.
taranzalineupcharacters
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Waddle Dee
Core Kirby franchise character listed in KAR2 roster references.
waddle deelineupcharacters
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Waddle Doo
Roster character listed in sequel-focused reference pages.
waddle doolineupcharacters
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Bulk Star
Heavy machine variant frequently listed in archive machine tables.
bulk starheavy machinemachines
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Bulk Tank
Heavy-class machine concept in KAR2 machine breakdowns.
bulk tankheavy machinemachines
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Chariot
KAR2 machine line with combat-flavored variants.
chariotbattle chariotmachines
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Compact Star
KAR1 machine entry commonly included in complete machine guides.
compact starkar1machines
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Dragoon
Legendary machine with persistent competitive relevance.
dragoonlegendarymachines
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Fire
Legacy machine slot included in complete KAR1 machine documentation.
firekar1 machinemachines
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Flash Star
KAR1 machine line listed in archived Air Ride machine tables.
flash starkar1 machinemachines
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Flight Warp Star
Specialized Warp Star variant referenced in complete machine indexes.
flight warp starwarp starmachines
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Formula Star
Race-focused KAR2 machine mention in wiki references.
formula starracingmachines
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Free Star
KAR1 machine listing in archival machine references.
free starkar1 machinemachines
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Gigantes
Legendary machine name referenced in sequel machine tables.
giganteslegendary machinekar2machines
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Heavy (Top Ride Machine)
Top Ride-specific machine class documented on Wikirby mode references.
top rideheavykar1 machinemachines
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Hop Star
KAR2 machine entry appearing in sequel machine lists.
hop starkar2 machinemachines
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Hydra
Legacy legendary machine often paired with Dragoon in discussions.
hydralegendarymachines
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Jet Star
Speed-oriented machine reference in KAR2 lists.
jet starspeedmachines
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Light (Top Ride Machine)
Top Ride machine class used in compact-map short-round match pacing.
top ridelightkar1 machinemachines
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Paper Star
KAR2 machine listing in fan-maintained machine compendiums.
paper starkar2 machinemachines
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Rex Wheelie
Wheelie-line machine listed in expanded machine tables.
rex wheeliewheeliemachines
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Rocket Star
Speed-focused machine listed in cross-generation machine references.
rocket starspeed machinemachines
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Ruby
Special KAR1 machine listed in archival machine tables.
rubykar1 machinemachines
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Shadow Star
Legacy KAR1 machine referenced in complete machine rosters.
shadow starkar1 machinemachines
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Slick Star
Classic machine archetype often referenced in control-vs-speed comparisons.
slick starmachinemachines
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Steering Star
KAR1 machine commonly associated with control-focused route learning.
steering starkar1 machinehandlingmachines
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Swerve Star
Machine class highlighted in handling-oriented route discussions.
swerve starmachinemachines
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Transform Star
Direct #2 machine keyword associated with system expansion.
transform stardirect #2machines
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Turbo Star
KAR1 machine entry highlighted in speed-oriented machine discussions.
turbo starkar1 machinespeedmachines
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Vampire Star
KAR2 machine name from expanded sequel machine tables.
vampire starkar2 machinemachines
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Wagon Star
Legacy machine listed in complete machine compendiums.
wagon starmachinemachines
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Warp Star
Signature machine archetype across both generations.
warp starmachinemachines
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Wheelie Bike
Popular machine with strong identity in lineup references.
wheelie bikemachinemachines
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Wheelie Scooter
Wheelie family variant documented in machine lineup archives.
wheelie scooterwheeliemachines
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Winged Star
High-mobility machine archetype in both old and new reference lists.
winged starmachinemachines
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Airtopia Ruins
KAR2 map name in new-course index references.
airtopia ruinsnew coursemaps
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Beanstalk Park
Course name retained across major reference pages.
beanstalk parkcoursemaps
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Cavernous Corners
KAR2 course name in sequel level breakdowns.
cavernous cornersnew coursemaps
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Celestial Valley
Frequently referenced classic course in map compendiums.
celestial valleycoursemaps
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Checker Knights
Recognizable course with strong thematic identity.
checker knightscoursemaps
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City Trial Island (KAR1)
The original City Trial map forms the franchise-defining five-minute build arena.
city trialislandkar1 mapmaps
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Crystalline Fissure
KAR2 course name from sequel map archives.
crystalline fissurenew coursemaps
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Cyberion Highway
KAR2 map name emphasizing futuristic highway pacing.
cyberion highwaynew coursemaps
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Fantasy Meadows
Classic course name maintained in cross-generation references.
fantasy meadowscoursemaps
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Floria Fields
KAR2 map name listed in extended map references.
floria fieldsnew coursemaps
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Frozen Hillside
Classic map entry in community and wiki references.
frozen hillsidecoursemaps
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Galactic Nova
KAR2 course name listed in extended map references.
galactic novanew coursemaps
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Machine Passage
Legacy KAR1 course listed in historical level references.
machine passagekar1 coursemaps
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Magma Flows
Legacy map associated with risk-heavy routing choices.
magma flowscoursemaps
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Mount Amberfalls
KAR2 map entry in community-maintained course sets.
mount amberfallsnew coursemaps
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Nebula Belt
Classic map tied to speed-heavy route analysis.
nebula beltcoursemaps
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Sky Sands
Legacy course name used in historical map lists.
sky sandscoursemaps
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Skyah (City Trial Area)
Official KAR2 city-area name tied to large-scale City Trial sessions.
skyahcity trialcity mapkar2maps
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Steamgust Forge
KAR2 track entry in community-maintained course lists.
steamgust forgenew coursemaps
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Top Ride: Fire Course (KAR1)
Fire course set referenced in Top Ride course breakdowns.
top ridefire coursekar1 mapmaps
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Top Ride: Grass Course (KAR1)
Grass course set listed in Top Ride mode references.
top ridegrass coursekar1 mapmaps
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Top Ride: Light Course (KAR1)
Light course set in Wikirby Top Ride references.
top ridelight coursekar1 mapmaps
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Top Ride: Metal Course (KAR1)
Metal course set included in KAR1 Top Ride course coverage.
top ridemetal coursekar1 mapmaps
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Top Ride: Sand Course (KAR1)
Sand course set listed as one of KAR1 Top Ride course themes.
top ridesand coursekar1 mapmaps
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Top Ride: Sky Course (KAR1)
Sky course set in the original Top Ride map reference list.
top ridesky coursekar1 mapmaps
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Top Ride: Water Course (KAR1)
Water course set in legacy Top Ride map listings.
top ridewater coursekar1 mapmaps
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Waveflow Waters
KAR2 map reference in community and wiki archives.
waveflow watersnew coursemaps
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Kirby Air Ride 1
The original combines auto-forward controls with one-button brake/boost interactions, creating a low-entry but high-ceiling racing experience. City Trial became the signature loop.
gamecube2003air ridetop ridecity triallocal multiplayer
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Kirby Air Ride 2 (Kirby Air Riders)
Official pages and Direct presentations describe KAR2 as a multi-layer package: classic race modes, large-scale City Trial, a single-player Road Trip progression route, and a high-capacity online Paddock hub.
switch 22025-11-2016-player18 coursescity trialtop ride
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Air Ride
Air Ride's course selection screen
Kirby Air RideKirby Air RidersListgameplay-guides
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Battle Chariot
It is not complete by community standards, but you can help by adding information and images.
Air Ride MachinesKirby Air Ridersgameplay-guides
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Chariot
It is not complete by community standards, but you can help by adding information and images.
Air Ride MachinesKirby Air Ridersgameplay-guides
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City Trial
It is not complete by community standards, but you can help by adding information and images.
Kirby Air RideKirby Air RidersPlacesgameplay-guides
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Galactic Nova
Galactic Nova (also known as just Nova or NOVA) is a character in the Kirby series, debuting in Kirby Super Star.
CharactersEnemiesArticles with non-canonical informationUnused contentArticles containing spoilersBosses
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Gigantes
It is not complete by community standards, but you can help by adding information and images.
Articles containing spoilersAir Ride MachinesKirby Air RidersBossesVehiclesBosses in Kirby Air Riders
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Kirby Air Riders
Similar to its predecessor, Kirby Air Riders is a racer in which Riders use Air Ride Machines to race through courses, do battle with one another, or collect power-ups on Skyah. Unlike Kirby Air Ride, King Dedede and Meta Knight, alongside…
2020s gamesMiscellaneous spin-offsKirby Air Ridersgameplay-guides
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Kirby Air Riders/Music
It is not complete by community standards, but you can help by adding information and images.
MusicKirby Air Ridersgameplay-guides
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Kirby Air Riders/Version History
Note: This contains the contents of both the Version 1.1.0 update, which was released prior to the game’s release date, and the Version 1.1.1 update. Ver. 1.1.0 mainly added online play, while Ver. 1.1.1 implemented communication-stability…
Kirby Air RidersTranscriptsgameplay-guides
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Meteor
Damage Air Ride Machines, dilapidates houses, trees, and rocks; drop Patches; turn into beads upon interacting with the! symbol; can be destroyed by yarn balls, Tankbot 's missiles, Robobot Armor Halberd mode's shots; Blizzard/Bluster/Spla…
EnvironmentHazardKirby Air RideKirby's Epic YarnKirby: Planet RobobotKirby Star Allies
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Mine Cart
Kirby rides the rails in that tried-and-true getaway vehicle, the mining cart. ”
VehiclesKirby Super StarKirby 64: The Crystal ShardsKirby Super Star UltraKirby: Canvas CurseKirby Air Riders
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Noir Dedede
It is not complete by community standards, but you can help by adding information and images.
CharactersKirby Air RidersRidersBossesgameplay-guides
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Paddock
It is not complete by community standards, but you can help by adding information and images.
Kirby Air Ridersgameplay-guides
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Paper Star
It is not complete by community standards, but you can help by adding information and images.
Air Ride MachinesKirby Air Ridersgameplay-guides
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Road Trip/Transcript
This article contains the transcript of Road Trip.
TranscriptsKirby Air Ridersgameplay-guides
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Skyah
It is not complete by community standards, but you can help by adding information and images.
Kirby Air RidersPlacesgameplay-guides
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Starlit Journey
" Starlit Journey " is the opening song and overall musical theme of Kirby Air Riders. It features both English and Japanese versions—with the English version being sung by MJ Cube —as well as other variations.
SongsKirby Air Ridersgameplay-guides
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Stats
Stats (short for Statistics) are the pieces of data that represent certain aspects of a character or item, properly debuting in Kirby Air Ride.
Articles with content covered better by other wikisGameplayKirby Air RideKirby: Planet RobobotTeam Kirby Clash DeluxeSuper Kirby Clash
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Tank Star
It is not complete by community standards, but you can help by adding information and images.
Air Ride MachinesKirby Air Ridersgameplay-guides
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Top Ride
Top Ride is a racing mode in Kirby Air Ride and Kirby Air Riders. The races in this mode take place at a birds eye view, on small courses that fit on the screen. Unlike the other 2 modes, Top Ride only has 2 machines to choose from: Free S…
Kirby Air RideKirby Air RidersListgameplay-guides
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Zorah
It is not complete by community standards, but you can help by adding information and images.
CharactersArticles containing spoilersKirby Air Ridersgameplay-guides
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OfficialCompare: Platform
Nintendo GameCube / Nintendo Switch 2
Platformofficialcompare
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OfficialCompare: Release status
Released in 2003 / Released on 2025-11-20 (official featured page)
Release statusofficialcompare
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OfficialCompare: Core mode structure
Air Ride / Top Ride / City Trial / Air Ride / City Trial / Top Ride + new Road Trip (solo) and Paddock (social hub)
Core mode structureofficialcompare
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OfficialCompare: Course volume
Original course set tied to GameCube-era format / Air Ride: 18 total courses (9 returning + 9 new); Top Ride: 16 total (8 classic + 8 new)
Course volumeofficialcompare
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OfficialCompare: Multiplayer scale
Most references document local multiplayer focus / City Trial up to 16 online / 8 local wireless; Air Ride up to 6; Paddock up to 32 online
Multiplayer scaleofficialcompare
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OfficialCompare: Progression systems
Primarily match-to-match performance progression / Adds Road Trip progression, machine classes, power-ups, licenses, side quests, and Global Win Power
Progression systemsofficialcompare
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Reliable ReportCompare: Source density
Mainly historical references and wiki documentation / Featured page + store specs + two Direct presentations + support update history
Source densityreliable-reportcompare
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