Kirby and the Forgotten Lands Reveals Co-op, Powers, Release Date

Theres a great deal of excitement growing for our favorite pink puffball. Nintendo has released a new trailer for HAL Laboratorys next major game, Kirby and the Forgotten Lands. And with it, we learn more about the world, the powers, and even the release date.

Nintendo recently released a new trailer for the game on YouTube. This is the biggest look at the game since it was announced last year. In it, we see new powers, more landscapes, and a co-op mode. But most importantly, it has an official release date. Kirby and the Forgotten Lands will release on March 25, 2022.



Theres a lot to unpack. And when you combine what we see with information in an official Nintendo press release, we can learn even more. Heres everything we saw, cleaned up in a nice and tidy way.

The Plot

So whats happening, exactly? In the trailer, we see innocent Waddle Dees being locked in cages, while some kind of flying squirrel-esque creature follows Kirby around. According to Nintendo, this is the work of the Beast Pack, and the tiny thing is called Elfilin.

Waddle Dees are being kidnapped in droves by the Beast Pack! To rescue the Waddle Dees, Kirby heads out on a journey with the curious Elfilin, whom he meets in the new world.

Thats about all we know. Why these lands are forgotten, who the main antagonist is, etc, remains a mystery. More details will likely be withheld for the game's official release.

Kirbys Powers

Like usual, Kirby can absorb enemies and gain special powers. We noticed a number of classic powers returning, including Bomb, Tornado, Hammer, Cutter, Explosion, and Sword. But what has our attention the most are the two new additions: Drill and Ranger.

With Drill Kirby, players can dive underground and move around in secret. They can dig up items, carve holes around enemies, and emerge in a powerful attack.

Ranger Kirby, which is just Kirby with a gun, is the other new power. Donning an adventurers hat and a cartoonish gun, players will be able to attack from a distance, fire a spread shot from above, or charge up for a powerful, long range attack.

Co-op Mode

Kirby doesnt have to adventure alone. Players can invite a second person to join their game. By using an extra Joycon, a second player can control Bandana Waddle Dee. Instead of absorbing powers, this recurring character has a trusty spear they use for combat. The second player can fight alongside Kirby with dangerous strikes, throwing spears, and so on.

The Hub World

Something a little new for the franchise, Kirby and the Forgotten World will feature a hub world. Known as Waddle Dee Town, the player returns here between levels to participate in a variety of activities. In this town, we saw a movie theater, a clothing store of some kind, a food stall, and a post office. Besides those, Kirby can go fishing in the nearby lake and ear about worldwide statistics from an elderly Waddle Dee. Theres also a Gachapon machine with figurines of various characters.

The only building we learn more about is the food stall. Dubbed the Waddle Dee Café, the player can take on some part-time work by serving hungry locals in a fast-paced mini-game.

Release Date

In the very end of the trailer, its revealed that Kirby and the Forgotten Lands is releasing on 3/25/2022. Less than three months away, this is a bit surprising to hear. But it's a pleasant surprise, to say the least.

Everything Else

There were a couple of other things we noticed, but didn't seem substantial enough to be its own section. This includes:

• Wispy Woods, the popular wooden boss character, returns once again. This time, theyve taken on a more tropical, palm-frond style.
• Some landscapes we noticed includes a castle, an amusement park, and an abandoned mall in the middle of the desert.
• Meta Knight makes an appearance, facing off against Sword Kirby in the middle of an arena.

All in all, this has us very excited for Kirby and the Forgotten Lands. We cant wait to play when it releases on Nintendo Switch on 3/25/2022.