Review: Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World Switch 2 Upgrade 

I’m sure as we settle in on the Switch, we’re going to start questioning the value of a lot of these upgrade packs and Switch 2 versions of games. With good reason, of course, since if we’re being asked to pay more, it should be worth it. In the case of Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World Switch 2 Edition, I absolutely think it is worth it. So much so that I think this version, with its improved performance and delightful expansion, is better and more essential than the original. 

Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World starts the same as the original release. Kirby and tons of Waddle Dees find themselves pulled into a dilapidated, forgotten world. Elfilin, an adorable flying denizen of this land, acted as an aid to said Waddle Dees, until the Beast Pack attacked. Following Kirby’s rescue of Elfilin to save the kidnapped characters and perhaps even find a way home. As for the expansion, which can be started and played in the midst of the original adventure or after, a meteor falls to the planet and could be a harbinger of danger and evil. However, there’s still hope, as Astronomer Waddle Dee points out, as going through places to find the missing Starries could result in everyone being protected and saved.

Since this is a Switch 2 upgrade, generally the gameplay in Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World doesn’t change much. It is a 3D platformer starring Kirby. As we go through the original Forgotten Land and the altered stages from the expansion, we can use his power to inhale enemies and items to change what he is capable of doing. In the case of opponents, he can use Copy Abilities. This can be upgraded by finding blueprints in levels and taking them to the appropriate Waddle Dee in the hub town to improve them. In Mouthful Mode, he inhales a special object for a certain situational power, like a lightbulb that can illuminate switches and brighten dark areas or a water balloon form that allows him to spray water. 

One of the big changes here in the Star-Crossed World expansion of Kirby and the Forgotten Land is that we get three new kinds of Mouthful Mode abilities on the Switch 2. Two of them are genuinely so good that I honestly felt like they did as much to make gameplay interesting as the Cone Mouth, Ring Mouth, and Car Mouth in the base game. Spring Mouth is most impressive, as it involves being able to perform a high jump or slam down mid-jump to deal damage, trigger switches, or break vulnerable ground. There are so many situations in which it cane be useful and used well, and it is a fantastic way for accessing secrets in levels. Plus, it’s fantastic for platforming, and there are some sequences designed around it that feel so satisfying. Gear Mouth is also great, as it sort of feels like the upgraded Needle ability in some ways. You can press B to embed in a wall and roll along it, which also means being aware of vertical and horizontal opportunities. The dashing ability tied to it also allows you to cross gaps. Sign Mouth is okay, but it’s more situational like Arch Mouth. It is still fun! But I felt like the other two were nearly revolutionary in what they also allow us to do in the new stages. 

Speaking of the new stages, the Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World Switch 2 Edition’s new levels are fantastic. I had an idea they would be great, after getting to sample the game at a preview event. But I didn’t know they’d be this mechanically and visually interesting. Yes, they are based on locations we already visited. But because of the meteor and execution, it is like we are visiting parts of those places we didn’t see before. So even when the meteor’s influence isn’t immediately visible as a result of altered enemies or additional path options, it can feel fresh and different in such a lovely way. The execution and way in which the team plays around with design and direction is great, and once again each one does feel replayable due to the checklist of additional objectives. The new secrets, story, and additions that all come from clearing this really add to the experience in a way that makes sense and is integrated perfectly while adding great new challenges.

I know until now I haven’t talked about actual performance. The original game worked well on the Switch, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World Switch 2 Edition performs even better. Especially in handheld mode. It’s now a 60fps game, rather than a 30fps one. Given the nature of some of Kirby’s abilities and the way some bosses work, you can really see the difference between the two versions. In handheld mode, it’s running at 1080p, which was the previous docked cap on Switch. If you do play it docked, it gets up to 1440p. I didn’t notice as big of a difference then, but in handheld mode? It’s fantastic. 

Kirby and the Forgotten Land turned out to be a good Switch game, but the Switch 2 Edition with Star-Crossed World is a great, must-play adventure for the new system. The performance upgrades are a big deal, and they make the game look even more stunning and responsive in handheld mode. The new challenges and levels in the expansion are creative and inventive, and they’re fresh in ways I didn’t anticipate. You really shouldn’t miss this game.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World Switch 2 Edition will come to the Switch 2 on August 28, 2025. The original game without the expansion is available on the Switch.