Skip to main content

‘Kirby Star Allies’ on Nintendo Switch: News, rumors, and everything we know

Nintendo Direct 9.13.2017
The Nintendo Switch is quickly getting in the hands of more and more players, and we’ve already seen franchises like The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon make their way to the system. In 2018, pink puffball Kirby will join the fray in Kirby Star Allies, a cooperative adventure that looks to take the series back to a more traditional visual style.

Team up with your friends

Kirby Star Allies, first teased at E3 in June, allows four friends to adventure in traditional 2D Kirby gameplay, but you aren’t limited to just using other Kirby characters. Throw a heart at an enemy to turn it into an ally, which can then be used for special “team up” attacks if you’re using the correct abilities. Should Kirby have the “ESP” ability for instance, he can turn another character into a stone projectile to drop on enemies’ heads. If one player is using a fire ability while another is using ice, you can even deal extra damage against baddies.

An evil force and a musclebound king

Thus far, story details or limited, but Nintendo said in a Nintendo Direct presentation that a “dark new force” is manipulating Kirby’s home of Dreamland. We briefly see King Dedede, who looks absolutely ripped swinging across a series of wooden pillars as he attacks our heroes on the ground below. Dedede is a longtime Kirby villain, but the force making its way through Dreamland seems to have made him even more dastardly than usual.

When can we play it?

Kirby Star Allies launches for Nintendo Switch in spring, 2018. It’s the first traditional Kirby game we’ve seen on a home console in years, with Kirby and the Rainbow Curse — which used a modeling clay effect — releasing for Wii U in 2015.

Kirby Star Allies is just one of several Kirby games currently in development. Kirby Battle Royale will hit the 3DS in 2018, as well, pitting several Kirby characters against each other across an arena battle mode, a treasure-hunting mode, and even bosses. There’s also a single-player campaign and online multiplayer for those looking to show off their skills to the world. It will be out on January 19, 2018.

Editors' Recommendations

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
Everything announced at February’s Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase
A bonfire rages on during a Tassing celebration in Pentiment.

Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase 2.21.2024

It's become a bit of a tradition for Nintendo to drop a Direct presentation every February. That held up this year, but not in the way that some fans expected. Rather than dropping a 40-plus minute presentation highlighting upcoming first-party games, Nintendo released a more casual Partner Showcase today. The 25-minute video, which did not air live, instead highlighted upcoming third-party releases.

Read more
Can you play the Nintendo Switch Lite on a TV?
nintendo new switch lite model fcc joy con drift blue

The Nintendo Switch Lite is the smaller, more affordable sibling of the standard Nintendo Switch. This makes it a great option for frugal shoppers, as it's capable of playing all the same games yet carries a much friendlier price tag. However, the Switch Lite doesn't share all the same features as the standard Switch. A big difference is that it won't fit in a traditional Switch dock. That means you'll need to pick up a third-party model if you want somewhere to store and charge your handheld while it's not in use.

But can you play the Nintendo Switch Lite on a TV while it's docked? And is it possible to play Switch Lite on a TV using an HDMI cable or other workaround? Here's everything you need to know about the device.
Can you play the Nintendo Switch Lite on a TV?

Read more
An AI company may have just leaked the Nintendo Switch 2’s name and release month
An image of the Nintendo Switch - OLED Model Mario Red Edition.

As part of the ongoing wave of AI-related news at CES 2024, Altec Lansing revealed an artificial intelligence-powered successor to GameShark called AI Shark. More interestingly, the press release regarding this software claims that the Nintendo Switch 2 will launch in September 2024.

"Formerly known as GameShark, AI Shark is set to redefine the gaming landscape with its revolutionary AI-enhanced technology," Altec Lansing explains in a press release. "The innovative gaming software is set to mark a significant leap forward in the gaming experience, bringing enhanced gameplay for beginner-level users. The official launch is planned to coincide with the Nintendo Switch 2 in September 2024."

Read more