The Kirby video game series is a franchise of platform games and other genres (including puzzle and racing games) published and produced by Nintendo. The games have been developed by Japan-based HAL Laboratory, a Nintendo second-party developer. [1] All Kirby video games have been developed exclusively for Nintendo video game consoles and handhelds dating from the Nintendo Entertainment System to the 8th generation of video game consoles. The series debuted in Japan on April 27, 1992 with Hoshi no Kirby, [lower-alpha 1] which later was released in the North American and PAL regions in August 1992 as Kirby's Dream Land . [2]
The series revolves around Kirby, the series' protagonist, and his adventures in the fictional world of Pop Star. A common gameplay element is Kirby's ability to copy enemy skills, allowing him to use them to progress through levels. This and other changes in gameplay from traditional platform games distinguish the series from other entries in the genre. [3] [4] [5] Currently, the series contains thirty-nine games. A one-hundred episode anime series based on the video games, Kirby: Right Back at Ya! , was created in Japan and formerly distributed by 4Kids TV in North America. A special 101st episode was created for the now retired Nintendo Video service, and was not in the anime style of the original 100 episodes. [6] The Kirby series is among the best-selling video game franchises with over twenty million games sold worldwide. [7] The franchise was conceived by Masahiro Sakurai as a game series for beginners, for which he partially attributes the series' success. [8]
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Original release date(s): | Release years by system: 1992 – Game Boy [2] 2011 – Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console) 2023 – Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch Online) |
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Original release date(s): [11] | Release years by system: 1993 – Nintendo Entertainment System [11] 2007 – Wii (Virtual Console) [12] 2011 – Nintendo 3DS (3D Classics) 2013 – Wii U (Virtual Console) 2016 – NES Classic Edition 2018 – Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch Online) |
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Original release date(s): [14] | Release years by system: 1995 – Game Boy [14] 2012 – Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console) 2023 – Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch Online) |
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Original release date(s): [16] | Release years by system: 1996 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System [16] 2009/2010 – Wii (Virtual Console) 2013 – Wii U (Virtual Console) 2017 – SNES Classic Edition 2019 – Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch Online) |
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Original release date(s): | Release years by system: 1997 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System [20] 2009 – Wii (Virtual Console) [21] 2013 – Wii U (Virtual Console) 2019 – Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch Online) |
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Original release date(s): [23] | Release years by system: 2000 – Nintendo 64 [23] 2008 – Wii (Virtual Console) [24] 2022 – Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch Online) |
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Original release date(s): [26] | Release years by system: 2004 – Game Boy Advance [26] 2011 – Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console) 2014 – Wii U (Virtual Console) 2023 - Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch Online) |
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Original release date(s): [28] | Release years by system: 2006 – Nintendo DS [28] |
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Original release date(s): [30] | Release years by system: 2011 – Wii [30] |
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Original release date(s): [31] | Release years by system: 2014 – Nintendo 3DS |
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Original release date(s): | Release years by system: 2016 – Nintendo 3DS |
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Original release date(s):
| Release years by system: 2018 – Nintendo Switch |
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Original release date(s):
| Release years by system: 2022 – Nintendo Switch |
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Original release date(s): [32] | Release years by system: 2005 – Nintendo DS [32] |
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Original release date(s): [30] | Release years by system: 2010 – Wii [30] |
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Original release date(s): [34] | Release years by system: 2011 – Nintendo DS [34] |
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Original release date(s): [35] | Release years by system: 2015 – Wii U |
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Original release date(s): [36] | Release years by system: 2002 – Game Boy Advance [36] 2014 – Wii U (Virtual Console) |
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Original release date(s): [39] | Release years by system: 2008 – Nintendo DS [39] |
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Original release date(s): [42] | Release years by system: 2012 – Wii [42] |
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Original release date(s): [43]
| Release years by system: 2023 – Nintendo Switch [43] |
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Title | Details |
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Original release date(s): [44]
| Release years by system: 2019 – Nintendo 3DS |
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Title | Details |
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Original release date(s): [45] | Release years by system: 1993 – Game Boy [45] 2012 – Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console) |
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Original release date(s): [47] | Release years by system: 1994 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System [47] 2007 – Wii (Virtual Console) [48] 2013 – Wii U (Virtual Console) 2019 – Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch Online) |
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Original release date(s): [50] | Release years by system: 1995 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System [51] 2007 – Wii (Virtual Console) [52] 2022 – Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch Online) |
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Original release date(s): [54] | Release years by system: 1995 – Game Boy [54] 2011/2012 – Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console) |
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Kirby no Omochabako Original release date(s): [57]
| Release years by system: 1996 – Satellaview (a Super Famicom add-on) [57] |
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Original release date(s): [58] | Release years by system: 1997 – Game Boy [58] 1998 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System [59] 2010 – Wii (Virtual Console) 2012/2013 – Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console) (Game Boy version) 2022/2023 – Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch Online) (SNES version) |
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Original release date(s): [63] | Release years by system: 2000 – Game Boy Color [63] |
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Original release date(s): [66] | Release years by system: 2003 – GameCube [66] |
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Original release date(s): [69]
| Release years by system: 2022 – Nintendo Switch [69] |
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Cancellation date: N/A | Proposed system release: Nintendo 64 |
Notes: Was later released on the GameCube in 2003. | |
Cancellation date: [77] 2002 | Proposed system release: GameCube/Game Boy Advance [77] |
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2001–2003 – 100-episode television series [78] | Notes:
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1994–2006 2017–present – Manga [79] | Notes:
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Kirby is the titular character and protagonist of the Kirby series of video games owned by Nintendo and HAL Laboratory. He first appeared in Kirby's Dream Land (1992), a platform game for the Game Boy. Since then, Kirby has appeared in over 50 games, ranging from action platformers to puzzle, racing, and even pinball, and has been featured as a playable character in every installment of the Super Smash Bros. series (1999–present). He has also starred in his own anime and manga series. Since 1999, he has been voiced by Makiko Ohmoto.
Kirby's Dream Land is a 1992 platform video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. It is the first game in the Kirby series and marks the debut of Kirby. It introduced many conventions that would appear in later games in the series. The game follows Kirby as he goes through five levels to retrieve the Sparkling Stars and food of Dream Land from King Dedede.
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror is a 2004 platform video game developed by HAL Laboratory, Flagship and Dimps and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. The seventh mainline Kirby entry, the game is notable for its unique Metroidvania playstyle and being the first in the genre to support cooperative multiplayer, and follows Kirby as he goes on a journey through the Mirror Dimension to reassemble a mirror after Dark Meta Knight traps Meta Knight inside it.
Kirby's Adventure is a 1993 platform game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It is the second game in the Kirby series after Kirby's Dream Land (1992) on the Game Boy and the first to include the Copy Ability, which allows the main character Kirby to gain new powers by eating certain enemies. The game centers around Kirby traveling across Dream Land to repair the Star Rod after King Dedede breaks it apart and gives the pieces to his minions.
Kirby Super Star, released as Kirby's Fun Pak in PAL regions, is an anthology platform video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1996. It is part of the Kirby series of video games by HAL Laboratory. The game was advertised as a compilation featuring eight games: seven short subsections with the same basic gameplay, and two minigames.
Kirby's Dream Land 2 is a side-scrolling platforming video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy handheld video game console. It was released in Japan on March 21, 1995, in North America on May 1, 1995, in Europe on July 31, 1995, and in Australia on November 22, 1995.
Meta Knight is a fictional character and antihero in Nintendo's Kirby video game series created by Masahiro Sakurai and developed by HAL Laboratory. He first appeared in the 1993 video game Kirby's Adventure as a nameless character, remaining unnamed until the game Kirby's Avalanche. The character also appears in several Kirby comic books, in the 2001 anime series, and as a playable character in the Super Smash Bros. series.
Kirby's Dream Land 3 is a platform game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Starring Kirby, it is the fifth installment in the Kirby series and the third game under the Kirby's Dream Land name. Although the first game was largely unrelated, Dream Land 3 features many similar characters to Dream Land 2. Dream Land 3 was followed by Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards in 2000.
Kirby's Star Stacker is a 1997 puzzle video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy.
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards is a 2000 platform game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 (N64). It is the first Kirby game to feature 3D computer graphics and follows Kirby as he attempts to reassemble a sacred crystal shattered by Dark Matter. Gameplay is viewed from a 2.5D perspective and is similar to previous Kirby titles; the player traverses levels and obtains powers by eating enemies. Kirby 64 introduces Power Combos, the ability to mix powers to create more powerful ones. In a multiplayer mode, up to four players can compete in three minigames.
This is a list of characters from the Kirby franchise, who are featured in video games and other media across the franchise.
Kirby is an action-platform video game series developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo. The series centers around the adventures of Kirby as he fights to protect and save his home on the distant Planet Popstar from a variety of threats. The majority of the games in the series are side-scrolling platformers with puzzle-solving and beat 'em up elements. Kirby has the ability to inhale enemies and objects into his mouth, spitting them out as a projectile or eating them. If he inhales certain enemies, he can gain the powers or properties of that enemy manifesting as a new weapon or power-up called a Copy Ability. The series is intended to be easy to pick up and play even for people unfamiliar with action games, while at the same time offering additional challenge and depth for more experienced players to come back to.
Kirby Super Star Ultra is 2D anthology platform video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS in 2008. The game is an enhanced remake of Kirby Super Star, originally released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1996, to commemorate the Kirby series' 15th anniversary. The remake retains all game modes found in the original, and adds four major new ones, along with adding updated visuals and full-motion video cutscenes.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land is a 2011 platform video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It is the ninth mainline installment and the twenty-second game in the Kirby series. The game's plot follows Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight, and Bandana Waddle Dee as they help an alien named Magolor recover the pieces of the Lor Starcutter so he can return home. While Kirby's Epic Yarn was released in 2010, Kirby's Return to Dream Land is the first traditional Kirby platforming home console game since Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, which was released in 2000 for the Nintendo 64. The title was released in North America on October 24, 2011, in Japan on October 27, 2011, in Europe on November 25, 2011, and in Australia on December 1, 2011.
Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition is a 2012 video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Wii system. It is an anthology disc celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Kirby series, which took place on April 27, 2012. The game was released in Japan on July 19, 2012, and in North America on September 16, 2012. It was not released in PAL regions, and was the final first-party Wii game released in North America.
Kirby: Triple Deluxe is the thirteenth platform and tenth mainline installment of the Kirby video game series, developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. The game was released in Japan on January 11, 2014, in North America on May 2, 2014, in Europe on May 16, 2014, and in Australia on May 17, 2014. The game follows Kirby as he embarks on a journey through six worlds to rescue King Dedede from Taranza.
Kirby: Planet Robobot is a 2016 platform game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the eleventh mainline installment in the Kirby series and the spiritual sequel to Triple Deluxe. The story follows Kirby as he defends Planet Popstar from an alien corporation known as the Haltmann Works Company that wishes to mechanize the planet so that they can plunder its natural resources. New to the series in this game is Kirby's ability to utilize a mecha suit known as the Robobot Armor to solve puzzles and fight enemies.
Kirby Battle Royale is a brawler multiplayer video game in the Kirby series. Developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo, the game was released on the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console in Europe and Japan in November 2017, and in North America in January 2018.