It’s sort of wild to understand that it’s been over 20 years for the reason that unique Kirby Air Journey turned a cult basic on the GameCube. For me and people like me, moving into Kirby Air Riders has been no downside as a result of all of the outdated tips had been ingrained into us in our collective youth. Nonetheless, there are additionally many who both didn’t play the unique again within the day or actually didn’t exist but.
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Kirby Air Riders is certainly an uncommon recreation, particularly amongst different racing video games. If you happen to hop in anticipating one thing like Mario Kart World, you’re going to get bulldozed in each Air Journey and Metropolis Trial. One of the best ways to get eased into the Air Riders idea is to start out with less complicated Air Journey Machines, these with fewer bizarre gimmicks and optimizations that will muddle your private progress. If you happen to’re taking part in for the primary time, begin with considered one of these Machines earlier than you progress onto the wackier stuff, ideally with Kirby as your Rider simply to maintain issues easy.
10
Compact Star
We All Gotta Begin Someplace
In each Air Journey and Air Riders, everytime you begin a spherical of Metropolis Trial, you’re robotically given a Compact Star to experience upon. Technically, the Compact Star isn’t one thing you’re imagined to be using long-term. The sport even jokes that it’s a very good Machine… for locating a greater Machine. Even so, the Compact Star is finest regarded as a set of coaching wheels, a very good place to start out whilst you discover your footing.
What Compact Star lacks in uncooked pace, it makes up for in wholesome acceleration and simple dealing with. It gained’t win any races in its base state, however since you may solely use it in Metropolis Trial, it’s greater than attainable to get it to a competition-ready state with sufficient patches.
Greater than something, although, I believe it’s vital to get observe on the Compact Star not simply because it’s straightforward to deal with, however as a result of there’s an ever-present chance you’ll end up on one. In case your Machine will get busted and the match timer runs out, you’ll be positioned on a Compact Star by default, so it wouldn’t damage to get good with it simply in case.
9
Warp Star
The Authentic Since 1992
Within the very first Kirby recreation ever made, 1992’s Kirby’s Dream Land, our little pink hero would hop from place to position upon his trusty Warp Star. The Warp Star has remained Kirby’s transit of selection all these years later, and whereas it’s not essentially the most spectacular automobile, it’s easy and dependable.
The Warp Star is essentially the most primary of primary Machines. It doesn’t have any explicit gimmicks or quirks, it’s acquired a balanced unfold of stats, and it may possibly accommodate just about any Rider. On account of its lack of specialties and wacky skills, it’s not essentially the most overtly quick or highly effective machine, however you may simply make up the distinction with easy observe and, maybe, some inventive use of Rider specials.
In comparison with the Compact Star, the Warp Star is a bit bit sooner, however its controls are barely stiffer, so attempt to get good on the previous earlier than you progress as much as the latter. Think about the Warp Star your gateway Machine to all others, a correct jumping-off level earlier than you actually discover one thing that sings to you.
8
Shadow Star
Velocity And Power
Air Riders isn’t only a racing recreation, it’s additionally a demolition derby, which suggests you’re going to want to get into just a few scrapes in each Air Journey and Metropolis Trial. Each Machine has its personal stats for HP and offensive power, and a few aren’t nearly as good in a struggle as others. If you wish to begin dealing some injury, take a Shadow Star for a spin.
Shadow Star is the baseline selection for combat-oriented Machines. In comparison with the Warp Star, it’s acquired a fairly hefty offense stat, shearing off huge chunks of opponent well being with Fast Spins. It’s additionally fairly good at boosting, fees up pretty shortly, and has nice turning as effectively. Plus, it’s additionally acquired nice gliding stats, with an honest quantity of maneuverability within the air.
Whereas Shadow Star is kind of a punisher, it may possibly’t take a lot of a punch itself. Its HP is pretty low, and its low weight and grip make it a bit slippery on the bottom. That’s much less of an issue in pitched fight arenas, because you’ll be bouncing in every single place anyway, however simply bear in mind it while you’re attempting to make tight turns.
7
Hop Star
With A Hop, Step, Soar
As I discussed, quite a lot of Machines have some method of gimmick related to them, some small, some main. Figuring these gimmicks out can take a variable diploma of effort, so that you would possibly need to begin with one thing comparatively easy that will help you discover your footing. For easy gimmicks, begin with the Hop Star.
Stat-wise, Hop Star has a fairly related loadout to Compact Star or Warp Star, maybe with a barely better emphasis on monitor grip. The gimmick is that, while you carry out the short stick snap that usually leads to a Fast Spin, you’ll as a substitute carry out a bit hop into the air. This hop can be utilized to shortly certain over obstacles and opponents in your manner, and in the event you maintain B within the air, you’ll slam again all the way down to the bottom, damaging something in your rapid neighborhood.
As a result of the one factor Hop Star alters is your Fast Spin, moderately than any of your baseline motion skills, it’s a strong option to get into the gimmick mentality. Simply bear in mind you may’t Fast Spin in the event you take Hop Star right into a Dustup Derby or Kirby Melee.
6
Winged Star
Take To The Skies Gracefully
In Air Riders, the bottom shouldn’t be your solely area. Most Star-type Machines may glide by way of the air, and even keep up there for a surprisingly very long time. Gliding on this recreation is a bit totally different in comparison with different racing video games with related mechanics, so to actually get a really feel for the way it’s imagined to work, get a raise from the Winged Star.
Winged Star is among the finest early-game Machines for gliding, with one of many highest stats for raise. As quickly as you go off a ramp, you’ll have the ability to tilt proper up into the air and shortly achieve altitude, in addition to maneuver a bit earlier than your Cost gauge fills up, and also you begin dropping. As an added bonus, Winged Star has a excessive flight pace stat, which suggests it shortly picks up pace whereas within the air.
As a trade-off for its aerial prowess, Winged Star has mainly no floor recreation. Its high pace, increase energy, and cost pace are… not nice, and its turning and grip are respectable at finest. Winged Star is good for practising gliding and reaching floating islands in Metropolis Trial, however in the event you’re going to take it right into a race, you’ll need to be within the air as a lot as you may handle.
5
Jet Star
Hit These Ramps
When you’ve acquired the cling of primary gliding mechanics, then you may transfer as much as a Machine with a bit extra pep in its step. If you happen to’re trying to actually take off like a rocket and rule the skies, then clear the runway, as a result of it’s time for Jet Star to get rolling.
Jet Star is extra or a much less a straight improve over Winged Star. Its high pace nonetheless isn’t something to jot down house about, but it surely’s acquired higher charging and increase stats, and customarily handles a bit higher on the bottom. Extra importantly, although, its important capability is that, as soon as it takes off from a ramp, it instantly begins selecting up pace, way over Winged Star does. End up a transparent patch of sky on the monitor, and also you’ll rocket proper previous the ground-bound racers.

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With Jet Star’s elevated aerial pace, there does come a slight lower in total aerial maneuverability. Winged Star can simply flip and sway whereas it’s airborne, one thing that Jet Star has a bit hassle with. It’s higher fitted to speedy racing in Air Journey than difficult aerial turns in Metropolis Trial.
4
Wagon Star
It’s Not Fancy, However It Works
Probably the most distinctive gameplay components in Air Riders is the Increase Cost. Charging is your technique of drifting, braking, and customarily managing pace, however it may be a bit exhausting to wrap your head round. If you happen to’d moderately put off it altogether, simply use Wagon Star.
Wagon Star’s gimmick is that it may possibly’t cost up in any respect. Relatively than constructing energy, holding B simply slows it to a cease like a daily handbrake. Due to this, you may’t do Increase Dashes, both round corners or from a standstill. In alternate, although, Wagon Star has fairly wonderful baseline stats, together with good acceleration, pretty excessive high pace, accommodating turning and traction, and a wholesome quantity of max HP. About the one factor it may possibly’t do effectively is glide.
Wagon Star is an effective no-frills selection, one thing for many who want barely extra conventional racing gameplay with much less reliance on spontaneous boosting and drifting. You would possibly miss out on cool drifts, however you’ll have good fundamentals.
3
Wheelie Scooter
A Spunky Day-Tripper
After Star-type Machines, the commonest variant is the Wheelie-type, bikes of varied sizes that roll round on one wheel. Most of those aren’t essentially the most beginner-friendly as a result of their excessive pace and tough dealing with, however there may be one which’ll get your motor operating: the Wheelie Scooter.
The Wheelie Scooter is all about excessive maneuverability on the bottom. It’s acquired ridiculously excessive flip and grip stats, and its Increase Cost is ready to cease on a dime, permitting you to simply carry out difficult hairpin turns. Whereas its high pace isn’t as wild as its larger siblings, it’s surprisingly spunky within the acceleration division, getting up and going in a short time.
Simply do not forget that with the smaller body comes diminished weight and HP, so the Wheelie Scooter can’t take or deal out numerous punishment. Moreover, these hairpin fees do take a bit getting used to, as they don’t require as a lot lead up for a sliding Increase Sprint as you would possibly anticipate. Principally, you might want to pull the brakes proper when you might want to flip as a substitute of curving into it such as you would with most Machines.
2
Chariot
Two Wheels Are Higher Than One
A newcomer to the Air Journey Machine ecosystem is the Chariot-type Machine, beginning with the straightforward Chariot. Much like the Wheelie-types, they roll round on the bottom as a substitute of hovering, albeit on two wheels as a substitute of only one. You’d be shocked how a lot of a distinction one additional wheel makes, although.
With its two wheels, the Chariot is among the smoothest rides within the Machine catalog, tackling each straightaways and complex terrain like a champ. Its pure heftiness, sturdy grip, and responsive turning let it deal with even sharp corners with the benefit you’d anticipate from considerably smaller automobiles. It will probably’t fly, although it does decide up a wholesome burst of pace while you take it off a ramp.
Very like a dependable outdated pickup truck, the Chariot isn’t precisely a star on the subject of uncooked pace output. It’s no slouch, but it surely in all probability gained’t win any straight-up drag races, no less than with its base stats. If you happen to’re having hassle taking tough turns and hold operating into partitions, that’s a very good purpose to present the Chariot a strive.
1
Swerve Star
Simply Drive Straight
Inversely to the Chariot, in the event you’d moderately forgo correct steering totally and focus totally on going as quick as you presumably can, there’s a automobile for that, one of the notorious ones from the unique recreation. It’s essentially the most gimmicky Machine on this listing, but paradoxically, one of the easy, the Swerve Star.
Swerve Star’s shtick might be succinctly summed up in two phrases: “cease” and “go.” Swerve Star has mainly no capability to show whereas in movement. Like, in any respect. Whenever you cost up, it stops useless the place it’s, after which you may freely reorient your self. In different phrases, moderately than conventional steering and cornering, you simply decide a route and take off in a straight line. It sounds bizarre and, effectively, it’s, however its uncooked pace output speaks for itself.
Swerve Star is an absolute monster on straightaways and in drag races, however when the terrain on the assorted racetracks begins getting difficult, that’s while you’ll must repeatedly reorient your self. It’s a particular gimmick, but it surely’s additionally such an apparent gimmick, that it’s not all that onerous to wrap your head round.

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Kirby Air Riders

Launched
November 20, 2025
ESRB
Everybody 10+ / Fantasy Violence
Writer(s)
Nintendo













