Kirby Air Riders Global Test Ride Impressions

 

By Jon Scarr

It’s been more than twenty years since Kirby Air Ride on the GameCube, and I still remember gliding across checkerboard skies like it was yesterday. Now, Kirby Air Riders on the Nintendo Switch 2 brings the series back with a brand-new entry built from the ground up. This past weekend, a few weeks before launch, Nintendo ran a limited-time demo called the Global Test Ride, giving fans an early look at the game.

The demo runs over two weekends, with three play sessions each. The first weekend took place on November 8 and 9, and the second is set for November 15 and 16. Each session lasts six hours, giving you just enough time to test both Air Ride and City Trial. Tutorials stay open between sessions so you can keep practising.

Within minutes, I was back to boosting, inhaling enemies, and launching across colourful tracks. It’s smooth, fast, and surprisingly refined for what’s supposed to be a demo. The nostalgia hit right away, but it’s clear this is something new. Kirby Air Riders captures what made the original special while taking the next step forward for the series.

City Trial First Impressions of the Chaotic Multiplayer Mode

City Trial is where things really get wild. Sixteen racers are dropped into the floating city of Skyah with one goal: grab power-ups, steal machines, and survive whatever the game throws at you. It’s a mix of chaos and strategy that feels both familiar and unpredictable.

The first few minutes are calm enough. You boost around looking for boxes to smash open, collecting items that raise stats like speed or attack. Then the game hits you with random events that turn everything upside down. Meteors start falling, massive enemies appear out of nowhere, and suddenly everyone is panicking to grab better machines before time runs out.

I had one run where I finally found my favourite ride, the Winged Star, only to have it blown up seconds later by a random explosion. I scrambled across the map on foot, dodging debris while trying to grab anything with wheels before the final event started. Somehow, I ended up in a battle arena with half my stats missing and still managed to knock out two rivals before getting launched into the sky. It was messy, hilarious, and completely addictive.

From what I’ve played so far, City Trial stands out as the kind of mode you lose track of time in. Every session plays out differently, and even when things go off the rails, it’s hard not to hit restart right away. It’s chaotic, unpredictable, and exactly what I hoped for from a Kirby multiplayer test.

Air Ride Returns

Air Ride is the other mode included in the Global Test Ride, and it offers a more focused way to experience Kirby Air Riders. While City Trial throws you into sixteen-player chaos, Air Ride keeps things simple with straightforward races against CPU rivals. It’s a great way to get used to the handling and see how each vehicle performs.

The demo includes three tracks: Floria Fields, Waveflow Waters, and Mount Amber Falls, and each one shows off what the Nintendo Switch 2 can really do. Floria Fields is a good warm-up, full of bright scenery and wide turns that ease you in. Waveflow Waters might be my favourite though. The mix of sharp corners, flowing ramps, and shimmering reflections makes it easy to forget this is just a demo. Mount Amber Falls, a twisting, autumn-coloured course, feels like something straight out of a postcard.

The handling here is smoother than I expected. Boosting and drifting feel tight, and hitting those perfect charge releases gives a satisfying burst of speed. One race had me chasing another rider through a waterfall tunnel, both of us timing our boosts so accurately that it felt like we were inches apart the entire way. When I crossed the finish line first, I actually cheered out loud. It just felt that good.

Performance-wise, the game runs great on the Nintendo Switch 2. The frame rate stayed consistent even with all the visual effects flying around, and the rumble feedback during sharp turns adds a nice layer of control. Air Ride might be the simpler mode, but it’s fast, flashy, and already feels tuned for repeat runs.

How Kirby Air Riders Feels to Play on Nintendo Switch 2

For a demo, Kirby Air Riders runs better than I expected on the Nintendo Switch 2. Races and online matches feel smooth, with no real slowdowns or weird frame dips, even when the screen fills with explosions and power-ups. Controls stay sharp and responsive, which really helps during those faster sections when everything starts flying at once.

Visually, it looks great. The colours pop, the lighting gives every track a nice sense of motion, and the details stand out without being distracting. The music brings that classic Kirby energy, mixing upbeat tracks with a few remixes that made me nod along mid-race. It fits perfectly with the pace of each match.

Online held up nicely too. City Trial matches connected fast, and the Paddock lobby made finding a session simple. I only had one quick stutter mid-race, but it recovered fast.

For a short test, it all felt stable and surprisingly polished. If the full game keeps this level of performance, I can see it being one of those titles you boot up just to squeeze in a few quick matches.

Final Thoughts on the Kirby Air Riders Global Test Ride

After spending time with the Kirby Air Riders Global Test Ride this past weekend, I walked away really happy with what I played so far. Kirby Air Riders feels fast, chaotic, and full of personality. The two modes gave a clear idea of what’s coming, and even though it was a limited demo, it already feels like something special.

City Trial was the mode I kept going back to. It’s unpredictable, full of energy, and every match felt different. Air Ride, on the other hand, reminded me why I loved the original GameCube release so much. It’s smoother, more responsive, and packed with small touches that make every race fun.

The demo made one thing clear: Kirby Air Riders is shaping up to be a great addition to the Nintendo Switch 2 lineup. It’s colourful, polished, and full of charm. I can’t wait to jump back in when the full game launches and see just how wild things can get.

Did you try the Global Test Ride? What did you think of City Trial and Air Ride? Let me know in the comments below.