Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Star-Crossed World

Nintendo’s track record with “game + add-on” releases has been… let’s just say unpredictable. Some have been glorified expansions, others near stand-alone experiences. With Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Star-Crossed World, Nintendo lands somewhere refreshingly simple: this is classic DLC done right. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does give fans a joyful excuse to dust off the warp star and dive back into one of Kirby’s best adventures.

What’s New?

Instead of being a totally separate game mode like Mario Party’s recent Jamboree twist, Star-Crossed World plays like a seamless extension of Forgotten Land. Once unlocked, 12 new "Starry Stages" are scattered across the six main worlds. Each of these levels feels handcrafted with fresh mechanics, clever twists, and even some new enemies and tracks to jam to.

• Crystal Flowers shake up the scenery, shifting the environment in ways that create new platforming challenges.

• A highlight is the pipe Mouthful Mode rollercoaster, which had me laughing and grinning the whole way through.

• Difficulty sees a modest bump compared to the base game, making these stages a nice “post-game” challenge without being overwhelming.

It’s also worth noting that while some stages nod to familiar locations—like the shopping mall or amusement park—they feel more like clever callbacks rather than lazy recycling.

The Business Side (Quickly)

Here’s the catch: the only way to play Star-Crossed World is by upgrading to the Switch 2 Edition of Kirby and the Forgotten Land ($20 upgrade if you already own it on Switch 1, or $80 new). The “upgrade” also includes small performance improvements, but they’re not game-changing. This really is DLC in spirit, just packaged under Nintendo’s slightly confusing label system.

Why It Works

What makes Star-Crossed World shine is its focus. It doesn’t waste time overcomplicating things—it’s just Kirby doing what Kirby does best in a batch of short-but-sweet levels. This isn’t groundbreaking content, but it doesn’t need to be. The stages are fun, imaginative, and just the right length to make it worth coming back.

Verdict

Star-Crossed World isn’t a massive expansion, but it’s a charming, worthwhile add-on for anyone who loved Forgotten Land and wants a little more. It’s a reminder that Kirby thrives when his adventures stay light, fun, and creative—even if this one won’t blow you away with its size.

⭐ Rating: 8.0 / 10A delightful little snack for Kirby fans—nothing more, nothing less