You’ve seen the thumbnails. There is a specific kind of "leaks" video that populates your feed every few months featuring a render of the pink puffball in a ruined city with a big number 2 slapped next to it. Honestly, it's exhausting. Everyone is searching for Kirby and the Forgotten Land 2, but if you’re looking for a game with that exact name, you're looking for a ghost.
Nintendo doesn't really do "2" for Kirby. Not in the way you think.
Instead of a numbered sequel, HAL Laboratory took a different route. They gave us Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World. It’s a mouthful. Basically, it’s the bridge between what the first 3D Kirby was and what the next one is going to be. If you’re waiting for a sequel, you should probably be looking at the Star-Crossed World expansion that dropped in late 2025. It’s the closest thing we have to a "part two" right now.
Why Kirby and the Forgotten Land 2 isn't a thing (yet)
The original game sold over 7.5 million copies. That is massive. It outpaced Kirby’s Dream Land on the Game Boy, which held the crown for thirty years. You’d think Nintendo would rush out a direct sequel. But HAL Lab is weird. They’re perfectionists.
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They don't just iterate; they pivot.
Look at the jump from Star Allies to Forgotten Land. It wasn't just a sequel; it was a fundamental shift in how Kirby moves. Right now, the team is busy supporting the Switch 2 launch. The "Star-Crossed World" content was their answer to the demand for more 3D Kirby. It added "Starry Stages" which are basically a Master Quest version of the original levels. They are harder. Way harder. If you thought the base game was a breeze, the Ultimate Cup Z-EX in the expansion will probably make you want to throw your Joy-Cons.
The 60 FPS Revolution
One of the biggest complaints about the first outing was the frame rate. 30 FPS. It felt a bit sluggish for a 3D platformer. The Switch 2 upgrade fixed this. It runs at a locked 60 FPS now, and the resolution hits 1440p on your TV. It feels like a different game.
Is it a sequel? No. But it’s the definitive way to play the "Forgotten Land" era content.
What the "Star-Crossed World" leaks actually revealed
Before the expansion launched in August 2025, the rumor mill was convinced we were getting a full-blown Kirby and the Forgotten Land 2. The leaks showed new Mouthful Modes. We saw "Sign Mouth" and "Gear Mouth."
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People assumed these were for a new game.
In reality, they were for the new story campaign tucked inside the upgrade pack. "Sign Mouth" is actually pretty clever. You basically turn into a giant billboard to block wind or flatten enemies. It’s classic Kirby humor. "Gear Mouth" is a bit more divisive because it feels a little redundant with Kirby's flight, but it’s used for some specific environmental puzzles that the original game lacked.
The Lore Dump
If you’re a Kirby fan, you know the lore is where things get dark. The "Star-Crossed World" plot involves a meteor and something called Genwel Meteonelfilis. It’s the usual Lovecraftian horror disguised as a cute pink adventure. This expansion serves as the narrative "Part 2" even if the box doesn't say it. It wraps up the loose ends from Elfilin’s backstory that the 2022 game left hanging.
When is the actual next 3D Kirby coming?
If we're being real, a brand new, ground-up 3D Kirby title is likely a 2027 affair. 2026 is looking crowded. We have Kirby Air Riders—the long-awaited follow-up to the GameCube cult classic—slated for this year. Masahiro Sakurai is back for that one. It’s a huge deal.
Then there are the rumors about Kirby Planet Robobot Deluxe.
NateDrake and other insiders have been hinting that the 3DS masterpiece is getting the remaster treatment for 2026. If HAL is juggling an Air Ride sequel and a Robobot remaster, they aren't finishing a full Kirby and the Forgotten Land 2 this year.
- 2022: Kirby and the Forgotten Land (The beginning)
- 2025: Star-Crossed World Expansion (The "1.5" sequel)
- 2026: Kirby Air Riders & Robobot Remaster (The "Gap" years)
- 2027: The next major 3D Kirby (The 35th Anniversary)
It’s a long wait. I get it. But the "Star-Crossed" content is substantial. It’s not just two levels and a hat. It’s a full parallel story.
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Actionable Steps for Kirby Fans
Stop waiting for a trailer titled "Kirby and the Forgotten Land 2" and start looking at the current ecosystem. If you want more of that 3D gameplay, here is how you actually get it:
- Grab the Upgrade Pack: If you own the original Switch cart, the Switch 2 upgrade is only $20. It includes the Star-Crossed World expansion. This is the "sequel" content people are playing right now.
- Track Kirby Air Riders: This is the big 2026 focus. It’s not a platformer, but it’s the next "Major" Kirby release.
- Check Nintendo Music: They recently added 23 tracks from the Forgotten Land sessions. It’s a great way to scratch that itch while we wait for the 2027 anniversary.
- Ignore the "Leaked" Box Art: If you see a retail listing for a game literally called Forgotten Land 2, it’s fake. Nintendo has already committed to the Star-Crossed World branding for this specific sub-series.
The "New Era" of Kirby that started in 2022 is still going strong. We’re just in the middle of the roadmap. Enjoy the 60 FPS puffball while the developers cook the next big 3D world.