Honestly, nobody expected Nintendo to drop a massive expansion for a years-old game on a brand-new console. But here we are. Kirby and the Forgotten Land Star-Crossed World isn't just a minor "Deluxe" port tweak. It is a weird, crystalline, and surprisingly tough addition to the pink puffball's first 3D outing.
If you played the original on the Switch back in 2022, you probably remember the bittersweet ending. Kirby and Elfilin saved the day, the worlds were somewhat merged, and everything felt... finished. Then the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition arrives, and a giant meteor decides to ruin the peace.
It’s personal.
Why the Star-Crossed World expansion feels different
Basically, this DLC (or "Upgrade Pack") adds 12 new levels called Starry Stages. You don't just find them in a separate menu. They are woven directly into the existing map. You’ll be cruising through the Natural Plains or the Redgar Forbidden Lands and suddenly see these blue crystalline structures jutting out of the ground.
That’s the hook.
Unlike the "Isolated Isles" post-game from the original release—which was mostly a boss rush remix—these stages are actually new geometry. Sure, they start in familiar territory. You might recognize the entrance to the mall or the amusement park. But then you hit a crystal flower, and the world literally reconstructs itself.
The verticality is what caught me off guard.
Most Kirby games are fairly flat. Even in 3D, Kirby stays close to the ground. In the Star-Crossed World, you’re often climbing skyscraper-sized ruins or navigating floating crystal platforms that spawn in real-time. It feels more like a traditional 3D platformer and less like a "Kirby walk."
Those weird new Mouthful Modes
We need to talk about the spring.
Spring Mouthful Mode is easily the highlight of the new mechanics. Kirby basically swallows a giant industrial spring and turns into a pogo-stick from hell. You bounce to get height, but the real power is the slam. If you time it right, you can shatter entire floors.
Then there’s the Gear Mouthful Mode. This one is a bit more niche. Kirby becomes a massive gear that can stick to walls and roll along tracks. It’s used for some of the more complex puzzles in the Originull Wasteland stages. You have to launch yourself between moving walls, which, for a Kirby game, requires some genuinely decent timing.
Finally, the Sign Mouthful Mode. It sounds boring. It's a sign. But it essentially turns Kirby into a high-speed sled. You use it for these downhill segments that feel like a mix between Kirby Air Ride and a fever dream.
The lore is where things get "Kirby-dark"
If you aren't a lore nerd, you might just see a pretty meteor. But the Kirby and the Forgotten Land Star-Crossed World story actually answers some nagging questions about the Ancients.
The meteor isn't just a rock. It’s the "Star of Darkness," and it contains Genwel Meteonelfilis.
If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the elder brother of Fecto Elfilis. Kirby fans love a good "god-tier sibling rivalry." While Fecto was all about spatial manipulation and opening portals, Genwel is about consumption and crystallization.
The Starries—those tiny fairy-like creatures you rescue—are the ones who originally sealed him away. There’s a massive theory circulating in the community (and hinted at in the EX Figurines) that the Starries are actually fragments of a much older hero. Some think they are related to Galacta Knight, but the game keeps it vague enough to keep the Reddit threads buzzing for months.
One of the coolest details?
If you talk to Elfilin enough times in Kirby’s house after beating the expansion, he reveals that Fecto Elfilis was originally attracted to the Forgotten Land because of Neichel’s singing. That’s the "Welcome to the New World" song you hear throughout the game. It turns out the song wasn't just a pop hit; it was a beacon of hope and sadness that resonated with cosmic horrors.
Classic Kirby.
What you actually get in the pack
Let's be real: is it worth the $20 upgrade?
- 12 Starry Stages: Two per world. They aren't long, but they are dense.
- The Final Boss: Genwel Meteonelfilis has three phases. The first is a standard fight, the second is a giant "Kaiju" style battle, and the third is a bullet-hell core fight.
- EX Figurines: These provide the bulk of the new lore.
- Performance: On the Switch 2, the game finally hits a locked 60 FPS even in the busiest areas.
The biggest letdown for most people is the lack of new Copy Abilities. You’re still using the same upgraded swords and hammers from the base game. It would have been nice to see a "Crystal" ability or something similar, but the focus was clearly on the Mouthful Modes and level design instead.
The verdict on the Star-Crossed World
It takes about three to four hours to wrap up the main path of the expansion. If you’re a completionist going for all the Starries and the secret HAL rooms hidden in the crystals, you’re looking at more like six or seven.
It’s a "weekend" DLC.
It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it provides a much more satisfying challenge than the base game's main campaign. The boss fight alone is worth the price of admission if you enjoy the dodging mechanics. Seeing Kirby go toe-to-toe with a cosmic elder brother while the world shatters around him is peak Nintendo.
How to get the most out of your playthrough
- Don't rush the first 12 levels. The Starries are often hidden behind "blink and you'll miss it" environmental puzzles involving the crystal flowers.
- Check the Waddle Dee Town cinema. New cutscenes unlock as you progress through the Starry Stages that fill in the gaps of the meteor's arrival.
- Use the Spring slam. In the later levels, you can find hidden paths by slamming onto cracked crystal surfaces that don't look like they'd break.
- Read the Figurine descriptions. This is where the real meat of the "Ancients" lore is hidden. If you want to know how the Lor Starcutter connects to the Forgotten Land, the answers are in the text.
Stop thinking of this as a separate game and just enjoy it as the "true" final chapter of Kirby’s 3D debut. It rounds out the experience and gives Elfilin some much-needed backstory that makes the ending of the original game feel even more impactful.
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Go find those Starries.