Round Table: Favorite Kirby Games

The staff cap off Kirby week by discussing which of the puffball’s adventures they like best.

By Nintendojo Staff. Posted 05/10/2014 12:00 4 Comments     ShareThis

Kirby's Epic Yarn Artwork

Kirby may not receive the critical adulation of Zelda, nor carry the same name recognition as Mario, but the little pink hero nonetheless occupies a special place in Nintendo’s pantheon of franchises. Ever since his debut on Game Boy back in 1992, Kirby has been a constant presence on Nintendo consoles, and his malleability has allowed him to experiment with different genres and play mechanics more seamlessly than any other character in gaming. With such a wide array of charming and inventive titles to his name, the staff want to take a moment to discuss which of the puffball’s outings they like best.


Jake Shapiro

I had owned other games before, but Kirby’s Dream Land 2 was the first game I ever played from start to finish as a kid. I remember conquering King Dedede with vivid clarity even to this day. One of the aspects that sticks with me most is how unsettling and creepy some of the enemies are; those scary Kabu mask guys are everywhere! It remains the pinnacle of Kirby’s career, from an innocent time before Kirby was a “brand,” and before Nintendo of America decided Kirby should be angry on all his North American box art.


Mel Turnquist

What Kirby game is my favorite? Yeesh, that’s a tough pick for me. I love every Kirby game I have put my hands on, including Squeak Squad. But if I had to pick my absolute favorite, it would be between Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Kirby’s Adventure, and Kirby Super Star Ultra. Those are the three that stick out the most for me.

I enjoy Kirby’s Adventure as it was the one that made me fall in love with that pink puffball. The fantastic soundtrack and the unique gameplay (at the time) really sold it for me, who likes to see things a little off the beaten path. I love the variety that goes into Kirby Super Star Ultra. I enjoy going through each and every game and reaching that 100 percent that I’ve strive for time and time again. Plus, Helper to Hero is a great addition. That being said, despite being recent, I have to go with Kirby’s Epic Yarn as my favorite.

Kirby's Epic Yarn screenshot

Yes, I know that it’s easy. I know that you cannot die in the game. And that it may come across as kind of infantile to some folks. However, I cannot deny that this game puts the biggest smile on my face, that the game makes me squee over how cute everything is, and that it is the most relaxing to play after a stressful day. I dare you all to get through this game without cracking a smile. It’s impossible! Also, have I mentioned the amazing piano-driven soundtrack? Because that soundtrack is masterful and perfectly suits the game.

I’ve never played a Kirby game that I’ve hated…though I’ll admit I have yet to play Kirby Air Ride due to the fact that I never had a Game Cube.


Sam Stewart

This is a difficult choice for me as well. While I haven’t played many of the early games in the series, I have enjoyed my time with pretty much all of the modern ones. If I had to quickly pick a favorite, I would probably go with Kirby’s Epic Yarn just because of how unique it is. The graphics and levels were amazingly done, and the simple act of playing the game was a ton of fun. You could zoom around as a car, whip enemies and scenery around, and turn into a parachute to float. Even without the ability to absorb enemy powers, there was still plenty of variety in the platforming and combat. For anyone who believes the game is too easy, boooooo! In all seriousness, though, a game doesn’t need death to be challenging. It was still hard to attain a gold rank in all of the levels, an achievement I was unable to claim during my time with the game. If you haven’t played this game because you think it looks silly or easy, go pick it up somewhere (it’s $9 new on Amazon) and give it a shot!

Other than that, I greatly enjoy both Kirby Air Ride and Squeak Squad. The Kirby series seems to try a lot of new things, and Air Ride‘s battle racing is definitely one of the best side games the series has ever produced. As for Squeak Squad, its just a solid 2D Kirby that is fast paced and a lot of fun!


Marc Deschamps

Like Sam, I’m also gonna have to go with Kirby’s Epic Yarn. I picked it up on sale at Target a few years back and fell absolutely in love with it. There’s something that’s so wonderfully charming, there. While the 2D platforming genre has focused mainly on old-school difficulty (I’m looking at you, Tropical Freeze!), Epic Yarn was a relaxing experience from start to finish, and I don’t get how anyone can consider that a bad thing. The music certainly added to the laid back presentation, as well. You could fall asleep to that soundtrack! I can’t say enough good things about the use of piano in that game. Of course, I can’t say enough good things about Epic Yarn in general. I wouldn’t even call it my favorite Kirby game. I’d just call it one of my favorite games ever.

My runner-up would probably be Kirby 64. It was the first Kirby game I ever had the pleasure of owning. I really liked all the different power combinations, and it was just a strong Kirby title all-around.


Robert Marrujo

I’m the oddball in the group, because Kirby’s Epic Yarn is nowhere near the top of my favorites list. Well, top five I guess, but my hands down, most beloved Kirby game is Kirby: Canvas Curse. My cousin Dominic lent me the title about a year or so after it had come out, and I was absolutely entranced by it. Using the touch screen to manipulate Kirby, who spends the entire game as a rolling ball, felt ingenious. I played it for hours on end for a week, beat it, then had to give it back (oh, my breaking heart). The impact it left was long-lasting, though, as I couldn’t get over how clever and unique the title was. It wasn’t until another year or so after that my friend Justin hunted down a copy for me (which sits happily amongst the rest of my collection).

Second favorite, though, goes to Kirby’s Dream Land. I know it’s a little bare bones compared to all the games that came after, but other than Meta Knight and Copy abilities, this game established the heart and soul of the series to this day. It has the best soundtrack of any Kirby title, the graphics are lush and detailed, and it’s just so dang fun. Super Star, Epic Yarn, and everything else in the years since are fun, but this game holds a special place in my heart. I used to play it to death as a kid, and still do now, as an adult. Special nod to Triple Deluxe, though; that game has quickly cemented itself as number three.


Anthony Pershkin

I think we can all agree it’s very difficult to choose your favorite game from a franchise with such variety as Kirby. I guess I’ll have to take Kirby’s Return to Dream Land, as it combines the classic Kirby gameplay with some ridiculous, almost fighting game-like special moves. On top of that, the soundtrack is by far my favorite in the entire series, especially the snow stage track. It’s just pure magic.

Triple Deluxe is not out yet in Europe, but I hear it is very similar to Return to Dream Land, so naturally I can’t wait to get my hands on it.


What is your favorite Kirby game? Are you also a fan of Kirby’s Epic Yarn, or do you prefer something more offbeat like Kirby Mass Attack or Kirby: Canvas Curse? Let us know in the comments!

4 Responses to “Round Table: Favorite Kirby Games”

  • 678 points
    amishpyrate says...

    Kirby’s Adventure for sure. Dreamland 2 is a close second. I spent hours as a kid trying to find all the secrets in kirby’s adventure. Some of em involved going around the screen pressing up hoping a hidden door would be there.

  • 3 points
    LynQ08 says...

    Kirby Allstars Best game ever

  • 102 points
    Hawthorn says...

    I never really liked Epic Yarn. It was too bright and the music was just plain old bland. I did like that game show-like boss battle, though. Best part of the game.

    My favorite Kirby game is probably Mass Attack, because I absolutely love that experimental aspect. Kirby’s the Nintendo guinea pig for new ideas. And I like that a lot.

    After Mass Attack, I’d have to go with either Adventure or Super Star Ultra.

  • 849 points
    ejamer says...

    Is it weird that my favorite Kirby game has always been Kirby’s Pinball Land? Or that I’m scared to play the game now because I’m worried that nostalgic love won’t hold up?

    I’d also like to mention the GBA entry, Kirby & the Amazing Mirror as a game I like much more than most people do. That game has some issues (almost useless map, brainless AI helpers) but offered great exploration and many secrets to uncover. It’s a real shame that the Virtual Console re-release doesn’t offer multiplayer support.

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