The Kirby series has been running strong for decades now. While there are a ton of mainline titles, the Kirby series also includes a healthy helping of spin-offs. These games can range from being unique interpretations of sports titles to being Kirby-themed versions of arcade classics.
The world of Kirby offshoots has even grown to include sequels to spin-off titles. There are a few unifying traits among the Kirby side games. They all include that loveable puffball, and they are consistently well-made. Even the worst Kirby spin-offs are competently constructed. This consistency makes them a bit of a treasure trove for Kirby fans.
15 Kirby Planet Robobot Offshoots
What happens when bonus games get spin-offs? Well, this phenomenon is best depicted by the deluxe titles released for the 3DS. These titles included Kirby Clash Deluxe (an RPG-lite, boss arena battler), Dream Fighters Deluxe (a Smash clone featuring Kirby characters), Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe (a rhythm game featuring Dedede), and Kirby's Blowout Blast. The best of the bunch here is Blowout Blast, which feels like a proof of concept for a 3D Kirby game.
All of these games are upgraded versions of their Planet Robobot counterparts. As such, they feel very limited in comparison to all other Kirby side-releases. They serve one purpose only: extending the experiences already found in Planet Robobot for those who really enjoyed those titles.
14 Kirby Battle Royale
No, despite its name, this isn't a Battle Royale title. This is a Kirbyified version of Mario Party without the board game component. Battle Royale is composed of 10 minigames. The story mode does an okay job of gluing these minigames together. Outside of the story, players will cycle through these minigames in the online multiplayer mode.
As a multiplayer experience, this features a few fun mini-games (such as Flag Ball and Slam Hockey), but most of these games are extremely basic and focus on mashing buttons.
13 Super Kirby Clash
Oh no, the bonus game spin-offs are getting sequels. This title is an expanded version of Team Kirby Clash Deluxe. This is a pseudo-RPG with real-time combat. There are multiple RPG-inspired, Kirby classes to utilize. Ultimately, Kirby Clash plays like a series of boss arenas that you tackle with a squad of Kirbys.
Interestingly, Super Kirby Clash is free-to-play. It isn't a bad time (especially when played co-op), but it is pretty basic. If you own a Switch and are curious, the barrier of entry has never been so low.
12 Kirby Dream Fighters 2
The first Kirby Fighters was a bonus title that played like a version of Smash Bros exclusively featuring Kirby characters. Kirby Fighters 2 is super cute, and despite having a roster filled with versions of Kirby (this may give you flashbacks to Goku in Dragon Ball FighterZ), combat has a surprising amount of variety.
There is also a pretty engaging single-player mode where you climb a tower (which includes a light upgrade system). That being said, it really feels like most people would just be better off playing Super Smash Bros Ultimate. While fun, Kirby Fighters 2 is exclusively for Kirby fanatics.
11 Kirby's Block Ball
This is a Kirby-themed Arkanoid clone. Thankfully, they made sure to include a number of elements taken directly from the mainline Kirby games. For one, you do get copy abilities. Secondly, and most importantly, Kirby boss battles have been implemented.
Honestly, these boss battles are the highlight of the game. They will see you keeping Kirby in play, bopping the boss while defending Kirby from spikes that surround the boss arena. In practice, they are pretty simple, but they do a great job of breaking up the Breakout-style sections.
10 Kirby Starstacker
This is a cute, easy-to-play puzzle game with a Kirby theme. Collect stars by sandwiching them between two of the same block type (all based on Kirby's allies). The more stars you can wedge between the two blocks the better. The real skill here involves stacking your blocks deliberately to help create a chain reaction.
Starstacker is a lot of fun, but it never really feels like a Kirby game. Nearly every element here that is tied to Kirby is purely visual. It is worth noting that there is a Japan-exclusive sequel to the GameBoy title on the Super Famicom, but it plays identically.
9 Kirby's Avalanche
Like Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine before it, this is a Puyo Puyo re-skin. Match the colorful blobs; four connected blobs will burst. Stack them in such a way that with each cleared group of blobs another group will drop down and, ideally, come in contact with a blob that matches their color (creating a chain reaction).
What are the Kirby elements, then? Well, Kirby dances around in the middle of the screen and series staple characters make appearances. So it's all visual stuff. But if you like Puyo Puyo, and you like Kirby, there is nothing wrong with that.
8 Kirby Tilt 'N' Tumble
In Kirby's Tilt 'N' Tumble, the game cartridge itself has accelerometers that determine the angle you are holding your GameBoy at. You will guide Kirby through the world by tilting the console in the desired direction. You can also flick your wrists to make Kirby hop. It is a simple concept, but it is extremely novel.
Unfortunately, this is a game that you need to play on a GameBoy, as on the Advance the accelerometers are reversed (making the controls pretty unintuitive). If you still have an old GameBoy Color kicking around, it is worth a go.
7 Kirby's Canvas Curse
Canvas Curse is an inventive Kirby title that implements the DS's touch screen better than most. Use the touchpad to draw a rail system for Kirby to ride. However, be careful, as you only have a limited supply of paint to create these rails, and you will need to load back up by planting your two feet on the ground.
Kirby has his copy abilities in this title as well, which really helps add to the Kirby feel. This engaging little game is an absolute necessity for any DS game collector.
6 Kirby And The Rainbow Curse
There is very little distance between Rainbow Curse and its predecessor. The powerups in Canvas Curse feel better than the abilities do here. But the core gameplay is generally pretty similar.
What ultimately helps Rainbow Curse stand out is its graphical style. Rainbow Curse does for the Wii-U what Epic Yarn did for the Wii. Just with clay instead of yarn. This is an absolutely stunning game. The only downside to the presentation is that you are going to be viewing most of it through the Wii-U's tablet controller.
5 Kirby Epic Yarn
Kirby's Epic Yarn is a beautiful title with a yarn aesthetic. It serves as a unique entry-point platformer ideal for showing less experienced gamers the ropes. There is no death in Kirby's Epic Yarn, so the stakes are extraordinarily low. More seasoned players still have a reason to stick around though, as Epic Yarn has an abundance of charm.
Kirby's Epic Yarn also had a 3DS port. It added some new powers (based around Kirby's signature copy ability), and a harder difficulty option. To the detriment of these additions, the game was clearly not designed around them. Ultimately, the Wii version still feels like the better experience here.
4 Kirby's Dream Course
Kirby's Dream Course is a golf game where Kirby (unsurprisingly) acts as the ball. The catch is that the hole doesn't appear until all enemies but one has been dispatched. The final enemy remaining becomes the hole. One excellent flourish is that Kirby can steal powers from his dispatched foes with his copy ability. These abilities will make getting to the hole in fewer strokes easier.
As a single-player experience, Kirby's Dream Course is an interesting puzzle game, but it really shines in the competitive multiplayer. The competitive mode has you collecting stars instead of getting to the hole in the fewest strokes (the hole also awards stars, so it is still valuable), this adds a tug-of-war style of flow to the game as you can steal stars from your opponents. With friends, Kirby's Dream Course is an absolute ball.
3 Kirby's Pinball Land
Kirby's Pinball Land is a delightful pinball video game that actively embraces the video game part of that formula. Featuring boss battles, bonus stages, and multiple playfields, this tiny cart packs a lot of content.
While this may not be the go-to Kirby game to play on the go (the original Dream Land probably fits that bill better), it is one of the best pinball games on the GameBoy and it incorporates the Kirby world beautifully. Kirby's Pinball Land is the ideal intersection between pinball and Kirby.
2 Kirby's Air Ride
This is Kirby's racing title. At first blush, Air Ride looks like a simplified kart racer. However, the speed, and focus on airtime (long before Mario Kart added gliders), of this title helps to distinguish itself from its peers.
Air Ride also features two side-modes that help keep things interesting. Top Ride is a Super Off Road-esque, top-down racing title. It is a fun bonus addition. City Trial is Air Ride's version of a battle mode. The focus is on building a vehicle within a time limit and then completing an event with your souped-up vehicle. This is a fantastic multiplayer game that should be a staple for co-op enthusiasts.
1 Kirby Mass Attack
The baseline gameplay here features puzzle solving and unique combat utilizing a herd of Kirbys. You will lead your army of Kirbys to victory with your stylus (Pikmin style). Flick your stylus to fling Kirby's at your opponents. This is an engaging, polished Kirby title. It is also easily among the best games on the DS.
While the core game is great fun, the suite of stellar extra titles puts Mass Attack over the top. This game even features a quasi-remake of Kirby's Pinball Land. Kirby's Mass Attack may be the best package the series has seen since Kirby Super Star release in 1996. It is a must-play for any fan of the series.