At the Sept. 2026 Nintendo Direct, nobody expected game creator Masahiro Sakurai to make another Kirby installment. Kirby and the World Beyond was a massive final surprise, featuring a true open world for the franchise for the first time. Gameplay, exploration, and hints of the plot have amazed fans with the pink puffball’s transformation.
Kirby Enters an RPG Platformer
The first thing that stuck with viewers after the Nintendo Direct is the new gameplay formula. Kirby and the World Beyond draws inspiration from 3d platformers such as Mario 64, Banjo-Kazooie, and Spyro the Dragon. Compared to its predecessor, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, it appears that Kirby will be exploring the land more freely than resting in the hub area and selecting levels.
Kirby’s animation from the previous installment also returns, now with more freedom of movement and polish. They complement the demo area layout, with the Copy Abilities being used in multiple ways to traverse across different obstacles. A few are now used to interact with the environment. For example, the Parasol can glide Kirby in the air while allowing him to traverse waterfalls.
Thanks to the combat contributions of Forgotten Land, Kirby and the World Beyond lets the pink puffball dodge to his heart’s content. Fixed arenas for bosses will still be apparent. RPG elements have also been implemented, so Kirby is encouraged to explore freely and gather collectibles in this open-world dimension. So far, the game feels like an expanded, never-before-seen version of the Great Cave Offensive.
Did Super Abilities Return?
Kirby and the World Beyond brings back another mechanic: the Super Ability. This was first introduced in the 4-player side-scrolling adventure, Return to Dream Land. Copy Abilities grow stronger and larger, such as the Ultra Sword.
Ultra Sword returns in a new form now, with a bright green flame and integrating rune face paint on the Star Warrior. The gameplay footage shows that you no longer need to charge a meter for this. Kirby and the World Beyond entails that Kirby is gathering these crystal weapons to tackle giant obstacles in his path.
The Mysterious Girl in the Fake Dream Land
The final detail in Kirby and the World Beyond is the new unnamed companion. According to the official Nintendo Store page, she is referred to as the mysterious girl. It’s safe to assume that she is connected to the Fake Dream Land that Kirby discovered after knocking King Dedede through the sky.
The mysterious girl guides Kirby to the crystal weapons that are scattered within the make-believe Dream Land and the world outside of it. Her story is rumored to be part of a dimensional rift, which was previously seen in Forgotten Lands‘ post-game and Return to Dream Land.
Dimensional Rifts are often depicted as a star gateway into a dark dimension. They mainly contain negative versions of monsters that are influenced by Dark Matter. Sometimes, these otherworldly portals may contain wandering travelers, such as Star Warriors like Morpho Knight or past foes such as Marx.
Another Mystery and Game Drop
In Kirby and the World Beyond, it’s plausible that the pink puffball may have been trapped in one after the events of Forgotten Land. The mysterious girl could be helping Kirby escape the synthetic reality. And it appears that Kirby is trapped in a labyrinth full of them.
If you pause the video at 2:33, there is a floating structure in the sky. Whatever is occupying it could lead to the main villain of this story. As for who this mysterious girl could be, players will have to wait until Spring 2027. Kirby and the World Beyond will be available only on the Nintendo Switch 2.
