Nintendo has a lot of big games to release in 2022, includingKirby and the Forgotten Land, which will make its debut in March. TheKirbyfranchise has seen plenty of activity in the last few years, butKirby and the Forgotten Landis a big deal anyway because of its changes to the franchise formula. Players will finally be able to take Kirby on fully 3D platforming adventures. What’s more,Kirby and the Forgotten Landserves as a central part of theKirbyfranchise’s 30th anniversary celebration; its switch to 3D is a major sign of how farKirbyhas come sinceKirby’s Dream Landon the Game Boy.
Kirby and the Forgotten Landwon’t be the only anniversary celebration, though. On the contrary, Nintendo has repeatedly promised multipleKirbyprojects meant to ring in the franchise’s 30th birthday. Although it hasn’t shared any specifics on the contents of those projects or when they’ll release, it seems likely that Nintendo will discuss these projects alongsideKirby and the Forgotten Landin a March Nintendo Direct.Some of Nintendo’s recent major anniversarieshave gotten themed directs of their own, so Nintendo’s collaborations with HAL forKirbywill probably get the same treatment.
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Cause for a Kirby Direct
Leakers have suggested that Nintendo will release a Direct sometime in February, and whileKirby and the Forgotten Landwill probably be there, it also wouldn’t be surprising if a March Direct focuses more closely onForgotten Land.While Nintendo has started sharing significant details, likesome of Kirby’s new Copy Abilities, there’s still a lot to learn aboutForgotten Land.AKirby-themed March Direct could put a greater spotlight onForgotten Land,taking an extended time to explain Waddle Tee Town, Elfilin’s role in the plot, more possible Copy Abilities, and so on.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s release also seems like the perfect time to revealKirby’s other anniversary content, sinceForgotten Landwill put eyes on the franchise in a major way. Nintendo says that it’sworking together withKirbydeveloper HAL Laboratoryto produce the anniversary celebration’s features, which could suggest that Nintendo and HAL are aiming for a large-scale celebration.Forgotten Landcould only be the firstKirbygame to release in 2022, followed by a Switch collection of retroKirbytitles or a complete remake of a major game likeKirby 64: The Crystal Shards.Even if the anniversary doesn’t have extra games on the way, though, March would clearly be a great time to make some announcements.
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Another Anniversary Direct
A special Nintendo Direct themed after theKirbyanniversary seems particularly likely since Nintendo has done it many times before. In September 2020, Nintendo arranged aSuper Mariothemed Direct to celebrate the blockbuster platforming franchise’s 35th birthday.Pokemongot a similar Direct for its 20th birthday in 2016, and Nintendo arranged anotherPokemonDirect for last year’s 25th birthday. With this pattern in mind, it follows thatKirbywill get a similar treatment, especially since Nintendo has repeatedly expressed its enthusiasm forKirbylately while assuring fans that it has big plans.
It’s great to hear that Nintendo has so much planned forKirbyin the coming months.Kirbymay not be quite as big a franchise asSuper MarioorThe Legend of Zelda,but it’s still a delightful platformer franchise and a core part of Nintendo’s IP lineup.Kirby and the Forgotten Landseems particularly worth supporting with other projects, since its 3D design is such a significant step in a new direction for the franchise. Nintendo has put on some major anniversary celebrations lately, so it should be interesting to see what it decides to do to acknowledge howKirbyhas grown in the last three decades.
Kirby and the Forgotten Landreleases on July 20, 2025 for Nintendo Switch.
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