Sakurai, I don’t think anyone wants to pay $70 for Kirby Air Riders (except me)

Let’s get something out of the way: I am obsessed with Kirby. I have Kirby tattoos, an entire wall covered in Kirby plush, and I can do a great Kirby impression. I even almost understand Kirby’s dark, complex lore. I was obsessed with Kirby Air Ride for the GameCube and will likely only buy the Nintendo Switch 2 to play Kirby Air Riders.

But do I actually think Kirby Air Rider is worth $70 to the majority of gamers? No.

I watched the Kirby Air Riders livestream earlier today and I loved it. It basically felt like a new and improved version of the original, with more characters, more maps, and a larger City Trial mode. But that’s also the issue: it’s not really all that different from the OG. This means there are simple baby controls, races where you don’t even have to touch the controller to make it to the finish line, irritating machines to control, and no depth or story — just players rushing around a map aimlessly.

Sounds amazing to Kirby simps like me. But $70?

Nintendo Switch 2 Has Been an Exercise in Greed So Far

Remember Kirby Dream Buffet and Kirby Clash for Nintendo Switch? Both games were free. Kirby Dream Buffet was a simple party game with easy controls, where everyone played mini-games focused on eating as much food as possible (the games were chosen at random just like Stadiums after City Trial ends) in hopes of being the largest and heaviest Kirby at the end.

I’m sorry, but is Kirby Air Riders so much more expansive that it should skyrocket to $70?

Since before its official announcement, the Nintendo Switch 2 has made even the most passionate fanboys question their loyalty. The console — which basically looks and feels exactly like the original Switch — was released for $450 with no games except for some no-name indies and Mario Kart World. Most boring console launch in history (not that fan boys will admit it).

Then, we were told that Nintendo would be releasing Switch 2 versions of older games — some with expansions and others just sorta better — that will cost up to $80. Meanwhile, barely any new mainline games were announced aside from Donkey Kong, more repetitive, low-effort Pokémon games, and now Kirby Air Riders. But you can buy Switch 2 accessories for an increased price instead.

Oh, and you can also purchase (yes, purchase) a tutorial for the Nintendo Switch 2 for $10. Imagine buying a console tour for TEN DOLLARS. That couldn’t be me.

I know that inflation, tariffs, and all that crud play a part in the Switch 2’s greediness. But are we really going to charge $70 for a game where you either press a button here and there to ride around a map or meander around a city with friends? This feels like a glorified mini-game that would have been free on the OG Switch.

Again, full disclaimer: I will buy it. I love Kirby and I’d even pay $100. But $70 for a game that most normal people will play for under 10 hours seems crazy. Unless you’re obsessed with Kirby, you can only ride around a city collecting power-ups so many times. (If you are obsessed, you can ride around the city basically forever, as I did on the GameCube version.)

“Good job Sakurai, you just sold me a Switch 2. Kirby Air Riders looks like nearly everything I could have wanted in a sequel to one of my favorite GameCube titles. So much fun to be had!” said one comment on the livestream.

Added another: “This is a dream come true for everyone that grew up with Kirby Air Ride on the GameCube!”

Agreed, but again, these are Kirby fans. This tweet basically sums up how I feel:

So far, the Nintendo Switch 2 has felt like an exercise in greed and laziness. I wish I could be more excited about it. I will be once I play Kirby Air Riders — friends may never see me again, I’ll be riding around in Skyah Landers all day and night — but I have to say it again: $70???? I would get $40-50, but $70?????