The 30th anniversary of the Kirby and the Forgotten Land beating Elden Ring in its launch week in Japan. There could be more in store for Kirby in 2022, as Nintendo could have some new titles lined up for the Nintendo Switch.
The Kirby series of platform games debuted on the Game Boy in 1992. The main gimmick of the series is that Kirby can inhale his enemies and copy their abilities, giving it a similar gameplay loop to the Super Mario Bros. series and its power-ups. Kirby was created by Masahiro Sakurai, who is also known for creating the Super Smash Bros. series. This might also be why Kirby is the one who saves the day in the World of Light mode in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and why Meta Knight was such a monster in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
2022 has a number of gaming anniversaries that are being celebrated, with beloved series like Kingdom Hearts and Metal Gear having birthdays this year. The 30th anniversary of the Kirby series will take place on April 27, 2022. Nintendo has yet to announce formal plans to celebrate the occasion, but there could be something in the works.
How Will Nintendo Celebrate Kirby's 30th Anniversary?
2022 already saw the release of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, which received an amazing critical response, and had the series' biggest launch ever in Japan. It's unlikely that there will be a new Kirby game released this year, but it's possible that there could be a port in the works. A game like Kirby's Epic Yarn is practically begging for an HD remaster and it's the kind of surprise announcement Nintendo would make during a Direct. The Kirby series also debuted on the Game Boy, so the anniversary could tie into the arrival of Game Boy games on Nintendo Switch Online.
The chances of a brand new Kirby game launching in 2022 are slim, but there could be an announcement regarding a new game. The Nintendo Dream magazine in Japan hinted at another Kirby game being in the works but didn't elaborate further. It's possible that there's another Kirby spin-off game on the way, or a collection of the older titles is in the works, similar to the Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition that was released on the Nintendo Wii. There is already Kirby 30th anniversary merchandise on the way, as plushies are on the market, and the success of Kirby and the Forgotten Land might prompt Nintendo to release even more merch in 2022. If the rumors of the Kirby game reveal in Nintendo Dream are legit, then 2022 could be the biggest year yet for Kirby.
The 30th anniversary of the Kirby series will take place on April 27, 2022.
