Master the skies in Kirby Air Riders with these 12 beginner tips that turn new pilots into podium finishers.
Pick up all the machines in Road Trip
Collecting every machine in Road Trip mode is a smart way to expand your options for future races. Each machine offers different speed, handling, and glide stats, so trying them all helps you figure out which one fits your style best. Some are hidden behind specific challenges or performance goals, so replaying stages and experimenting with different routes can pay off. Having a full garage gives you flexibility for different race types and opponents, making it easier to adapt and win more consistently.
If you come across a machine in the new story-based Road Trip mode, grab it. You’ll need the full set of 22 in order to unlock a ton of different features, and if you pass on a vehicle, you’ll be able to grab it in the new game plus. However, you may have to replay Road Trip a few times if you don’t pick them up as you see them, since some machines only appear in certain branched paths.
Test out all the different vehicles
Each vehicle in Kirby Air Ride handles differently, and experimenting helps you find which one suits your playstyle best. Light Stars accelerate quickly but lack top speed, while heavier rides maintain momentum and plow through opponents. Try them all on different tracks to understand how weight, glide, and handling affect your control. Once you find your preferred ride, practice mastering its strengths while compensating for any weaknesses.
Everything is different from the original game. The trusty ol’ Shadow Star isn’t the best machine anymore, so you should definitely try giving each vehicle a spin before you decide on your favorite. As expected, some are better than others when it comes to racing, gliding, or beating up your enemies, so you’ll want to be an expert on what’s the best to pick.
Also, complete some lessons
Practice a few lessons in the lesson room to build your skills. They teach core mechanics like gliding, boosting, and dash jumping through quick challenges. Spend time here early to master controls and gain confidence before races. You will notice smoother rides and better lap times right away.
With the above being said, this game handles and plays a little bit differently than the original Kirby Air Ride, so it’s worth playing through some lessons and getting a feel for the gameplay. The Road Trip mode is also great for learning some basics, since you’ll be tasked with completing such a variation of stadiums and tracks.
Fuss around with your settings
Tweak your machine’s settings before each race to match the track and your playstyle. Adjust top speed for straightaways, acceleration for tight turns, and handling for curves. Test small changes in practice mode to see quick improvements without overhauling everything. Stick to one solid setup until you master it, then experiment more.
There are so many settings to fiddle around with in this game to make your experience more comfortable. If you have trouble with motion sickness, then you can add a reticle or a frame around the screen to help with that. You can remap your buttons (all two of them!). You can turn on motion controls! You can customize what shows up on your HUD. It’s very customizable and worth fiddling around with.
For reference, I usually get motion sick from games, though the original Kirby Air Ride didn’t make me feel queasy. This game started to a little bit, but once I turned on the reticle in the center of the screen, all that queasiness went away. Nice!
Always do weird stuff
Experiment with odd bike tricks and wild paths off the main track. Swerving into hidden shortcuts or chaining bizarre glides racks up speed bursts opponents miss. These quirky moves throw rivals off balance and snag surprise wins.
See a bomb in Road Trip? Run into it. Got a field full of trees in City Trial? Smash into all of them. There are typically checklist achievements behind all of these types of interactions, so you’ll definitely want to do every wacky thing you can.
Look for hints in City Trial, but beware of tricks
City Trial hides plenty of small clues that can give you an edge, but they’re often mixed with distractions meant to throw you off. Pay attention to item spawns, events, and unusual sounds-they can signal valuable upgrades or upcoming dangers. Not every chest or event is worth your time, so learn which ones truly help your machine and which ones waste precious seconds. Staying alert and reading the stage’s patterns can make the difference between a chaotic run and a smart, controlled win.
Sometimes some ominous text will show up on the screen during your City Trial run, giving you a hint to what the Stadium at the end could be, but sometimes… it’s a scam! Keep your eye out for typos or trickster-y text here, as those types of announcements will be lies.
Spin on your rivals coming up behind you
Stay ahead by reading your opponents’ lines and timing your boosts to slam into their Weak Spots, then chain drift and item pickups to surge past them before the finish line.
If you can feel an opponent riding your star trail about to pass you, spin on them to dish out damage and push them away. Dealing damage will give you a little boost, too.
Keep your eye out for special rare boxes
Rare boxes can give you powerful temporary boosts or rare items that change how a race or battle unfolds. Keep an eye on unusual locations or timing, as these boxes often appear in hidden corners or after specific events during a match. Grabbing one before your rivals can give you the edge you need, so plan your route and timing carefully to intercept them whenever possible.
In City Trial, you’ll want to specifically keep your eye out for these regal rare boxes, which will get pointed out to you by a golden box marker on your map. They often have a ton of buffing items and even a legendary air ride piece, too, if you’re lucky.
You’ll need to play a bit of everything to unlock all the characters and colors
You’ll need to play a bit of everything to unlock all the characters and colors.
Various characters (and alternate colors) are locked behind checklists for the various game modes. Almost every character has at least two unlock methods, so you can ignore some of the game modes, if you’re not a stickler for completion. For example, if you want to unlock Star Man, you’ll need to complete a specific checkbox in either Top Ride or City Trial. Completing the second of the two achievements will unlock Star Man’s alternate color scheme.
There’s also specific City Trial Stadiums locked behind checkboxes for Road Trip, so make sure to complete that story multiple times, too.
Let the checklists guide you
Checklists in Kirby Air Ride help you track goals and uncover hidden challenges as you play. Each entry gives a small hint toward what you need to try next, whether it’s a new machine, stage shortcut, or special move. Following these hints keeps your progress steady and encourages experimentation without spoiling surprises. Treat them as both goals and clues-the more you complete, the more content and strategies you’ll uncover along the way.
If you’re trying to go for a specific checkbox, like beating a specific City Trial Stadium with a specific vehicle or racing on a specific map, press the Plus button while on the respective checkbox. This will automatically take you to the game mode you need to be in, with the required settings (if there are any) set up.
Notably, for checkboxes that require a specific Stadium to be played, you can just play the Stadium itself and skip the city portion of the City Trial. However, you will have to do the Stadium with no buffs, so some challenges may be too hard to do this with just the unbuffed vehicle.
Faster doesn’t automatically mean better in City Trial
Faster doesn’t automatically mean better in City Trial. Haste can pull you into risky zones or missteps, while deliberate pacing lets you scout routes, manage power-ups, and execute clean strategies that outlast quicker approaches. Prioritize safe positioning, timely boosts, and reading opponents’ moves to secure consistent wins.
You might be tempted to make an ultimate race machine, loading your vehicle up with speed-based stats, but being the fastest isn’t always the best. A lot of the Stadium challenges get a bit harder if your vehicle is too fast, especially if you have to aim at specific targets, whether it’s pushing down buttons in an area, or flying through hoops.
Use it or lose it – your special gauge doesn’t stay full forever!
Your boost gauge runs out faster than you think, so make each burst count. Glide across panels, attack enemies, and keep your momentum to refill it often. Holding onto a full gauge wastes potential speed, and missed opportunities can cost a race. Use it smartly-well-timed boosts can turn an average run into a winning one.
After your special ability gauge fills up, it’ll sit for a second, and then begin to deplete, whether you choose to use it or not. If you’re in a good place to blast past some enemies or release a powerful attack, you should definitely use it before it’s too late. There are times when it may not be ideal to speed off, so consider carefully before you press Y.
Best vehicles for beginners in Kirby Air Riders
Kirby Air Riders features beginner-friendly vehicles with balanced stats for easier handling in races and City Trial mode. These options prioritize maneuverability, speed, and forgiveness over advanced specialization.
Top Picks
Warp Star offers reliable all-around performance with no major weaknesses, making it ideal for newcomers across modes. Shadow Star remains a solid all-rounder despite changes from the original game, providing good control on varied tracks. Wheelie Scooter excels early on with strong turning and item collection speed.
Character Pairings
Pair Kirby with Warp Star for balanced agility and lift, perfect for stadiums and practice. Starman boosts turn, grip, and slight speed for better control without overwhelming complexity. Rick on Battle Chariot adds weight for stability in brawls and corners.
Mode-Specific Advice
In City Trial, start with grounded options like 1000% Wheelie Scooter or Bulk Star for early advantages in collecting items. Winged Star suits glide challenges with stable aerial lift for ramps and jumps. Avoid legendaries like Dragoon initially due to their high skill demands.
Best beginner character rider combos
Kirby Air Riders pairs riders with machines for balanced stats that suit beginners learning drifts, boosts, and combat. Top combos emphasize control, speed, and adaptability across Air Ride and City Trial modes.
Starter Combos
Kirby on Warp Star delivers well-rounded performance with solid turn, lift, and boost for any track or situation. Starman with Shadow Star enhances grip and turning while keeping speed reliable, easing control during races.
Stable Options
Rick paired with Battle Chariot adds weight for better stability in corners and brawls, forgiving errors in multiplayer. Noir Dedede on Wheelie Bike boosts top speed and acceleration without sacrificing maneuverability, ideal for straightaways.
Practice Tips
Test these in Free Run or Time Attack to match your style before competitive play. Unlock alts like Winged Star via early City Trial wins to expand forgiving setups.
