List of Kirby media

The Kirby video game series is a franchise of platform games and other genres (including puzzle and racing games) published and produced by Nintendo. The games have been developed by Japan-based HAL Laboratory, a Nintendo second-party developer.^[1] All Kirby video games have been developed exclusively for Nintendo video game consoles and handhelds dating from the Nintendo Entertainment System to the current generation of video game consoles. The series debuted in Japan on April 27, 1992 with Hoshi no Kirby (星のカービィ Hoshi no Kābī, lit. "Kirby of the Stars"), which later was released in the North American and PAL regions on August 1992 as Kirby's Dream Land.^[2]

The series revolves around Kirby, the series' protagonist, and his adventures in the fictional world of Pop Star. A common gameplay element is Kirby's ability to copy enemy skills, allowing him to use them to progress through levels. This and other changes in gameplay from traditional platform games distinguish the series from other entries in the genre.^[3][4][5] Currently, the series contains twenty games. A one-hundred episode anime series based on the video games, Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, was created in Japan and formerly distributed by 4Kids TV in North America.^[6] The Kirby series is among the best-selling video game franchises with over twenty million games sold worldwide.^[7] The franchise was conceived by Masahiro Sakurai as a game series for beginners, for which he partially attributes the series' success.^[8]

Video games

Platform games

Title	Details
Kirby's Dream Land Original release date(s): ^JP April 27, 1992[9] ^NA August 1, 1992[2] ^PAL August 3, 1992[2]	Release years by system: 1992 – Game Boy[2] 2011 – Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console emulation)
	Notes: Known in Japan as Hoshi no Kirby (星のカービィ Hoshi no Kābī, lit. "Kirby of the Stars").[2][9] Re-released for download over the Nintendo Power system in Japan.[2][10]
Kirby's Adventure Original release date(s):[11] ^JP March 23, 1993 ^NA May 1, 1993 ^PAL December 1, 1993	Release years by system: 1993 – Nintendo Entertainment System[11] 2007 – Wii (Virtual Console emulation)[12] 2011 – Nintendo 3DS (3D Classics) 2013 – Wii U (Virtual Console emulation)
	Notes: Known in Japan as Hoshi no Kirby: Yume no Izumi no Monogatari (星のカービィ夢の泉の物語 Hoshi no Kābī Yume no Izumi no Monogatari, lit. "Kirby of the Stars: The Story of the Fountain of Dreams")[11][13]
Kirby's Dream Land 2 Original release date(s):[14] ^JP March 21, 1995 ^NA May 1, 1995 ^PAL July 31, 1995	Release years by system: 1995 – Game Boy[14] 2012 – Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console emulation)
	Notes: Known in Japan as Hoshi no Kirby 2 (星のカービィ2 Hoshi no Kābī 2, lit. "Kirby of the Stars 2")[14][15] Re-released for download over the Nintendo Power system in Japan.[10][14]
Kirby Super Star Original release date(s):[16] ^JP March 21, 1996 ^NA September 20, 1996 ^PAL January 23, 1997	Release years by system: 1996 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System[16] 2009/2010 – Wii (Virtual Console emulation) 2013 – Wii U (Virtual Console emulation)
	Notes: Known in Europe as Kirby's Fun Pak and in Japan as Hoshi no Kirby Super Deluxe (星のカービィ スーパーデラックス Hoshi no Kābī Sūpā Derakkusu, lit. "Kirby of the Stars Super Deluxe")[16][17] The game is split into six shorter stories with events that interweave between them.[3]
Kirby's Dream Land 3 Original release date(s): ^JP March 27, 1998[18] ^NA November 1, 1997[19] ^PAL July 24, 2009 (Wii Virtual Console version)	Release years by system: 1997 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System[20] 2009 – Wii (Virtual Console emulation)[21] 2013 – Wii U (Virtual Console emulation)
	Notes: Known in Japan as Hoshi no Kirby 3 (星のカービィ3 Hoshi no Kābī 3, lit. "Kirby of the Stars 3")[18][22]
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards Original release date(s):[23] ^JP March 24, 2000 ^NA June 26, 2000 ^PAL June 22, 2001	Release years by system: 2000 – Nintendo 64[23] 2008 – Wii (Virtual Console emulation)[24]
	Notes: Known in Japan as Hoshi no Kirby 64 (星のカービィ64 Hoshi no Kābī 64, lit. "Kirby of the Stars 64")[23][25]
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror Original release date(s):[26] ^JP April 15, 2004 ^NA October 18, 2004 ^PAL July 2, 2004	Release years by system: 2004 – Game Boy Advance[26] 2011 – Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console emulation) 2014 – Wii U (Virtual Console emulation)
	Notes: Known in Japan as Hoshi no Kirby: Kagami no Daimeikyuu (星のカービィ 鏡の大迷宮 Hoshi no Kābī Kagami no Daimeikyū, lit. "Kirby of the Stars: The Great Labyrinth of the Mirror")[26][27]
Kirby: Canvas Curse Original release date(s):[28] ^JP March 24, 2005 ^NA June 13, 2005 ^EU November 25, 2005	Release years by system: 2005 – Nintendo DS[28]
	Notes: Known in Europe as Kirby: Power Paintbrush and in Japan as Touch! Kirby (タッチ!カービィ Tatchi! Kābī)[27][28]
Kirby: Squeak Squad Original release date(s):[29] ^JP November 2, 2006 ^NA December 4, 2006 ^EU June 22, 2007	Release years by system: 2006 – Nintendo DS[29]
	Notes: Known in Europe as Kirby Mouse Attack and in Japan as Hoshi no Kirby: Sanjō! Dorocche Dan (星のカービィ 参上! ドロッチェ団 Hoshi no Kābī Sanjō! Dorotche-dan, lit. "Kirby of the Stars: Calling on the Dorocche Gang!")[27][29]
Kirby's Epic Yarn Original release date(s):[30] ^JP October 14, 2010 ^NA October 17, 2010 ^EU February 25, 2011	Release years by system: 2010 – Wii[30]
Kirby Mass Attack Original release date(s):[31] ^JP August 4, 2011 ^NA September 19, 2011 ^EU October 28, 2011 ^AUS October 27, 2011	Release years by system: 2011 – Nintendo DS[31]
	Notes: Released in Japan as Atsumete! Kirby (あつめて！カービィ Atsumete! Kābī, lit. "Gather! Kirby")
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Original release date(s):[30] ^JP October 27, 2011 ^NA October 24, 2011 ^EU November 25, 2011	Release years by system: 2011 – Wii[30]
	Notes: Released in Europe as Kirby's Adventure Wii and in Japan as Hoshi no Kirby Wii (星のカービィWii Hoshi no Kābī U~ī, lit. "Kirby of the Stars Wii")
Kirby: Triple Deluxe Original release date(s):[32] ^JP January 11, 2014 ^NA May 2, 2014 ^EU May 16, 2014	Release years by system: 2014 – Nintendo 3DS
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse Original release date(s):[33] ^JP January 22, 2015 ^NA February 20, 2015 ^EU May 8, 2015	Release years by system: 2015 – Wii U

Remakes

Title	Details
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land Original release date(s):[34] ^JP October 25, 2002 ^NA December 2, 2002 ^PAL September 26, 2003	Release years by system: 2002 – Game Boy Advance[34] 2014 - WiiU
	Notes: Known in Japan as Hoshi no Kirby: Yume no Izumi Deluxe (星のカービィ 夢の泉デラックス Hoshi no Kābī Yume no Izumi Derakkusu, lit. "Kirby of the Stars: The Fountain of Dreams Deluxe")[34][35] Remake of Kirby's Adventure.[36]
Kirby Super Star Ultra Original release date(s):[37] ^JP November 6, 2008 ^NA September 22, 2008 ^EU September 18, 2009	Release years by system: 2008 – Nintendo DS[37]
	Notes: Known in Japan as Hoshi no Kirby: Ultra Super Deluxe (星のカービィ ウルトラスーパーデラックス Hoshi no Kābī Urutora Sūpā Derakkusu, lit. "Kirby of the Stars Ultra Super Deluxe")[27][37] Remake of Kirby Super Star.[38] The game includes full-motion video, a graphical upgrade, and touch-screen support, all of which were not available in the original.[3]
Kirby's Dream Collection Original release date(s):[39] ^JP July 19, 2012 ^NA September 16, 2012	Release years by system: 2012 – Wii[39]
	Notes: Includes Kirby's Dream Land, Kirby's Adventure, Kirby's Dream Land 2, Kirby Super Star, Kirby's Dream Land 3, and Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards[39]

Other genres

Title	Details
Kirby's Pinball Land Original release date(s):[40] ^JP November 27, 1993 ^NA November 1993 ^PAL 1993	Release years by system: 1993 – Game Boy[40] 2012 – Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console emulation)
	Notes: Known in Japan as Kirby no Pinball (カービィのピンボール Kābī no Pinbōru)[40][41] Re-released for download over the Nintendo Power system in Japan.[10][40]
Kirby's Dream Course Original release date(s):[42] ^JP September 21, 1994 ^NA February 1, 1995 ^PAL August 24, 1995	Release years by system: 1994 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System[42] 2007 – Wii (Virtual Console emulation)[43] 2013 – Wii U (Virtual Console emulation)
	Notes: Known in Japan as Kirby Bowl (カービィボウル Kābī Bouru)[42][44] A Kirby golf game[42] Re-released for download over the Nintendo Power system in Japan.[10][42]
Kirby's Avalanche Original release date(s):[45] ^NA April 25, 1995 ^PAL February 1, 1995	Release years by system: 1995 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System[46] 2007 – Wii (Virtual Console emulation)[47]
	Notes: Known as Kirby's Ghost Trap in PAL regions.[48] A Kirby puzzle game.[45] Based on Compile's Puyo Puyo[47]
Kirby's Block Ball Original release date(s):[49] ^JP December 14, 1995 ^NA May 1996 ^EU December 1995	Release years by system: 1995 – Game Boy[49] 2011/2012 – Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console emulation)
	Notes: Known in Japan as Kirby no Block Ball (カービィのブロックボール Kābī no Burokku Bōru)[49][50] A breakout clone skinned with the Kirby franchise.[51] Re-released for download over the Nintendo Power system in Japan.[10][49]
Kirby's Toy Box Original release date(s):[52] ^JP January 1, 1996	Release years by system: 1996 – Satellaview (a Super Famicom add-on)[52]
	Notes: Released exclusively in Japan.[52] 8 mini-games released over the Satellaview to advertise Kirby Super Star.[52]
Kirby's Star Stacker Original release date(s):[53] ^JP March 18, 1997 ^NA July 7, 1997 ^EU August 28, 1997	Release years by system: 1997 – Game Boy[53] 1998 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System[54] 2010 – Wii (Virtual Console SNES emulation) 2012/2013 – Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console Game Boy emulation)
	Notes: Known in Japan as Kirby no Kirakira Kids (カービィのきらきらきっず Kābī no Kirakira Kizzu)[53][55] Later released exclusively in Japan for the Super Famicom under the same title.[53][56][57] A Kirby puzzle game in the vein of Puyo Puyo and Tetris[51] Re-released for download over the Nintendo Power system in Japan.[10][53]
Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble Original release date(s):[58] ^JP August 26, 2000 ^NA April 9, 2001	Release years by system: 2000 – Game Boy Color[58]
	Notes: Known in Japan as Koro Koro Kirby (コロコロカービィ Koro Koro Kābī)[58][59][60] The first Game Boy Color game to use motion control.[58]
Kirby Air Ride Original release date(s):[61] ^JP July 11, 2003 ^NA October 13, 2003 ^EU February 27, 2004	Release years by system: 2003 – Nintendo GameCube[61]
	Notes: Known in Japan as Kirby no Air Ride (カービィのエアライド Kābī no Ea Raido)[61][62] A Kirby arcade racing game.[63]

Cancelled titles

Title	Details
Kirby's Air Ride Cancellation date: N/A	Proposed system release: Nintendo 64
	Notes: Was later released on the Gamecube
Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble 2 Cancellation date:[64] 2002	Proposed system release: GameCube/Game Boy Advance[64]
	Notes: Sequel to Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble for the Game Boy Color.[64] Used the Game Boy Advance as a controller for the GameCube game using the Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance Cable to connect the two together; the Game Boy Advance is used as a motion sensor as it was in the first Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble.[64]

Other media

Title	Details
Kirby: Right Back at Ya! 2001–2003 – 100-episode television series[65]	Notes: Distributed in North America by 4Kids Entertainment for a four-year run showing all one hundred episodes, from 2002 to 2006.[65]
Kirby of the Stars: The Story of Dedede Who Lives In Pupupu 1995 – – Manga series[66]	Notes: Long-running Kirby manga series.[66]

References

1. "HAL Laboratory". IGN. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
2. "Kirby's Dream Land for Game Boy - Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
3. Harris, Craig (September 22, 2008). "Kirby Super Star Ultra Review". IGN. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
4. Navarro, Alex (December 5, 2006). "Kirby Squeak Squad Review". GameSpot. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
5. Harris, Craig (December 5, 2006). "Kirby Squeak Squad Review". IGN. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
6. 星のカービィ ストーリー (in Japanese). HICBC. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
7. Nintendo (September 18, 2008). "Nintendo's Kirby Floats Through the Skies (Press Release)". IGN. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
8. "Interview with Masahiro Sakurai" (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
9. 星のカービィ (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
10. Robinson, Andy (November 29, 2008). "Nintendo closes Nintendo Power". CVG. Retrieved July 16, 2007.
11. "Kirby's Adventure for NES - Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
12. "Kirby's Adventure for Wii - Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
13. "VC 星のカービィ夢の泉の物語" (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
14. "Kirby's Dream Land 2 for Game Boy - Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
15. 星のカービィ2 (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
16. "Kirby Super Star for SNES - Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
17. 星のカービィ スーパーデラックス (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
18. 星のカービィ3 (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
19. "Kirby's Dream Land 3: Cheats". IGN. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
20. Kirby's Dream Land 3 - Overview. Allgame. Retrieved on November 29, 2008.
21. "One WiiWare Game and One Virtual Console Game Added to Wii Shop Channel". Nintendo of America. 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
22. "Kirby's Dream Land 3 (Virtual Console)". IGN. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
23. "Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards - Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
24. "Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards for Wii - Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
25. "星のカービィ64". Nintendo. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
26. "Kirby & the Amazing Mirror for GBA - Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
27. 星のカービィ 鏡の大迷宮 (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
28. "Kirby: Canvas Curse for DS - Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
29. "Kirby Squeak Squad for DS - Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
30. Harris, Craig (June 15, 2010). "E3 2010: Kirby's Epic Yarn is Awesome Patchwork". IGN. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
31. Tanner, Nicole (2011). "E3 2011: Nintendo Teases More Games - UPDATE". IGN Entertainment. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
32. Gera, Emily. "Kirby: Triple Deluxe coming to Japan on Jan. 11". Polygon. Retrieved November 2013.
33. Gera, Emily. "Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is heading to Wii U in 2015". Polygon. Retrieved June 2014.
34. "Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land - Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
35. 星のカービィ 夢の泉デラックス (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
36. Provo, Frank (December 9, 2002). "Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land - Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
37. "Kirby Super Star Ultra - Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
38. Pfister, Andrew (September 23, 2008). "Kirby Super Star Ultra Review". 1up.com. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
39. "Kirby's Dream Collection Release Date Announced". Game Informer. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
40. "Kirby's Pinball Land for Game Boy - Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
41. カービィのピンボール (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
42. "Kirby's Dream Course for Super Nintendo - Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
43. Provo, Frank (September 4, 2007). "Kirby's Dream Course for Wii Review". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
44. カービィボウル (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
45. Thomas, Lucas M. (September 26, 2007). "Kirby's Avalanche Review". IGN. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
46. "Kirby's Avalanche for SNES". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
47. Provo, Frank (October 2, 2007). "Kirby's Avalanche for Wii Review". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
48. "Kirby's Rainbow Resort: Kirby's Avalanche". GameSpy. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
49. "Kirby's Block Ball for Game Boy". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
50. カービィのブロックボール (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
51. IGN Nintendo Team. "Kirby Compared". Nintendo. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
52. "BS Kirby no Omotya Bako Baseball". IGN. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
53. "Kirby's Star Stacker for Game Boy". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
54. "'Kirby's Star Stacker'". NinDB. Retrieved 2008-12-04. External link in |work= (help)
55. カービィのきらきらきっず (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
56. "Kirby no KiraKira Kids for SNES". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
57. カービィのきらきらきっず (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
58. Harris, Craig (April 10, 2001). "Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble Review". IGN. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
59. IGN Staff (August 22, 2001). "Spaceworld 2001: Koro Koro Kirby Cube". IGN. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
60. コロコロカービィ (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
61. "Kirby Air Ride for GameCube - Release Summary". GameSpot. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
62. カービィのエアライド (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
63. Casamassina, Matt (October 13, 2003). "Kirby Air Ride Review". IGN. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
64. Harris, Craig (August 22, 2001). "Space World 2001: Game Boy Advance to GameCube Connectivity". IGN. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
65. "Kirby's Rainbow Resort". GameSpy. Archived from the original on May 6, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
66. "Kirby - Manga: Vol. 01". Nippon Export. Retrieved December 15, 2008.

External links

• Official US Kirby website
• Official Japanese Kirby website (Japanese)
• HAL Laboratory website (Japanese)
• Nintendo website