Kirby's Next Chapter: Forgotten Land's Legacy & 3D Future

Last Updated: October 21, 2025

Hold onto your Warp Stars. When Kirby and the Forgotten Land launched in March 2022, it wasn't just another charming adventure—it was a landmark moment for the franchise. The pink puffball's first full foray into 3D platforming was a resounding critical and commercial success, leaving players captivated by its inventive Mouthful Modes, vibrant post-apocalyptic world, and pitch-perfect gameplay. The experience was so phenomenal that once the credits rolled and the isolated isles of the Forgotten Land were saved, fans immediately began asking one question: what's next? The desire for a large-scale DLC expansion was palpable, with the community buzzing about the potential for new worlds, tougher challenges, and more reasons to revisit the game's beloved stages.

However, as the months turned into years, it became clear that a major expansion for Kirby and the Forgotten Land was not on the horizon. Despite its incredible foundation, the game's post-launch support was limited to a few free Boss Rush additions in Waddle Dee Town and special codes for in-game items. The dream of a sprawling new world added to the existing map, which many fans had hoped for, never materialized. But HAL Laboratory didn't leave Kirby fans hungry. Instead of a direct encore, they delivered a series of different, yet equally delightful, experiences that kept the Kirby spirit alive and thriving on the Nintendo Switch.

A Buffet Before the Main Course

Just a few months after Forgotten Land, in August 2022, Nintendo dropped a surprise digital-only title: Kirby's Dream Buffet. This multiplayer-focused party game saw up to four Kirbys roll through dessert-themed obstacle courses, competing to eat the most strawberries and grow to an enormous size. While a far cry from a deep, single-player expansion, Dream Buffet was a fun, budget-friendly appetizer. It kept the puffball in the spotlight and provided a lighthearted, competitive experience that leveraged the charming physics and delightful aesthetic that modern Kirby is known for. It was a snack, not a feast, but it proved the kitchen was still open.

The True Encore: A Deluxe Return to Dream Land

The real answer to the fans' call for "more Kirby" arrived in February 2023 with the release of Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe. Rather than building upon the new 3D formula of Forgotten Land, HAL Laboratory remastered one of the most beloved 2.5D entries from the Wii era. This wasn't just a simple port; it was a loving and substantial upgrade that felt like a direct response to the community's desires for more content. The game brought back the classic four-player co-op platforming, allowing players to team up as Kirby, Meta Knight, King Dedede, and Bandana Waddle Dee.

More importantly, it was packed with new features. Two new Copy Abilities, Mecha and Sand, were added to Kirby's arsenal, and a new amusement park area called Merry Magoland offered a huge collection of competitive sub-games for players to enjoy. The most significant addition, however, was the brand-new, post-game adventure: "Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler."

This epilogue is, for all intents and purposes, the meaty "expansion" content fans had craved. Unlocked after completing the main story, it puts players in control of a de-powered Magolor, tasking them with regaining their lost magical abilities across a series of challenging new stages. This mode offered a fresh gameplay perspective and a significant difficulty spike, providing the very kind of high-level challenge that seasoned players who had conquered Forgotten Land's "Isolated Isles" post-game were looking for. It was a substantial encore that added hours of new, compelling content to an already feature-rich package.

A Bright, 3D Future

While a direct DLC for Kirby and the Forgotten Land remains a "what if," the period following its release was anything but empty. Through a fun multiplayer spin-off and a masterful remaster packed with new modes, Nintendo and HAL Laboratory ensured that players had plenty of Kirby to enjoy. The success of Return to Dream Land Deluxe proved the enduring appeal of the classic 2D formula, while the Magolor Epilogue provided the challenging post-game content fans desired.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land wasn't just a single, brilliant game; it was the start of a new, ambitious era. It established a 3D foundation that is now ripe for evolution. While we may have left its specific world behind for now, the lessons learned and the bar set by that adventure have undoubtedly paved the way for Kirby's next full 3D masterpiece. The encore wasn't what we expected, but it was a powerful reminder that no matter the dimension, Kirby always delivers perfection.