Popular Games by HAL Laboratory
Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star Crossed World Switch 2
- 28th Aug 2025 (UK/EU)
- 28th Aug 2025 (NA)
- 22nd Sep 2008 (NA)
- 6th Nov 2008 (JPN)
- 18th Sep 2009 (UK/EU)
Kirby and the Forgotten Land Switch
- 25th Mar 2022 (UK/EU)
- 25th Mar 2022 (NA)
- 11th Jan 2014 (JPN)
- 2nd May 2014 (NA)
- 16th May 2014 (UK/EU)
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe Switch
- 24th Feb 2023 (UK/EU)
- 24th Feb 2023 (NA)
- 11th Aug 2003 (JPN)
- 13th Oct 2003 (NA)
- 27th Feb 2004 (UK/EU)
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Wii
- 24th Oct 2011 (NA)
- 27th Oct 2011 (JPN)
- 25th Nov 2011 (UK/EU)
Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition Wii
- 19th Jul 2012 (JPN)
- 16th Sep 2012 (NA)
- 4th Aug 2011 (JPN)
- 19th Sep 2011 (NA)
- 28th Oct 2011 (UK/EU)
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land GBA
- 25th Oct 2002 (JPN)
- 2nd Dec 2002 (NA)
- 26th Sep 2003 (UK/EU)
Reviews of HAL Laboratory Games
Dream Weaver
If you’ve had a gander at our list of the Best Kirby Games Of All Time lately (or read our original 9/10 review from back in the day, more to the point) you’ll know that we hold Kirby’s Return to Dream Land in high regard around these parts. A return to classic Kirby action after a few less successful deviations from the norm...
Review Kirby's Dream Buffet (Switch) - A Delicious Spread To Put You In The Party Mood
Waddle Dee-licious
What do you get when you take a generous helping of Fall Guys, add a pinch of Super Monkey Ball and then mix in a lovely big dollop of Kirby? Well, a great big dream buffet, that's what. Kirby's Dream Buffet is a bright and breezy party game that sees a whole field full of Kirby characters roll at speed down sweet treat-laden...
Review Pokémon Snap - Photo Fun That's Over Too Soon
Candid Camera + Pocket Monster
This review originally went live in 2016, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival on Switch as part of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. There are moments during Pokémon Snap where — upon finding a hidden path — the game ditches the first-person perspective to show your...
Review Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards - Kirby's First Brush With 3D Is Still A Charmer
Kirby Sixty-phwoar
Like many of Nintendo's properties during the transition from the SNES to the N64, Kirby underwent a shift from a flat 2D sprite to a fully rendered polygon rendition of himself. Rather than taking Kirby down the route of Mario and Link, however, the pink mascot stuck closer to his origins — mechanically, Kirby 64: The Crystal...
Review Kirby And The Forgotten Land (Switch) - A Breezy Delight With Mario-Level Invention
Once more, with mouthfeeling
Well. It's finally here. In celebration of 30 whole years (!) of 2D and 2.5D adventures — with a little 3D sprinkled in for good measure — Kirby's first proper fully three dimensional mainline escapade has now arrived and, as long as you know exactly what to expect from the little pink puffball, it's an absolute...
Review EarthBound - A Quirky, Cosmic Adventure Bound To Warm Your Heart
Mother!
This review originally went live in 2016, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the arrival of Earthbound in the Nintendo Switch Online Super NES library. Fuzzy pickles! Back in 1995, this second instalment of Shigesato Itoi's much-loved Mother series (as it's known in Japan) only received a western release in North America, where...
Latest HAL Laboratory News
Friday4th Apr 2025
Guide Where To Pre-Order Kirby And The Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World For Nintendo Switch 2
Springing up the cheapest and best prices
Kirby is settling in on the Nintendo Switch 2 early on with an enhanced rerelease of the critically-acclaimed Kirby and the Forgotten Land on the OG Switch. Launching on the Switch 2 on 28th August 2025, Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World doesn't just improve the...
Friday21st Feb 2025
Anniversary HAL Laboratory Is 45 Years Old Today
Kirb your enthusiasm
Whip up a last-minute cake and bring out the candles because we have a big birthday on our hands, folks. HAL Laboratory, the company behind Kirby, the OG Smash Bros., EarthBound and another boatload of beauties that we'll get to in just a moment, has turned 45 today. Yep, on 21st February 1980, Mitsuhiro Ikeda founded HAL with...
Monday10th Feb 2025
Rumour Kirby: Planet Robobot Will Indeed Come To Switch, It's Claimed
Another stopgap?
Before Kirby and the Forgotten Land swooped in with its excellent 3D take on the classic Kirby formula, Kirby: Planet Robobot for 3DS was widely regarded as the best entry in the series. Now, according to reliable leaker Nate the Hate, the 2016 platformer may be getting a similar treatment to Luigi's Mansion 2 HD with an upcoming...
Sunday26th Jan 2025
Feature Catch-Up Crew: Pokémon Snap - "There’s Nothing Stopping You From Pelting Every Unlucky ‘Mon"
Jack and beans
Welcome to Catch-up Crew, where USS Nintendo Life officers slingshot around the sun and go back to play something a crewmember missed back in the day. We went back to the first WarioWare game last time, but today our destination is the year 1999 when Pokémon Snap first appeared on a chunky N64 cartridge. For anyone looking to play...
Saturday28th Dec 2024
Feature The Famicom Failure That Almost Bankrupted HAL, But Shaped Nintendo's Future
HAL be there
Unless you’re a dedicated Famicom collector, it’s unlikely that you’ve heard of Metal Slader Glory. Released right at the tail end of the Famicom’s life in 1991, the year after the release of the Super Famicom, Metal Slader Glory never made it out of Japan, and it proved to be a massive flop for HAL Laboratory. But the very...
Friday15th Nov 2024
News EarthBound 30th Anniversary Merch Will Include A Giant Mr Saturn Plushie
Big zoom
Classic SNES RPG EarthBound, known as Mother 2 in Japan, celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this year — yes, really, no need to pinch yourself. But Nintendo and Hobonichi will be continuing to celebrate this seminal game later this month with a variety of promotions and merchandise in Japan. Let's start with Hobonichi and a brand...
Tuesday22nd Oct 2024
News HAL Laboratory's Lovely Physics Puzzler 'Part Time UFO' Has Been Delisted On Mobile
Switch version is still available
The mobile version of HAL Laboratory's Part Time UFO has been delisted from storefronts as of today, the game's official Twitter has announced. But don't worry, the Switch version isn't going anywhere. Shared on Bluesky by AK, Part Time UFO's original mobile release is no longer available to download on mobile...
Monday29th Jul 2024
News Super Smash Bros. N64 Storyboard Artwork Discovered
Depicting the opening movie
The original storyboard documents for Super Smash Bros. on the Nintendo 64 have been discovered online. David V. Kimball, a marketing director and content creator who has previously made videos about Super Smash Bros. Melee, stumbled across the design documents — drawn by Masahiro Sakurai — by using the Wayback...
Monday20th May 2024
Random Sakurai Cut Dolby Surround From Kirby Game To Trim Player Wait Time
One second too long
Super Smash Bros. developer Masahiro Sakurai has frequently demonstrated his desire to make game experiences as smooth and accessible as possible for the player. In a recent livestream event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hamster's Arcade Archives series, he talked on-stage with fellow creator Hideki Kamiya (Bayonetta,
Monday15th Apr 2024
Guide Best Kirby Games Of All Time
Every Kirby game, ranked
Kirby — one of the most famous faces (with little podgy arms and feet attached) in Nintendo's stable of stars — has been wowing players with his impressive abilities and sheer versatility for well over 30 years now. In fact, Kirby and his catalogue represent an odd dichotomy. He's a super approachable platforming...
Sunday3rd Mar 2024
News Pop Up Parade "Pull Back" Kirby Car Now Available To Pre-Order
A new Good Smile Company release
Last month, Good Smile Company teased new figma including a Pop Up Parade version of the Kirby car, based on his transformation in Kirby and the Forgotten Land. This item is now available for pre-order and will set you back USD $25.99 (or your regional equivalent). It's estimated to ship in Q4 2024 and even zooms...
Thursday22nd Feb 2024
Guide How To Change Your Nintendo Account Region And Play Mother 3 On Switch
O Mother, where art thou?
Mother 3, the celebrated final part of the EarthBound trilogy (as it's known in the West), is available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers in Japan. As of 21st February 2024, the 2006 Game Boy Advance title is available as part of the Switch Online service's library to anyone with a subscription at the Expansion Pack...
Monday19th Feb 2024
Random Japan Is Getting Another Mother-Themed G-Shock Watch
Earthbound celebrates 30th anniversary this year
The cult hit EarthBound (Mother 2) is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, so naturally, that means that Japan is getting another collaboration between Mother and watch manufacturer Casio. Due for launch on 14 March, 2024 via a lottery purchase system, the 'Mother Red's GW-6900' follows a...
Friday16th Feb 2024
News Kirby Happy Meal Promotion Announced For McDonald's Japan
Would you like Kirby with that?
McDonald's will be running a new Happy Meal promotion in Japan featuring a bunch of new plush-like Kirby toys. This promotion will begin later this month on 23rd February 2024 and features two waves, with four plush in each one. Fans of the pink puff will have a chance to grab different versions of Kirby (including a...
Wednesday24th Jan 2024
News Kirby Developer HAL Laboratory Recruiting For New Projects
The pink puff will return
HAL Laboratory is constantly pumping out new releases starring the pink puffball Kirby, so what's planned in 2024? While there's no official announcement just yet, unsurprisingly the company is looking towards the future and may already be hiring for its next big project to follow Kirby and the Forgotten Land. As...
Tuesday2nd Jan 2024
News Plans Are Reportedly In Place To Celebrate Earthbound's 30th Anniversary
We all know what we want, though
This year marks the 30th anniversary of EarthBound (known in Japan as Mother 2) and, according to the official X (formerly Twitter) page, plans are in place to celebrate the hefty milestone (thanks, My Nintendo News). What these plans are, exactly, is up in the air at the moment, but we're not expecting anything...
Friday8th Dec 2023
News World Of Goo Is Getting A Sequel In 2024
The physics-based construction puzzler is back
In some surprise news at this year's Game Awards show, a sequel for the famous physics-based construction puzzler World of Goo was announced. It will be released in 2024 and is simply titled World of Goo 2. The original game by 2D Boy and Tomorrow Corporation was originally released on the Nintendo...
Friday29th Sep 2023
News Nintendo Expands Switch Online's Game Boy Advance Library
Kirby & The Amazing Mirror returns
Update [Fri 29th Sep, 2023 02:15 BST]: Nintendo's latest Switch Online update for the GBA library is now officially live. This will bump the application up to Version 1.4.0 and adds Kirby & The Amazing Mirror to the collection. Japan has received the same game. Original article [Fri 22nd Sep, 2023 03:05...
Wednesday6th Sep 2023
News Nintendo Expands Switch Online's Game Boy Color, SNES & NES Library With Four More Games
Three "Japan-only" titles and a Warner Bros. licensed game
Nintendo has added four more games to the Switch Online library today but it's not the sort of lineup you might be expecting. Three of these games are "Japan only" and were never translated into English. Starting off with the NES lineup, there's the 1993 release Joy Mech Fight. This is a...
Tuesday18th Apr 2023
News Kirby GDC Panel, 'The Many Dimensions Of Kirby', Now Available Online
Celebrating 30 years of Kirby
Kirby got his very own panel at this year's GDC, and for a while, many different outlets were sharing stories on how developer HAL Laboratory brought the pink puffball's adventures into full 3D with Kirby and the Forgotten Land. And now, you can watch the full 50-minute talk over on YouTube. GDC has uploaded the...
Tuesday4th Apr 2023
News Nintendo Is Officially Done With Kirby's 30th Anniversary Celebrations
NEXT!
We're not entirely sure if this one needed to be announced, but it has been... and it's the confirmation on Nintendo's end that celebrations of the pink puff are now officially over! Yes, don't even try to celebrate his 30th anniversary past this date, because according to a message on social media, Nintendo is moving on - just like it did...
Sunday2nd Apr 2023
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel - Kirby's Adventure
No copying here
Hello folks! We made it through April Fools' Day, so it's time to say: welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl! First off, let's have a quick look back at last week's tussle. Super Mario Bros. 2 (or Super Mario USA) took to the stage, and while it was fairly close, Japan won this fight with 59% of the vote. We're fans off both,...
Friday31st Mar 2023
News Kirby Is Officially A BAFTA Winner, Takes Home Best Family Game
Kirby and the Forgotten Land was Nintendo's only win
Nintendo and the 'Best Family Game' award are bedfellows at this point. And last night's BAFTA Game Awards continued this trend by awarding Kirby and the Forgotten Land with the trophy. But hey, Kirby is a BAFTA winner now, and that's pretty cool! (Thanks GamesIndustry.biz.) Kirby's 3D adventure...
Monday27th Mar 2023
Random It's Okay Everyone, Kirby Doesn't Digest His Enemies
...they just disappear and appear somewhere else
Ever wondered what happens when Kirby swallows his enemies? Well, he doesn't eat them, at least in the traditional sense — that's according to HAL Laboratory's executive director Shinya Kumazaki. In an interview with Polygon at this year's GDC, the publication was dying to know the truth behind...
Thursday23rd Mar 2023
Random Kirby's Dream Land 2's Animal Friends Might Not Be What They Seem
Hamster status: denied
Nintendo has quietly released a patch for its Game Boy emulator on Nintendo Switch Online, and while version 1.1.1 hasn't changed much at all, the one thing it has changed may have a serious impact on Kirby lore. Spotted by OatmealDome after being notified by their followers on Twitter, the description for Kirby's Dream Land...
Monday20th Mar 2023
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - BOXBOY! Trilogy
#25 - BUYBOXBOY!
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for good...
Friday24th Feb 2023
Guide Kirby's Return To Dream Land Deluxe: All Magolor Skills
Combo Master
With Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, players are sure to be busy getting to grips with the wonderfully remastered campaign, as well as the all-new Magolor's Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveller content. Magolor's Epilogue sees you take control of Magolor across four stages packed full of enemies and boss battles and, in order...
Guide Kirby's Return To Dream Land Deluxe: All Secret HAL Rooms
Dave, my mind is going, I can feel it...
Kirby's Return to Dream Land is available on Switch in 'Deluxe' form featuring new areas and secrets to discover, including a special stage in Magolor's Epilogue, plus returning secrets such as the two secret HAL Rooms that you can find during t
C'mere, there's more
One of the headline additions to Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe is the brand new Magolor's Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveller, which adds a solid couple of hours of playtime onto the original Wii game's main campaign. There are a total of four areas in Magolor's Epilogue, with each one composed of four stages and a...
Tuesday21st Feb 2023
News The First Review For Kirby's Return To Dream Land Deluxe Is Now In
Are the scores pretty in pink?
Kirby's third Switch game in the last 12 months drops on Switch this Friday in the form of Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, a remake of the Wii game Kirby's Return to Dream Land (or Kirby's Adventure Wii if you're in Europe), and ahead of its 24th February launch, the first review has dropped (thanks, Gematsu)...
Friday13th Jan 2023
Video What's Going On With Kirby Right Now?
Will the little guy ever get full?
We have a little over a month to go before Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe flies onto the Switch. This is bound to be an exciting time for those of us who love Kirby and are a fan of the 2011 Wii game, but there will also be many out there who can't help but think, "wait, didn't we only just get a new Kirby...
Wednesday11th Jan 2023
News Kirby Gains New Copy Abilities For Return To Dreamland Deluxe
Oh Mr. Sandman...
We are just over a month away from the release of Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, and the team over at HAL Laboratory has started drip-feeding us new additions to the game. The most prominent of these is the reveal of Kirby's new Copy Abilities - power-ups gained after inhaling an enemy. We already knew of the Mecha ability...
Tuesday10th Jan 2023
Random Masahiro Sakurai Shares Kirby Air Ride Stories In Latest Video
"The game shouldn't be about striving for perfection"
Masahiro Sakurai, the brilliant mind behind a library-full of our favourite Nintendo titles, has moved onto another development story in his latest YouTube video. This time, the discussion is all about Kirby Air Ride as the legendary creator discusses how the idea came to be, development...
Tuesday27th Dec 2022
Video Join Us As We Celebrate 'The MOTHER We Share: Our EarthBound Story'
Now screening at PAX West
It's the second Sunday in May, which means it's Mother's Day in a great many countries around the world (although not in the UK, where Mothering Sunday falls in March). We're celebrating Mother's Day this year in a very special way and looking back fondly on one particular Mother that Nintendo fans around the world are...
Tuesday22nd Nov 2022
Random Fans Believe They Have Found The Original Wood Used In Mother 3 Logo
Wild spruce chase
Ah, the things that people will do while waiting for a localisation. Though it seems unlikely that Mother 3 will ever officially come to consoles out west, we can at least comfortably say that its fanbase has now discovered every last one of the game's details - right down to the wood used on the logo. Symbolic of Porky's takeover...
Monday31st Oct 2022
News Deep Breath, Kirby Mouthful Mode Plushies Are Finally On Their Way
December can't come quick enough
For the most part, Nintendo plushies come and go without catching our attention. Sure, there are some notable exceptions like last week's Judd and Li'l Judd cushions, and who can forget that big round Spheal from earlier this year?? But then you see an announcement like 'Kirby Mouthful Mode plushies are coming in...
Wednesday26th Oct 2022
Random Kirby's Dream Buffet To Become A Literary Classic With Book Adaptation
A smörgåsbord of words
Here's the video game-to-book adaptation you never knew you wanted — Kirby's Dream Buffet, 2022's adorable, snack-based party game featuring the pink puffball, is getting its own novel in Japan, Automaton Media reports. Yep, really. We know that Kirby games can get wild with their lore, but Dream Buffet certainly isn't...
Monday24th Oct 2022
Guide Kirby And The Forgotten Land Codes: Full List Of Kirby Present Codes
All the current Kirby and the Forgotten Land codes
Kirby is back on Switch and his latest adventure, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, has gone down a storm with gamers and critics alike. Nintendo has published several codes online via Twitter and the game's website which you can input at Waddle Dee-liveries and use to claim various in-game goodies...
Wednesday28th Sep 2022
Random Fans Make Kirby Card Game Featuring Chef Kawasaki In A Micro Bikini
But it has now been removed from sale
We never really expected to write about anything like this, but Automaton Media has reported on a rather unusual fan-made Kirby card game. That seems relatively harmless on its own — despite the fact that it's a card game featuring Kirby, a pretty huge Nintendo property, that was being sold on the Japanese...
Tuesday13th Sep 2022
News Kirby's Return To Dream Land Deluxe Flies To Switch Next February
Give us more Kirby!
Originally released on Wii back in 2011, Kirby's sword swinging adventure is coming to the Switch in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe on February 24th, 2023. The game is set to bring over all of the powered-up fun from the original and combine it with some new features such as the Mecha Copy Ability which seems to turn Kirby...
Thursday25th Aug 2022
Random Sakurai Originally Wanted Kirby To Grab Enemies With His Tongue
Beating Yoshi to the punch
We've been talking about Masahiro Sakurai a lot recently, haven't we? The creator of Kirby and Smash Bros. has started up his own YouTube channel, where he's already amassed over 200,000 subscribers, and he's already released one video about 'hit stops'. Sakurai has also started a miniseries on the channel called 'Game Co
Wednesday17th Aug 2022
Random Kirby Café Rustles Up A New Dessert To Celebrate Kirby's Dream Buffet
Activate mouthful mode
2022 is shaping up to be a pretty darn good year for Kirby. First there was the release of Kirby and the Forgotten Land back in March - which we described as 'an absolute delight' in our review - then there were the recent 30th anniversary celebrations, and now the release of the chompy couch co-op game, Kirby's Dream Buffet...
News Bonus Music Available In Kirby's Dream Buffet For Players Of Past Switch Games
Yay, free stuff!
Kirby's Dream Buffet is out now for the Switch eShop and is, by all accounts, a pretty good time! We posted our review of the game earlier and gave it a pretty healthy score of 8/10, stating that it's "an easy, breezy game to jump into, perfect for beginners and young gamers, with plenty of courses, lots of unlockable goodies, and a...
Random Kirby's Dream Buffet Makes Kirby Rounder Than Ever Before
But he's perfect no matter what
Kirby has one of the most simple and recognisable designs out of any video game character. He's just a pink round boy with big eyes and an irresistible face! We want to cuddle and squeeze him. But for today's brand new Kirby game, Kirby's Dream Buffet, it seems like Kirby needed to be even rounder! @ObscureKirby has...
Monday15th Aug 2022
"We thought of it as laying the groundwork for future works"
Here at Nintendo Life, we love a bit of Kirby. We were charmed by the pink puffball's latest foray on Switch in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and while we were less enamoured with 2018's Kirby Star Allies, it turns out that the developers at HAL Laboratory see the two games as much closer...
Friday12th Aug 2022
Random Kirby's Voice Actor Surprises At Anniversary Concert, And Everyone Loves Her
Of course they do!
Kirby's 30th Anniversary Music Fest gave us plenty of surprises yesterday on top of some top-tier renditions of incredible Kirby music, but one of the concert's biggest "wow" moments from a certain guest appearance — Kirby's voice actor. Yes, Kirby really does have a voice; it's not just a conglomeration of noises! But, even...
Thursday11th Aug 2022
News Kirby's Dream Buffet Rolls Out Worldwide Release Date
Update: Confirmed for the West!
Update [Thu 11th Aug, 2022 13:05 BST]: It's official! Nintendo has confirmed that Kirby's Dream Buffet is hitting the eShop worldwide on the same day — 17th August! What a lovely little summer treat. Pre-orders are now available on the eShop (North America, UK) and it will cost £13.49 — so probably closer to $15...
Wednesday3rd Aug 2022
News Kirby And The Forgotten Land Becomes The Second Best-Selling Kirby Game Ever
And it's had the highest sell-through of any Kirby game to date
Kirby and the Forgotten Land continues to break Kirby series records for Nintendo and HAL Laboratory. After becoming the most successful Kirby game in the UK ever last week, Nintendo now reports that the latest Kirby game has seen the highest sell-through of any Kirby game to date! This...
Tuesday26th Jul 2022
News Kirby And The Forgotten Land Developer Shares The Origins Of Mouthful Mode
'Whatever shape he takes, he's still very cute'
Remember when the internet collectively lost its mind over the first images of mouthful mode from Kirby and the Forgotten Land? There was something about seeing everyone's favourite peckish pink puff-ball inhaling a car before proceeding to cruise the streets that seemed to provide a much-needed...
Monday25th Jul 2022
News Kirby And The Forgotten Land Is Now The Most Successful Kirby Game In UK Chart History
Now that's an impressive mouthful
After a stellar release earlier this year, Kirby and the Forgotten Land has now become the most successful game in the Kirby franchise. The report comes courtesy of GamesIndustry.biz head Christopher Dring, who yesterday tweeted of the game's success as based on the number of boxed sales.
