Chinese Singaporean immigrant in the UK. Writer. Nintendo enthusiast. SF Giants fan. Ailuromaniac. (Other animals are 💖.) Bibliophile. Anime-niac. See the link for my TTRPGs out on http://itch.io


Kirby's Dream Buffet wouldn't be my game of the year. It's too small or light for that. But it is still very enjoyable.

As you can see it's a bit like Fall Guys, in that it offers multiplayer with obstacle courses, mini-games and different stages. There's a maximum of 4 players though. You can play against AI players if you don't want to go online, or you can play against friends (you can generate a code to share a match with pals), or you can take on random strangers.

The way you roll through the maps isn't very precise. This feels a bit more random than something like Fall Guys. But also the rumble from the Joy-Cons works very well in this game. Tactile feedback gives an immediate sense of your rolling away with some heft. I can feel the direction as I tilt the stick and direct my Kirby through courses, or I can feel the impact when the little guy bounces off other Kirbys during mini-games.

The overall colourful look and feel of the game, the cheerful music, the cute costumes, the silly expressions the Kirbys get on their faces - all of that adds up to bright, light fun. It's very easy to pick up my Switch and just play a quick round or two now and then. Unlocking more stages as you go feels like a way to add some longevity to the experience, but I think it's a game best dipped into for occasion light relief, rather than treated as something to grind.

I don't feel a need to be "good" at the game; I can still accrue points and make progress even if I don't win; it'll just be a little slower than if I score many victories. But that's OK. If this is about light fun, then I'm content to take my time, dropping in now and then for some satisfying rounds, and then finishing up with a smile on my face whatever placing I get.


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