Parents' Guide to

Kirby Star Allies

By Chad Sapieha, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Fun, colorful platformer promotes friendship, teamwork.

Game Nintendo Switch 2018
Kirby Star Allies Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Kirby Star Allies game screenshot #1
  • Kirby Star Allies game screenshot #2
  • Kirby Star Allies game screenshot #3

Community Reviews

See all
age 6+

Based on 5 parent reviews

Leonardo M.
Leonardo M. Parent of 3-year-old
November 30, 2022
age 3+

Perfect introduction to videogames

I first played through it with my son as he was 2 years old, and he mostly just tagged along, However as he turned 3 he became able to play the whole thing all by himself, I had to help him out with just a few to progress, but he made sure to comeback and beat them all by himself. This game is an amazing introduction to platformers and videogames in general, it’s incredibly well designed and polished as expected from Nintendo. It has a few scary boss fights as others pointed out, but it’s mostly fine.

This title has:

Easy to play/use
Ocycat13
Ocycat13 Adult
February 7, 2020
age 6+

Kids can play this game but lore is wierd

Sooo Basically Nintendo does this thing where they make kids games with creepy bosses really messed lore and strange details Its easy to play and its just in general a great game for kids if you dont think about how weird the story (a child eating people and also turning them agains thier familly and friends) and lore is. (examples of weird nintendo game lore is Earthbound/Mother series Star Fox and the Paper mario series )

This title has:

Easy to play/use
See all 5 parent reviews

What’s It About?

KIRBY STAR ALLIES provides a pretty straightforward side-scrolling platformer experience with one notable twist: Nintendo's beloved pink puffball can turn enemies he encounters into friendly helpers by giving them a big pink heart. As usual, he can also copy enemy abilities by swallowing them. But with up to three helpers in tow -- all of whom can be controlled by other local players with their own controllers -- players now have access to a broader range of abilities necessary to solve little contextual problems. A friend with an umbrella can use it to deflect a waterfall while a fire-powered pal lights a dynamite fuse running beneath it, all while Kirby fights off any nearby enemies with a hammer, a zap of electricity, or a karate punch. More than that, pressing up on the control stick signals allies to combine their powers in fun ways, often resulting in supercharged fighters or the ability to overcome an obstacle. Beyond the friendship theme, players can expect more of what's made Kirby's adventures so popular in the past, including simple boss fights, plenty of hidden doors and unlockable bonus stages, and lots of collectibles, including jigsaw puzzle pieces that gradually assemble into celebratory pictures.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (14 ):

Nintendo is famous for its feel-good platformers, but this one kicks things up a notch. By giving us the ability to befriend almost any bad guy -- yes, even the notorious villain King Dedede and mysterious Meta Knight -- by giving them big puffy pink hearts, Kirby Star Allies deepens the franchise's already laudable atmosphere of friendliness. Watching your little group of four pals work together by, say, one lighting another's sword on fire for a little extra oomph, or all four joining together to create a bridge, is a joy. Add in some truly fun new abilities for Kirby to copy, such as the power to paint portraits on canvases to bring items into the world and a chef skill that can whip up scrumptious meals, as well as surprisingly pretty visuals -- pay attention to the deep backgrounds in some environments to catch glimpses of glistening water and beautiful sunsets -- and you have yet another winner of a Kirby adventure.

It can be a bit confusing at times. Having so many characters on-screen -- both enemies and allies -- all acting of their own accord occasionally makes things a little hectic. Don't be surprised if you sometimes lose track of Kirby amid all of the movement and effects. And bonus multiplayer mini-games available on the title screen -- like one in which you simply bat a ball at an asteroid, aiming for maximum power -- feel like purposeless throwaway content, existing simply to pad out a game that's perhaps a little on the short side compared to other Nintendo platformers, such as Super Mario Odyssey. But don't worry about getting your money's worth. Kirby Star Allies has great replayability -- especially if you have a friend or family member who can play with you.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about screen time. How many of Kirby Star Allies' 10-minute stages do you need to complete in a single session to feel satisfied?

  • Talk about working together with others. How is it different to complete a task with the help of friends rather than alone? How does it make you feel?

Game Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended game lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate