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Kirby Air Riders Character Unlock Guide: Checklist Tasks by Mode

A mode-by-mode guide to the reported Kirby Air Riders character unlock tasks, with checklist tips and current-version caveats.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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To unlock riders in Kirby Air Riders, complete the mode-specific tasks shown in the game’s checklist. Open a mode’s picture-grid checklist, hover over an available square to reveal its challenge, and use the displayed + option to jump to the challenge when available. The conditions below are those listed by Nintendo Life on November 20, 2025; if a task differs from what your game shows, follow the checklist in your installed version.

How to find your next character unlock

  1. Open the checklist for the mode you want to play. The game’s four principal modes are Air Ride, Road Trip, City Trial, and Top Ride.
  2. Inspect an available square in the picture grid. Hover over it to reveal the task associated with that checklist entry.
  3. Use the displayed + option when it appears. It can take you directly to the relevant challenge.
  4. Check the task again after playing. Checklist fixes have appeared in game updates, so the current in-game entry is the best guide to what your save can complete next.

Nintendo’s Play Nintendo tips recommend starting with Lessons, then Road Trip, as a way to learn the game while making progress on checklist challenges. Rick, in particular, is found through Checklist challenges. Nintendo’s tips for Kirby Air Riders also explain that play and checklist challenges earn Miles, which can be spent on customization.

Air Ride unlock conditions

The following Air Ride tasks are reported by Nintendo Life’s guide dated November 20, 2025. A rider may have other unlock routes in other modes.

Rider Listed Air Ride task
Kirby Finish without crashing into any walls.
Lololo & Lalala On Crystalline Fissure (Laps), finish within 3 minutes 30 seconds.
King Dedede Win with course, rider, and machine set to random.
Chef Kawasaki On Mount Amberfalls, eat Onigiri from the trackside teahouse as you pass.
Susie Perform 5 perfect landings in a single race.
Daroach Find and defeat the special shiny enemy Gemaine.
Scarfy On Waveflow Waters, defeat another Scarfy enemy without first making it angry.
Meta Knight Finish a lap without crashing into walls more than 2 times.
Marx Complete an entire Free Run lap without dropping below 30 km/h.
Taranza On Beanstalk Park, ride a total of 5,000 metres.
Waddle Doo On Floria Fields (Laps), finish without crashing into enemies.

Road Trip unlock conditions

Rider Listed Road Trip task
Kirby Auto-unlock.
Waddle Dee Defeat 30 riders during City Trial challenges.
Bandana Waddle Dee Clear Top Ride challenges a total of 3 times.
Lololo & Lalala Defeat 10 riders using star-type machines.
Rick Enter the shop 3 times.
King Dedede Clear a Treasure Hunt challenge.
Rocky Open a treasure chest on the road.
Knuckle Joe Power up all stats to 1 or higher.
Chef Kawasaki Clear Air Ride challenges a total of 3 times.
Susie Hit 3 enemies with a single attack.
Marx Spend 300,000 Road Miles.
Noir Dedede Beat the story and get the “true ending.”

City Trial unlock conditions

Rider Listed City Trial task
Kirby Defeat a rider while shrunk down.
Bandana Waddle Dee Destroy 2 boxes within 30 seconds of the match start.
King Dedede Get 80 points in a Gourmet Race match.
Knuckle Joe Steal a machine another rider is actively riding.
Scarfy Destroy a rider’s machine within the first 60 seconds.
Taranza Win a short race.
Magolor Enter all secret rooms.
Starman Fall for 6 seconds after boosting only once.
Cappy On Skydive 1, get 2,000 points in a match.
Gooey On Skydive 1, get 2,000 points in a single match.

Top Ride unlock conditions

Rider Listed Top Ride task
Kirby Win on Flower without using any Copy Abilities in a single race.
Rick Win Mountain with at least 5 seconds between you and second place.
Rocky Use 30 items.
Daroach Win after lapping an opponent.
Meta Knight On Nova, complete a lap without attacking another rider.
Magolor Send the same rider flying 2 times with Drill Driver.
Starman On Crystalline Fissure, complete 4 laps in the lead.
Waddle Doo Hit a rider with a Course Quaker.
Cappy On Air, win after being swept up in the tornado 3 times.
Gooey Win after being swept up in the tornado 3 times.

Version, roster count, and amiibo notes

Nintendo’s support update history lists Ver. 1.3.3 as released June 2, 2026, and records earlier checklist counting and reward fixes. Ver. 1.3.0 added Grand Prix for Air Ride matches in paddocks. Check that your game is updated before relying on a task that seems unavailable; online play requires the update and a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Nintendo Switch 2 software update history for Kirby Air Riders.

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#1 Best Overall
Kirby Air Riders - Nintendo Switch 2
  • Ready, set, battle! Charge, boost, and spin to attack your rivals in Kirby Air Riders, a fast-paced vehicle action featuring Kirby and crew – only on Nintendo Switch 2.
  • Riders at the ready! Pick your rider, pick your machine, and mount up for competition! Take on your rivals in frantic arena battles or fast-paced races on the ground and in the air. Use the Boost Charge button to brake and control your turns as your machine automatically fights for top speed. Fill your Boost Charge gauge as you drift around the bend and release it to trigger an explosive dash!
  • Ready, set, battle! Charge, boost, and spin to attack your rivals in Kirby Air Riders, a fast-paced vehicle action featuring Kirby and crew – only on Nintendo Switch 2.
  • Roam around Skyah to find machines, collect power-ups, and survive through unpredictable Field Events ranging from falling meteors to powerful boss battles. After five minutes of powering up, you and your rivals will compete in one of a whole host of different Stadium contests, each with its own objective. These include drag races, battle arenas, skydiving for points and more, so it helps to be ready for anything!
  • Race to the finish in Air Ride If straightforward racing is more your speed, check out Air Ride: a frantic dash where you can race against five other riders, or compete online or via local wireless. Attack opposing riders, or trail close behind their wake, to gather up stars – and use the speed boost they provide to beat your rivals to the finish line!

The roster total is not consistent across the cited sources: Nintendo Life’s unlock guide lists 21 playable characters, while Nintendo’s November 26, 2025 launch article says “20 Riders.” The update history through Ver. 1.3.3 does not announce a revised count, so check the current in-game roster rather than relying on either figure. Nintendo’s article also notes: “As a reminder, each Rider has their own stats and Special ability.” Nintendo’s Kirby Air Riders launch article.

Amiibo are optional, not a stated requirement for unlocking the rider roster. Nintendo says supported figures can update the Main Menu Figure, train a figure player, enable its use in supported modes, and grant unique rewards the first time a figure is scanned. Nintendo Support: amiibo functionality in Kirby Air Riders.

Rank #2
Kirby Air Riders Standard - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code]
  • Charge, boost, and spin to attack your rivals in this vehicle action game featuring Kirby and crew
  • Use the Boost Charge button to brake and control your turns as your machine fights for top speed
  • Fill up your Boost Charge Gauge and then release to trigger an explosive dash
  • Choose from a variety of riders like Kirby and Meta Knight, each with their own stats and Specials
  • Zip around Skyah in City Trial: a free-for-all battle for 16 players online or 8 players via local wireless

Nintendo Life’s character unlock guide is dated November 20, 2025. It lists Cappy and Gooey with apparently similar tasks; use the wording shown in your own checklist if those entries do not match or one has already been cleared.

Quick Recap

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Kirby Air Riders Standard - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code]
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Fill up your Boost Charge Gauge and then release to trigger an explosive dash; Take on one of a whole host of different Stadium contests, each with its own objective
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  • Use friend hearts to charm enemies and they'll fight alongside you! drop-in/drop-out co-op: up to three other players can take control of Kirby's new friends
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