The Underground Kirby Air Ride Community Finds New Life

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This Kirby Air Ride match is now legendary, remembered for an incredible upset. Two players battled on the City Trial course, skillfully controlling their Kirbys. One player built a seemingly unbeatable machine, carefully collecting three rare parts for a major advantage. But the other player took a huge risk, destroying that machine right before time ran out. Against all expectations, the underdog pulled off a rare and exciting victory, a moment that’s still talked about in the close-knit Kirby Air Ride community after five years of racing Warp Stars.

This event wasn’t just a competition; it showcased the talent, smarts, and instinctive gameplay that make the Kirby Air Ride community so special. With the upcoming release of Kirby Air Riders, excitement is at an all-time high. Fans are carefully studying trailers, discussing which powers will be the best, and eagerly anticipating the chance to compete in the City Trial.

Before 2017, playing Kirby Air Ride competitively was difficult, and many didn’t think it was possible. According to commentator Betokirby, that changed when UnclePunch and others created the ‘HackPack,’ which is considered the foundation of competitive Kirby Air Ride as we know it today, according to TopMob.

The popular competitive scene for Kirby Air Ride actually started with a Super Smash Bros. modder nicknamed UnclePunch. Back in 2017, he teamed up with others to create something called the HackPack, a modification that drastically changed how the game was played. The HackPack’s main addition was a dedicated button for breaking, which gave players much more control over their speed and movement, allowing for more skillful and precise gameplay.

In 2017, UnclePunch released the first version of his HackPack, explaining that he wanted to give the game Kirby Air Ride the attention it deserved.

Uncle Punch went further, changing the game so that abilities and attacks used separate buttons. This allowed players to aim before firing, adding a new level of strategy and excitement that transformed simple games into more competitive and skillful experiences.

After the HackPack was established, Discord quickly became a hub for organized tournaments that excited fans. Around fifty players regularly competed in these events, carefully honing their skills to win.

Every race felt like a fast-paced chess match, where players had to predict what their opponents would do while dealing with unpredictable power-ups, obstacles, and speed boosts. The growing popularity of online tournaments showed that Kirby Air Ride wasn’t just a fun throwback – it was a game that really tested players’ skill and strategic thinking.

The reveal of Kirby Air Riders during a Nintendo Direct came as a complete surprise, and the reaction online was immediate and huge.

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The Kirby Air Ride Discord server was incredibly active, with around 1,000 messages being sent every minute, according to Betokirby. He’d never witnessed such a high volume of messages in one online community. Before this surge in activity, Kirby Air Ride only had a dedicated, but small, fanbase – so devoted, in fact, that Betokirby joked that 5,000 fans would follow Masahiro Sakurai’s orders, no matter how extreme.

The community had always cared deeply, but this news ignited that passion, turning it into something much more intense.

The effect was instant. Suddenly, a lot more people were interested in competing in Kirby Air Ride. New players quickly joined the online community, while those who’d been playing for years started practicing again. The number of tournament sign-ups more than doubled. This community, which had relied on fond memories, player-created modifications, and informal events, finally felt recognized and appreciated.

With excitement building for Kirby Air Riders, it’s clear how much the dedicated community – including groups like HackPack and UnclePunch – has shaped the game. The fast-paced, unpredictable gameplay they love remains, but now, with an official release, there’s a bigger spotlight and more players than ever. For those who’ve spent years perfecting the game through basement races and custom modifications, it feels like a dream come true – a chance to showcase their skills on a much larger stage.

Now that Kirby Air Riders is available to play, the game’s creators are excited to see players achieve great things within the game.

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2025-11-19 16:10