Kirby (universe)

The Kirby universe' (, Kirby of the Stars) refers to the ' series' collection of characters, stages, and properties that hail from Nintendo's Kirby'' series of multi-genre video games. It was developed by HAL Laboratory, Inc., the same company that started the Super Smash Bros. series, and it revolves around the titular spherical, pink entity Kirby and his adventures around his home planet, Popstar, among other planets. The series has had many games of several different genres, with side-scrolling platformers being the most prominent.

Franchise description
Masahiro Sakurai, working at HAL Laboratory as a game developer, developed an original side-scrolling platformer for the Game Boy, the working title of which was Twinkle Popopo, that he intended to be a comparatively simple game that could be played by fledgling gamers. During development, the staff had not settled on a final design for the player character "Popopo", and used a placeholder sprite resembling a round blob with a simple face, intending to replace it with a more detailed design later on. However, the designers grew endeared to the placeholder and ended up using that as their design for "Popopo", who was renamed Kirby. With the game's monochrome graphics, there was some initial confusion about Kirby's color scheme. Sakurai had intended him to be pink, which was reflected by the Japanese promotional artwork, but Shigeru Miyamoto initially thought that Kirby was yellow until seeing the color illustrations. The international marketing depicted Kirby as white, similar to the in-game graphics.

The game was retitled Hoshi no Kirby, literally Kirby of the Stars, for its Japanese release, and  for its Western release. It was released in April of 1992 in Japan, and in the West in August 1992; it received modestly positive reviews, with criticism primarily focused on the particularly basic gameplay structure and short game length, but the game was also a very large sales success and gave Nintendo the impetus to allow and encourage HAL Laboratory to develop sequels.

Kirby's Dream Land introduced several trademark elements of Kirby's ability, including his ability to inflate his spherical body to fly upwards, the ability to inhale enemies into his mouth, and being able to effectively erase enemies out of existence within his own tiny body by swallowing. But the first Kirby sequel Sakurai developed,  for the NES, added a much more expansive variety and depth to the basic formula and design; in addition to giving Kirby more fluid movements such as dashing and sliding, it added a new dimension to the swallowing mechanic where Kirby would gain one of many available new powers and attack sets depending on the enemy swallowed, and Kirby could discard this "Copy Ability" to adopt something else.

Adventure was released to widespread critical acclaim in early 1993—nearly two years after the next-generation Super Nintendo launched—and is regarded as one of the most successful late-generation NES games. With a 6-megabit cartridge data capacity fueling highly advanced graphics and presentation, it is one of the largest games ever released for the NES; to put this into perspective, the original for the NES famously occupies one megabit, or one-eighth of a megabyte.

Kirby was established as one of Nintendo's long-running, recurring franchises, and became more-or-less one of HAL Laboratory's signature properties, with new releases coming out at a relatively regular rate and, other than the Virtual Boy, covering every Nintendo console and handheld since its debut. Kirby games have made occasional forays into certain other genres besides 2D platformers, and while almost none of the Kirby follow-ups were as noteworthy-for-their-time as the first two games, most games in the series receive positive reception and achieve high sales. Like with other Nintendo franchises that had found mainstream success at the time, Kirby and his series were among the initial wave of franchises featured from the beginning of Sakurai's other popular series, the Super Smash Bros. series of Nintendo-centered crossover fighting games.

Sakurai expressed that for the original game and Melee, he aimed for a humble approach to representing his own franchise in relation to other universes in his fighting game, and cut out Kirby side-characters in favor of more-famous secondary characters representing other franchises. But starting with Brawl, Sakurai allowed more liberal representation of the Kirby series in the collective Smash Bros. roster, primarily with the additions of Kirby's rivals/allies King Dedede and Meta Knight.

In any given Kirby game that adheres to a traditional side-scrolling structure, Kirby is controlled by the player through levels that are less about reflex-demanding obstacles and linear point-A-to-point-B stage layout and more about using a variety of copied powers to defeat enemies without incurring damage. Following Kirby's Adventure, however, every "main" game features some kind of twist that governs the overall gameplay. Early examples include Kirby riding one of his Animal Friends in ' and getting his current copy power modified by the animal being ridden; ' being presented as a "compilation package" where several level sets are presented as their own short "games" with their own rules and mechanics; and Kirby being able to combine any two basic enemy copy abilities into one of several dozen advanced powers in .

The most recent mainline Kirby game is , released for the Nintendo Switch in 2022, and the first main installment with fully 3D gameplay. The series places a general emphasis on being comparatively easy and accessible to less experienced gamers, while also allowing content that appeals to advanced gamers, typically as part of the postgame and the lore of the series.

The Kirby universe is set in a galaxy populated by highly abstract, colorful planets and lifeforms with a very simple and basic design aesthetic, and Kirby himself, an 8-inch-tall lifeform with almost no demonstrable speaking capacity, lives on, a planet structured like a glowing yellow five-pointed star. "" itself is a kingdom on Popstar. Each game is typically a self-contained adventure with little carry-over between installments, not unlike the Super Mario series, though in comparison each Kirby game's narrative tends to be a little more involved.

The recurring setup initially appears to be parallel to the Mario/Bowser relationship, where Kirby has to go out on a quest to put a mischievous, troublemaking, self-styled "king" of Dream Land, Dedede, back in his place. (An alternate-universe Kirby anime series that ran for 100 episodes adheres to this pattern fairly strictly.) However, Dedede is only very rarely a villain, with fights against him frequently being due to a misunderstanding or him being controlled by another entity. Kirby is usually pitted against some kind of greater threat to Popstar or the galaxy, revealed either from the outset or over the course of the game. In addition to Dedede, another recurring character Kirby encounters is Meta Knight, a rival who similarly shifts between ally and occasional antagonist, while similarly usually being the latter against his will or due to miscommunication. In many games, one or both of Dedede and Meta Knight ally with Kirby against the greater threat at hand, and Kirby also receives assistance from other characters, such as the or. Kirby's adventures regularly take him through not just Dream Land and the planet Popstar itself, but other planets as well.

Additionally, details scattered throughout each entry in the series establish a consistent setting and connection between games; for example, the recurring presence of the corruptive, or the existence of a parallel to Dream Land that includes its own counterparts to the land's traditional inhabitants. Because of this, a highly intricate backstory is present in the overall Kirby universe that, while superseded by the main plot of each game, creates ongoing themes that influence the overarching universe of the series.

In Super Smash Bros.
With ten games in the Kirby franchise being released worldwide before Smash 64, this game chooses to focus on the three games directed by the creator Masahiro Sakurai, being Kirby's Dream Land, Kirby's Adventure, and Kirby Super Star. The Kirby franchise is represented as one of several "standard universes" found in Smash 64, with one character, one stage, and two items.

Fighter

 * KirbyIcon(SSB).png (Starter): Kirby is a small, pink, spherical creature with a positive disposition and several abilities and powers that are almost magical in nature. In his series, he is the main protagonist, often portrayed with a cheerful, child-like personality. He is canonically about eight inches in height; his size is greatly increased for his appearance in Smash 64. In most of his games, Kirby can also indefinitely; but for his appearance in Smash, Kirby can jump up to five times in midair. Kirby's neutral special move is, his trademark ability since Kirby's Dream Land. Kirby swallows an opponent, and can either copy and use their special move, or spit them out as a star. His up special move is Final Cutter, a move from the  copy ability from Kirby Super Star where Kirby swoops up and down while attacking with a blade. His down special move is the Stone ability from Kirby's Adventure, transforming Kirby into heavy objects and making him invulnerable for a brief period.

Stage

 * DreamLandIconSSB.png (Starter): This stage is a small area of colorful grassland based on the generic look for many grass levels in the Kirby franchise. The stage has a very basic layout; three static, floating soft platforms above the main solid platform. In the background of the stage resides Whispy Woods, a recurring boss who first appeared in Kirby's Dream Land. Whispy Woods slowly blows fighters off to one side of the stage from time to time. Bronto Burts and King Dedede can also be seen flying in the far background as cameo appearances.

Items

 * Maxim Tomato: A red tomato with a capital M on it is an item Kirby often collects to replenish all depleted health in the Kirby franchise since Kirby's Dream Land. In Smash Bros., the Maxim Tomato, perhaps contrary to its name, restores the health of the character who picks it up by 100 % rather than restoring all accumulated damage. It is still a powerful healing item, however.
 * Star Rod: A powerful artifact that acts as the central plot element in Kirby's Adventure. When inserted into the Fountain of Dreams, it ensures peace and good dreams for Dream Land, and Kirby must use it in combat during the final battle. In Smash Bros., the Star Rod can be used as a bludgeoning weapon, and can also launch a star as a projectile when swung with force.

Music

 * : A fast-paced remix of the music featured in Gourmet Race from Kirby Super Star. It is heard on the stage.


 * 20: Kirby Wins: The victory theme of Kirby in an orchestration of the shortened "Stage Complete" theme heard in Kirby games when a level is completed.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee
While Super Smash Bros. Melee features much more content than the original game, Kirby remains the sole fighter from the franchise. New content includes two new stages with a third returning from Super Smash Bros., two new items, two returning items, and a set of Trophies.

Fighter

 * KirbyIcon(SSBM).png (Starter): Kirby is still the only playable Kirby series character. Kirby returns swinging a (based on the  ability he can obtain in various Kirby games from the simian miniboss ) as his new side special move, and the move works differently depending on whether it is used in the air or on the ground.

Stages
Super Smash Bros. Melee features three Kirby-themed stages:
 * PastDreamLandIconSSBM.pngPast Stages:  (Unlockable): This is the original stage from Super Smash Bros., returning in Melee completely unaltered.
 * FountainOfDreamsIconSSBM.pngDream Land: Fountain of Dreams (Starter): A stage with a layout similar to, this is the Fountain of Dreams that safeguards the Dream Land galaxy so long as the Star Rod is inserted into the fountain's shaft. The dreamy music heard here was reused in Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, when Kirby battles King Dedede at this location.
 * GreenGreensIconSSBM.pngDream Land: Green Greens (Starter): This stage is thematically similar to the stage, with Whispy Woods blowing toward either end of the stage, but the layout is rather different, consisting of the ground being divided up into three platforms by two sets of building blocks that fall from the sky to build up walls that can be broken. Some of these boxes are explosive in nature, denoted by the bombs on their sides.

Kirby is the only universe in Melee to have three stages and yet not be related to the series (which itself has four stages from the main series, while the  and  universes, while each having three stages, are considered sub-universes of Mario).

The All-Star Teleporter also borrows many elements from the Kirby series, such as the music, but is still a part of the Smash Bros. universe.

Items
Bold italics denote an item new to the Smash Bros. series. The Kirby universe features four separate items that can be used in battle in Melee:
 * Maxim Tomato: Returns from Super Smash Bros. unchanged in function, but its healing power has been nerfed down to only 50% damage.
 * Star Rod: Returns from Super Smash Bros. essentially unaltered.
 * Warp Star: A new item which is essentially Kirby's mode of long-distance transportation in his games. This is one of the most destructive items in Melee; when picked up, the character will ride and hover on it for a moment, launch straight up, and crash back down with lightning speed and explosive force, dealing major damage and knockback to opponents in the area of the landing zone. Warp Stars in flight can be steered either left or right to a limited degree before crashing down.
 * Parasol: A new item which often manifests as a copyable power for Kirby in his games, allowing him to attack enemies and also float down to earth slowly. In Melee, this can be used as a bludgeoning weapon, but this item's peculiar nature is revealed when the character holding it jumps up and falls down; the parasol opens up and the character floats down to earth slowly, like Peach's up special move move, though the Parasol doesn't damage while opened.

Music

 * : An orchestrated version of the music heard in the Gourmet Race sub-game from Kirby Super Star. This music was later reused during the boss fight against King Dedede at the Fountain of Dreams in Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land. It is Song 11 in the Sound Test.
 * : An orchestration of Green Greens's music from Kirby's Dream Land, heard on Green Greens. It is Song 12 in the Sound Test.
 * : The music for the Dream Land stage in Super Smash Bros., which is also a re-recording of the music heard in the Gourmet Race sub-game from Kirby Super Star, is brought back unaltered along with the stage itself as Past Stages: Dream Land. It is Song 29 in the Sound Test.
 * Kirby's Victory: The victory theme of Kirby is an orchestration of the shortened "Stage Complete" theme heard in Kirby games. It is Song 43 in the Sound Test.
 * : A remix of the music that plays in the Save Cottages during The Great Cave Offensive from Kirby Super Star. It is heard at the All-Star Teleporter. It is Song 60 in the Sound Test.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, even more Kirby content was added, including the addition of two more fighters from the series.

Fighters
On the final character select screen (after all characters are unlocked), the Kirby characters, joined by Olimar, occupy the fifth column. These characters have Gourmet Race playing when their dark forms are fought in The Great Maze, and they also come from other planets.
 * KirbyIcon(SSBB).png (Starter): The pink puff reappears and reprise his role and traits from Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee as a small character who can float in the air with a long series of multiple jumps, with his Final Cutter and Hammer intact. Kirby has a new dash attack; it is based on his Yo-Yo Copy Ability from Kirby Super Star. Like other returning characters, Kirby is given a Final Smash attack called Cook Kirby, which consists of dunking his opponent into a boiling pot, and then spitting them out. When they come out of the pot, random items appear.
 * MetaKnightIcon(SSBB).png (Starter): A sensational new character addition, Meta Knight is a masked-swordsman character ostensibly of the same species as Kirby, but with a dark blue body, thumbs, and white facial features that can be seen whenever he takes his mask off. Meta Knight's roles in his various appearances in the Kirby games and the anime have ranged from ally to villain. In his appearance in Brawl, his cape transforms into wings which he uses to float in midair, much like Kirby and Jigglypuff, and he demonstrates the new gliding ability. Meta Knight is particularly infamous in Brawl for being considered "broken," being undoubtedly the best character in the game.
 * KingDededeIcon(SSBB).png (Starter): The first main foe Kirby ever faced, King Dedede had appeared in all but one game in the series since Kirby's Dream Land for the Game Boy (that being Kirby & The Amazing Mirror) as of Brawl's release. In his fighter debut, he is a super heavyweight akin to Bowser and Donkey Kong. He brings several qualities he had in the Kirby platforming games with him, such as his Super Dedede Jump, and some of his various servants in the form of the Waddle Dee Toss. He also brings his hammer with him and uses it in regular combat, but it has also been upgraded to have machine-like qualities, as evidenced by the Jet Hammer move. He can Inhale just like Kirby, but can't copy enemies' abilities. His grab game, in particular, is fast and powerful, and his recovery is decent.

Stages

 * Icon-greengreensmelee.gifMelee Stages: Green Greens (Unlockable): A returning stage from Melee. The bombs now have more knockback.
 * Icon-halberd.gifHalberd (Starter): The Halberd has been seen in several incarnations throughout the Kirby franchise; in Smash, it is based on the Revenge of Meta Knight portion of Kirby Super Star. The stage starts off in a hangar located on the high seas, which opens up not long afterwards. The Halberd takes off into the air along with the platform the players fight upon, and the Halberd flies around the backdrop of the now-floating stage. During the fight, the platform will land on the ship itself, which draws heavy fire from nearby cannons.

Items
Bold italics denote an item new to the Smash Bros. series.
 * Maxim Tomato: A returning item which still recovers 50% of damage.
 * Star Rod: A returning item which function is relatively unchanged.
 * Warp Star: A returning item which does the same thing it did in Melee.
 * Superspicy Curry: An item that made its first (and until Brawl, only) appearance in Kirby's Dream Land for the Game Boy, which temporarily gave Kirby the ability to spew fire. It has a similar function in Brawl, igniting the user in flames and allowing them to cause fire damage to anyone they touch.
 * Dragoon: The legendary air machine from  that makes its first Smash appearance in Brawl, Dragoon is actually three separate items that one must obtain in order to use its power. When all three pieces are obtained, the user that obtains them can ride the machine and attack opponents by locking on - the knockback from the Dragoon is so great that it is almost always a one-hit KO.

Assist Trophy

 * Knuckle Joe: Hailing from Kirby Super Star, and also a minor character in the Kirby anime, Knuckle Joe makes an appearance as an Assist Trophy in Brawl. When summoned, he hits the nearest opponent with a barrage of attacks, then randomly ends the attack with one of two finishing moves. These two moves are either Smash Punch, which sends the opponent flying to the side, or Rising Break, which sends the opponent upward.

Original Tracks

 * : A jazz remix/medley of the different music tracks from the "Revenge of Meta Knight" sub-game of Kirby Super Star. It is the theme of the Halberd stage. This song is also played during Meta Knight's Classic Mode credits.
 * : A redone version of the theme played in Kirby Air Ride when one has successfully completed either the Dragoon or Hydra. It is used on the Halberd stage.
 * : This is a heavy metal remix of the song played in the first and third rounds of the Gourmet Race sub-game from Kirby Super Star, with a few parts of the theme being the second round theme. The theme has been featured in most Kirby games since Kirby Super Star, as well as in both previous Super Smash Bros. games. It is used on the Halberd stage.
 * : A techno-styled medley of various Kirby themes, including the Butter Building level theme from Kirby's Adventure and the Kirby's Dream Land theme. It is used on the Halberd stage. This song is also played during Kirby's Classic Mode credits.
 * : A song featured in most Kirby games when Kirby battles King Dedede, including the series' first game, Kirby's Dream Land. This song is completely redone. It is used on the Halberd stage. This song is also played during King Dedede's Classic Mode credits.
 * : A remix from the Nintendo DS title Kirby: Squeak Squad, this was the song used when battling the members of the Squeak Squad. It is used on the Halberd stage.
 * : An epic-sounding remix of both the Vs. Marx theme from the Milky Way Wishes sub-game of Kirby Super Star as well as the song played during the scene right after defeating Marx. It is used on the Halberd stage.
 * : A complete remix of the final boss theme from Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. It is used on the Halberd stage.
 * : Featuring many songs from the entire series, this is a medley of many different boss battle themes from across the Kirby series. It is used on the Halberd stage.

Returning Tracks

 * : Taken directly from Melee. It is used on the Green Greens stage.
 * : Taken directly from Melee. It is used on the Green Greens stage.

Source Tracks

 * : Taken directly from Kirby Air Ride, this was the song played on the Checker Knights racetrack, as well during various minigames. It is used on the Halberd stage.
 * : Taken directly from the Game Boy Advance game Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, this was the song for the forest areas of Rainbow Route. It is used on the Halberd stage.
 * : Another song taken directly from Kirby Air Ride, this was the music track played on the Frozen Hillside racetrack. It is used on the Halberd stage.

Victory Themes

 * Victory! Kirby Series: A whimsical orchestration of the shortened "Stage Complete" theme heard in general Kirby games. Used by Kirby and King Dedede.
 * Victory! Meta Knight: A "rock remix" of Kirby's victory theme.

Masterpiece

 * Kirby's Adventure

Fighters
All veterans of the Kirby series have returned for Super Smash Bros. 4.
 * KirbyIcon(SSB4-U).png (Starter): Kirby returns as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4. He now appears to be a bit brighter than the previous games. In addition, he returns with a new Final Smash, Ultra Sword.
 * MetaKnightIcon(SSB4-U).png (Starter): Meta Knight returns as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4. The universal removal of gliding has nerfed his recovery, but to compensate, his Shuttle Loop is now a more powerful attack. He now has armored gauntlets over his gloves.
 * KingDededeIcon(SSB4-U).png (Starter): King Dedede returns in Super Smash Bros. 4 as a playable character. He now has a more cartoonish look and his side special has been modified to consistently throw out Gordos. As with Kirby, he has a new Final Smash, Dedede Burst.

Stages

 * DreamLand64IconSSB4-U.pngDream Land (64) (DLC): A floating Battlefield-like arena staged in from . The tree Whispy Woods is centered in the background of the main platform and periodically blows powerful winds from his mouth, pushing fighters towards the stage's bottomless pits. King Dedede and Bronto Burts fly far out in the distance, though Dedede is absent if involved in the match. This stage is large enough to accommodate 8-Player Smash and is one of the possible stages to appear in Level 4 of All-Star Mode as a home stage for Kirby, King Dedede, and Meta Knight. Its Ω form is a floating platform like Final Destination. Dream Land was released as downloadable content on June 14, 2015 for both the 3DS and Wii U versions. It is one of four stages from the original Super Smash Bros. to be in SSB4, with the other three being, Peach's Castle, and Hyrule Castle.

for Nintendo 3DS

 * DreamLandIconSSB4-3.png' (Unlockable): Staged within a containing Kirby's Dream Land, the aptly-named Dream Land is a transforming and transitionary stage that cycles through various locations faithfully recreated for Smash Bros.'', including the original Green Greens,, , , and . It is one of the possible stages to appear in Level 4 of All-Star Mode as a home stage for Kirby, King Dedede, and Meta Knight. Its Ω form is columnar. This stage was originally going to be based on '.

for Wii U

 * HalberdIconSSB4-U.pngHalberd (Starter): Staged on the main deck of Meta Knight's flying fortress from "", one of the sub-games from Kirby Super Star. The stage is somewhat transitionary: it begins on a flying platform that flies from the Halberd's launch bay before landing on its deck. During a match, the ship fires powerful projectiles and uses its protractible arm to attack fighters. It is one of the possible stages to appear in Level 4 of All-Star Mode as a home stage for Kirby, King Dedede, and Meta Knight. Only its Ω form can accommodate 8-Player Smash, which is a Final Destination-like platform.
 * TheGreatCaveOffensiveIconSSB4-U.pngThe Great Cave Offensive (Starter): An expansive labyrinth based on the eponymous sub-game from '. It is an elaborate stage and the second largest in the game. It contains rideable minecarts, rotating cannons, and magma-covered walls called Danger Zones capable of KOing opponents at high damage percentage. This stage is large enough to accommodate 8-Player Smash. Its Ω form is staged on a Final Destination-like platform. This stage was originally going to be based on '.

Items

 * Maxim Tomato (healing): A red fruit from  that recovers 50% damage when consumed.
 * Star Rod (battering/shooting): A magic wand from . It can be used to bludgeon nearby opponents. A fully-charged swing of the Star Rod expels a projectile star.
 * Warp Star (special): A rideable shooting star from Kirby's Dream Land. The user soars skyward and slams back down, colliding with the highest platform in its downward trajectory.
 * Superspicy Curry (status/shooting): A spicy food item from Kirby's Dream Land that sets the user's mouth ablaze. The fire expelled from their mouth causes damage to opponents.
 * Dragoon (combining): The legendary air machine from . Like the Daybreak, it is composed of three different pieces that must be collected to use. Assembling all three pieces forces the collector onto the Dragoon's back, lock-on, and fly into opponents. The knockback from the impact is so great that it is almost always a one-hit KO.

Assist Trophies
Bold italics denote an Assist Trophy new to the Smash Bros. series.
 * Knuckle Joe: A martial artist from . He hopes after opponents and bombards them with a flurry of Vulcan Jabs before finishing them off with a Rising Break uppercut. Knuckle Joe does not attack the summoner. He also appears as an enemy in Smash Run.
 * Nightmare: The dark, cloaked antagonist of Kirby's Adventure and a mutual adversary of Kirby and King Dedede. He travels to the background of the stage and cloaks the field in darkness for a brief period of time, similar to Togepi, forcing all combatants to fight blindly. The darkness affects all players, including the summoner.

Enemies
Enemies that appear in both Smash Run in the 3DS version and Smash Tour in the Wii U version.
 * Tac: A feline burglar from Kirby Super Star. In Smash Run, it steals stat boosts from opponents. In Smash Tour, Tac's sack is filled with stat boosts. Players that catch up with it are rewarded with its loot.

Smash Run enemies
Enemies exclusive to the 3DS version. They appear in Smash Run.
 * Waddle Dee: A docile, orange creature from . It idly walks around and hops into opponents. Waddle Dees only appear when Parasol Waddle Dees are struck, causing their parasols to fall out of their hands.
 * Bronto Burt: An insectile, pink creature from Kirby's Dream Land that flies up-and-down. Contact causes damage, and it occasionally spins into opponents.
 * Shotzo: A stationary mini-cannon from Kirby's Dream Land that fires round bullets. Unlike Bill Blasters, it is an indestructible obstacle.
 * Gordo: A metallic, spiked sphere from Kirby's Dream Land. It is an indestructible obstacle that either remains stationary or moves along a fixed path. It is also part of King Dedede's side special, Gordo Toss.
 * Waddle Doo: An orange cyclops from Kirby's Dream Land that shoots beams from its eye. It is related to Waddle Dee.
 * Parasol Waddle Dee: A parasol-wielding Waddle Dee from Kirby's Dream Land. It daintily descends from platform to platform and attacks opponents with its parasol.
 * Bonkers: A purple from Kirby's Adventure that attacks opponents with an enormous mallet. It is one of the strongest enemies in Smash Run and does not flinch from most attacks.
 * Plasma Wisp: Living from Kirby Super Star that shoots beams and projectiles of plasma from its gloved hands.

Mii Costume

 *  Meta Knight Mask

Original Tracks
Arrangements and remixes unique to SSB4.
 * ''': An arrangement of "Green Greens" from '. It plays on Dream Land (3DS) and The Great Cave Offensive.
 * ': A -based arrangement of "King Dedede's Theme" from ', which itself is a rendition of "Mt. Dedede" from Kirby's Dream Land''. It plays in The Great Cave Offensive.
 * ''' (DLC): A medley of pieces from '. While it most prominently contains "Ice Cream Island", it also transitions into "Boss" and "Stage Complete". It plays on Dream Land (64).
 * : A remix of "Butter Building" from Kirby's Adventure. It plays in The Great Cave Offensive.
 * ''': A medley of pieces associated with "", one of the sub-games in '. It includes "Crystal Field and Mystery Paradise" and "Trees in the Depths of Earth". It plays in The Great Cave Offensive.
 * ''': An orchestral remix of "Forest / Nature Area" from '. It plays on The Great Cave Offensive.

Returning Tracks
Arrangements and remixes from previous Smash Bros. titles.
 *  (DLC): A remix of "Gourmet Race" from Kirby Super Star. It plays on Dream Land (64).
 * : An arrangement of "Green Greens" from Kirby's Dream Land. It plays in The Great Cave Offensive.
 *  (DLC): An orchestral arrangement of "Gourmet Race" from Kirby Super Star. It plays on Dream Land (64).
 * ': An arrangement of "King Dedede's Theme" from ', which itself is a rendition of "Mt. Dedede" from Kirby's Dream Land''. It plays on Halberd.
 * : A medley of pieces associated with "", one of the sub-games in Kirby Super Star. It includes arrangements of "The Battleship Halberd: On Deck" and "The Battleship Halberd: Interior". It plays on Halberd.
 * : A guitar-heavy remix of "Gourmet Race" from Kirby Super Star. It plays on Halberd.
 * : An arrangement of "Butter Building" from Kirby's Adventure and "Title" from Kirby's Dream Land. It plays on Halberd.
 * : An arrangement of "Vs. Marx" from Kirby Super Star. It plays on Halberd.
 * : An arrangement of "0² Battle" from Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. It plays on Halberd.
 * ''': A remix of "The Legendary Air Ride Machine" from '. It is a playable option in Smash Run and plays on Halberd.
 * ''': An arrangement of "Here Come the Squeaks!" from '. It plays in The Great Cave Offensive.
 * ': A medley of boss themes from multiple Kirby titles. It includes "Boss" from Kirby's Adventure, "Boss" from ', "Boss Battle" from Kirby Super Star, "Boss" from Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, "The Arena" from Kirby's Adventure, and "Boss Battle" from Kirby Squeak Squad''.

Source Tracks
Compositions and arrangements directly sourced from the Kirby series with no alterations.
 * : From Kirby's Dream Land. It plays on Dream Land (3DS).
 * : From Kirby's Dream Land. It plays on Dream Land (3DS).
 * : From Kirby's Dream Land. It plays on Dream Land (3DS).
 * : From Kirby's Dream Land. It plays on Dream Land (3DS).
 * : From Kirby's Dream Land. It plays on Dream Land (3DS).
 *  (DLC): From Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. It plays on Dream Land (64).
 *  (DLC): Though sourced from Kirby Air Ride, the piece itself is a remix of "Forest Area" from Kirby's Adventure. It plays on Dream Land (64).
 * : From Kirby Air Ride. It plays in The Great Cave Offensive.
 * : From Kirby Air Ride. It plays in The Great Cave Offensive.
 * : From Kirby's Return to Dream Land. It plays in The Great Cave Offensive.
 * : From Kirby's Return to Dream Land. It plays in The Great Cave Offensive.
 * ''': From ', which is taken directly from that game. It plays on The Great Cave Offensive.
 *  (DLC): From Kirby: Triple Deluxe. It plays on Dream Land (64).

Victory Themes

 * Victory! Kirby Series: A whimsical orchestration of "Stage Complete" from Kirby's Dream Land. Used by Kirby and King Dedede.
 * Victory! Meta Knight: An arrangement of "Stage Complete" from Kirby's Dream Land on electric guitar.

Other
"Opening" from Kirby Air Ride was used in "Comet Observatory", the reveal trailer for. It does not appear in the final games.

Masterpieces

 * Kirby's Dream Land
 * Kirby's Adventure
 * Kirby Super Star

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The Kirby universe returns in Ultimate with every character and stage from previous entries returning. Additionally, a new Assist Trophy, item, and boss are featured. Modern Kirby games receive greater representation as well, through spirits and tracks sourced directly from them. This is the first title to have unlockable Kirby fighters.

Fighters

 * 06. KirbyIcon(SSBU).png (Starter): The pink puffball returns as a starter fighter. While he appears mostly unchanged from Smash 4, his dash attack was reverted back to its iteration from Melee, and his colors are more subdued. Kirby is the starter fighter in Ultimate's story mode, World of Light, being the only fighter who survived Galeem's attack.
 * 27. MetaKnightIcon(SSBU).png (Unlockable): The lone swordsman returns as an unlockable fighter after being a starter in Brawl and Smash 4. His design was tweaked to look more detailed, and he has a new Final Smash, Darkness Illusion.
 * 39. KingDededeIcon(SSBU).png (Unlockable): The King of Dream Land returns as an unlockable fighter after being a starter in Brawl and Smash 4. He appears even more cartoonish, and his biggest changes are the ability to projectiles and his new cinematic Final Smash, Dede-Rush.

Boss

 * Marx.pngMarx: Marx from Kirby Super Star makes his debut in the series as a boss in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He appears at the end of 's, 's, and 's run, as well as being the boss of the Mysterious Dimension in World of Light. His appearance and attacks are similar to his fight in Kirby Super Star.

Stages
All Kirby stages from previous games return in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and are unlocked from the start, like the rest of the stages. Ultimate is the first game to not introduce a new Kirby stage.
 * DreamLandIconSSBU.png (Starter): After returning as a DLC stage in SSB4, this classic stage reappears as a retro stage. Like the rest of the SSB stages, the stage looks and functions the same as in SSB.
 * FountainofDreamsIconSSBU.pngFountain of Dreams (Starter): The beloved and iconic stage from Melee, based off of the location with the same name from Kirby's Adventure. It returns in Ultimate after being absent from the Smash series for 17 years. While functioning the same as in Melee, the stage was rebuilt in HD quality, receiving major upgrades such as higher quality water.
 * GreenGreensIconSSBU.pngGreen Greens (Starter): A stage based on, the first world from Kirby's Dream Land, first appearing in Melee. It returns with visual upgrades after being absent from SSB4.
 * HalberdIconSSBU.pngHalberd (Starter): The stage from Brawl, based on Meta Knight's battleship of the same name from Kirby Super Star, the Halberd returns as a retro stage, functioning identically to previous games.
 * DreamLandGBIconSSBU.pngDream Land GB (Starter): The scrolling stage based on Kirby's Dream Land returns from Smash for 3DS. The stage happens inside of a and covers the various areas of the game.
 * TheGreatCaveOffensiveIconSSBU.pngThe Great Cave Offensive (Starter): This stage returns from Smash for Wii U. It is based on from Kirby Super Star.

World of Light Sub-World

 * GRaceKirb.jpgGourmet Race: Based on the sub-game from Kirby Super Star, Gourmet Race appears as a sub-world in The Light Realm. The player goes down a series of paths, collecting as much food as they can. Upon reaching the finish line, the player will be rewarded depending on how much food they collected. Collecting 3-6 pieces of food will open the Waddle Dee spirit battle, collecting 7-10 pieces of food will open the Chef Kawasaki spirit battle, and collecting 11 pieces of food will allow the player to unlock.

Items
Bold italics denote an item or Assist Trophy new to the Smash Bros. series.
 * Maxim Tomato (recovery): The red fruit from  returns in Ultimate with the same functionality as before, healing damage to injured fighters.
 * Star Rod (battering/shooting): The magic wand from  returns and retains the same functionality as before. It can be used to bludgeon nearby opponents. A fully-charged swing of the Star Rod expels a projectile star.
 * Warp Star (transforming): The rideable shooting star from Kirby's Dream Land returns in Ultimate with the same usage as before. The user soars skyward and slams back down, colliding with the highest platform in its downward trajectory.
 * Superspicy Curry (transforming): The spicy food item from Kirby's Dream Land returns once again. When eaten, the user will uncontrollably shoot fire out of its mouth for a period of time.
 * Dragoon (combining): The legendary air machine from  appears one again. Like in the previous game, it is composed of three different pieces that must be collected to use. Assembling all three pieces rides the user onto the Dragoon's back, lock-on, and fly into opponents. The knockback from the impact is so great that it is almost always a one-hit KO.
 * Bomber (exploding): An enemy from Kirby's Adventure. When held for a short period of time, it creates a huge explosion that hits everyone in sight, much like the Crash ability, the copy ability given by Bomber when inhaled in the Kirby series.

Assist Trophies
All past Assist Trophies return.
 * Knuckle Joe: The recurring martial artist from the Kirby series returns once again as an Assist Trophy in Ultimate. When summoned, Knuckle Joe will lock on to an opponent and bombards them with a flurry of Vulcan Jabs before finishing them off with a Rising Break uppercut.
 * Nightmare: The wizard antagonist of Kirby's Adventure reappears in Ultimate as an Assist Trophy. When summoned, Nightmare will fade into the background and darken the stage, forcing all fighters to fight blind, including the summoner.
 * Chef Kawasaki: The chef from Kirby Super Star make his Assist Trophy debut in Ultimate, functioning much like Kirby's Brawl Final Smash. He uses his ladle to grab faraway opponents and put them into a giant boiling pot, which launches them away and creates food.

Mii Costumes

 * Meta Knight Mask
 * '''Marx's Hat

Original Tracks
Arrangements and remixes unique to Ultimate.
 * : A new pop-based remix of the credits themes from Kirby's Dream Land and Kirby Super Star. The Sparkling Star, 1-Up, and Warp Star sound effects are also incorporated into the mix.
 * ''': A new arrangement of the theme played on the mode from '.

Returning Tracks
Arrangements and remixes from previous Smash titles.
 * : An arrangement of the music played in the Gourmet Race sub-game from Kirby Super Star. Returns from Smash 64.
 * : An arrangement of the music that plays in the first stage of Kirby's Dream Land, Green Greens. It is heard in Kirby's character trailer.
 * : An orchestral arrangement of the music played in the Gourmet Race sub-game from Kirby Super Star. Returns from Melee.
 * : The All-Star Rest Area music from Melee, which is an arrangement of the Float Islands theme from the original Kirby’s Dream Land, though based in particular on the version played in save cottages in the Great Cave Offensive in Kirby Super Star. It is sorted in the series music section and its origin is not acknowledged in the track information.
 * : An arrangement of King Dedede's battle theme, a recurring theme in the Kirby series. Returns from Brawl.
 * ': A medley of the boss themes from various Kirby games, including the standard battle theme and "The Arena" theme from Kirby's Adventure, the boss theme from ', the boss theme from Kirby Super Star, the mini-boss theme from ', and the boss theme from '. Returns from Brawl''.
 * : An arrangement of the music played in the Butter Building stages in Kirby's Adventure, which also contains the title theme from Kirby's Dream Land. Returns from Brawl.
 * : A heavy-metal remix of the songs that play in the Gourmet Race sub-game from Kirby Super Star. Returns from Brawl.
 * : A jazz-based arrangement of of various themes various themes played in Kirby Super Star's "" sub-game. Return from Brawl.
 * : Marx's battle theme from Kirby Super Star. Returns from Brawl and is now also used when fighting Marx as a boss.
 * : An arrangement of 's battle theme from Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. Returns from Brawl.
 * : An arrangement of the music that plays while riding on the Dragoon or the in Kirby Air Ride. Returns from Brawl.
 * : An arrangement of the theme of the Squeaks from Kirby Squeak Squad. Returns from Brawl.
 * : Another arrangement of Green Greens's music from Kirby's Dream Land.
 * : A medley of various songs from Kirby's Adventure, including the theme of, the boss theme, the theme, and the Kirby dance theme. Returns from Smash 4.
 * : A Feudal Japan-themed arrangement of King Dedede's recurring theme. Returns from Smash for Wii U.
 * : Another arrangement of the music that plays in the Butter Building levels from Kirby's Adventure. Returns from Smash for Wii U.
 * : A medley of various themes that play in "" sub-game from Kirby Super Star, including "Crystal Field and Mystery Paradise" and "Trees in the Depths of the Earth". Returns from "Smash for Wii U''.
 * ': An orchestral remix of the music that plays in forest areas in ', with an intro based on the City theme from Kirby Air Ride, then "Forest/Nature Area" plays, changing to "Flame/Lava". Returns from Smash for Wii U''.

Source Tracks
Compositions and arrangements directly sourced from the Kirby series with no alterations.
 * : A medley of various level songs sourced directly from Kirby's Dream Land, consisting of Green Greens, Castle Lololo, Float Islands, Bubbly Clouds, and Mt. Dedede.
 * : "The music for the first stage of the first level in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, Pop Star. Ripped directly from that game.
 * : Ripped directly from Kirby Air Ride where it is an alternate track for the race course. This music is a remix of the one that plays in the forest areas in Kirby's Adventure.
 * : The music for the Celestial Valley race course from Kirby Air Ride. Ripped directly from that game.
 * : The music for the race course from Kirby Air Ride. Ripped directly from that game.
 * ''': A direct port of the music that plays in the first stage of the first level in ', Cookie Country.
 * : The music that plays in a forest area, the second stage of, sourced from Kirby's Return to Dream Land.
 * : The music for Stage 2 of, the fifth level of Kirby's Return to Dream Land. Ripped directly from that game.
 * : The map theme for the seventh level of Kirby's Return to Dream Land,, ripped directly from that game.
 * : 's battle theme from Kirby's Return to Dream Land. Ripped directly from that game.
 * ''': The music that plays in the first stage of the first level in ', . Ripped directly from that game.
 * : 's battle theme from Kirby: Triple Deluxe, played during the second phase. Ripped directly from that game.
 * : Queen Sectonia's battle theme from Kirby: Triple Deluxe, specifically during the last part of the fight. Ripped directly from that game.
 * ': Ripped directly from ' where it plays in the final level. This music is a remix of "CROWNED" from Kirby's Return to Dream Land''.
 * ''': The music that plays in Stage 1 of, the first world of '.
 * : The theme of the in Kirby: Planet Robobot. Ripped directly from that game.
 * ''': The main theme of '. Ripped directly from that game.
 * ''': The second boss theme from '. Ripped directly from that game.

Victory Themes

 * Victory! Kirby Series: A whimsical orchestration of "Stage Complete" from Kirby's Dream Land, unchanged from Brawl and Smash 4. Used by Kirby and King Dedede.
 * Victory! Meta Knight: An arrangement of "Stage Complete" from Kirby's Dream Land on electric guitar. Unchanged from Brawl and Smash 4.

Media with elements appearing in the Super Smash Bros. series
The Kirby universe has media represented throughout the Super Smash Bros. series with a total of 25 games and media. The latest game represented in this universe is , released on March 16, 2018.

Trivia

 * A large amount of mechanics present in the Super Smash Bros. series come from Kirby, such as the system of dash attacks, grabs, aerials, and even glancing blows.
 * Every Kirby stage and item that has appeared in the series so far has been based on Kirby games that were directed by Masahiro Sakurai before he left HAL Laboratory.
 * Furthermore, the only Kirby universe elements in Smash Bros. so far (during gameplay) that are not from a Sakurai-directed Kirby game are the Ultra Sword, Kirby's Final Smash in SSB4 and Ultimate, and Dede-Rush, King Dedede's Final Smash from Ultimate in which he turns into Masked Dedede.
 * Incidentally, a stage based on Kirby's Epic Yarn was initially planned for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, but this was rejected in favor of Woolly World.
 * All the playable characters from the Kirby universe have:
 * more than four midair jumps.
 * changed their Final Smash at least once: Kirby in Smash 4, Meta Knight in Ultimate, and King Dedede in both games.
 * , Kirby, and  itself are the only four series to use the same series symbol throughout the entire series.
 * In Brawl, the Kirby series has the highest average tier ranking of any series with more than one character.
 * When sorting trophies by series in Brawl, the Kirby series is mistakenly referred to as "Kirby Super Star".
 * The Kirby universe is one of three universes that currently have multiple playable characters without any semi-clones or Echo Fighters, the others being and.