Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s ‘Star-Crossed World’ DLC: Is the $20 Switch 2 Upgrade Worth the Price Tag?

The release of Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World has presented a fascinating question for gamers: does the new content and the console upgrade justify the $20 price point for owners of the original game? The answer is nuanced, depending heavily on your priorities—specifically, whether you value performance enhancements more than brand-new environments.

The “Star-Crossed World” content is delivered as an upgrade pack for existing owners of the Nintendo Switch version, priced at $19.99 (or as a full $79.99 bundle for new buyers of the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition). This price gives players access to two key features:

• The new “Star-Crossed World” mini-campaign with its new levels and story.
• Significant technical enhancements for the entire game, including a jump to a smooth 60 frames per second (60fps) and higher resolution on the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware.

Reviewing the New Content: More of a Good Thing

The “Star-Crossed World” is not a standalone sequel but rather an integrated expansion that weaves a new story thread into the main game after the first world is completed. A mysterious meteor crashes, scattering blue crystals and “Starries” that Kirby must collect to reseal a new threat, Genwel Meteonelfilis. The content includes:

• 12 New “Starry Stages”: These are essentially highly remixed versions of levels from the base game. They introduce new crystalline hazards, altered paths, and enemies imbued with crystal power. While visually similar due to the pervasive crystal theme, the platforming challenges and puzzles are considered top-tier, maintaining the quality of the original’s game design.
• Three New Mouthful Modes: Players get to utilize new transformations like the Spring, Gear, and Sign Mouth Modes, offering fresh puzzle and traversal mechanics. Critics note these are fun additions, although the DLC surprisingly introduces no new traditional Copy Abilities or evolutions.
• A Climactic Final Boss: The expansion culminates in an epic, multi-stage boss fight that reviewers suggest is one of the most challenging and visually stunning in the entire Kirby franchise, providing a much-needed difficulty spike for veteran players.

Pundits who have thoroughly reviewed the content suggest it takes approximately three hours to complete the new Starry Stages, with additional time for the intense final boss and secret hunts. For those looking for a significant, hours-long new biome, “Star-Crossed World” may feel slightly “safe” and more like an elevated level pack than a massive expansion on the scale of, say, Bowser’s Fury.

The Performance Factor: 60FPS Changes Everything

For many, the true value of the $20 upgrade lies in the technical improvements afforded by the Switch 2 upgrade pack. The original Forgotten Land ran at 30fps with some occasional dips in performance and a lower resolution, especially noticeable in handheld mode.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition runs the entire game—base content and DLC—at a locked 60fps. This dramatically enhances the gameplay experience, making the platforming feel slicker, combat more responsive, and the game’s already vibrant world look significantly sharper and more polished. For fans of high-fidelity gaming, particularly in a fast-paced platformer, the performance upgrade alone is a powerful argument in favor of the purchase.

The Final Verdict on Value for Money

Is Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s Switch 2 Star-Crossed World worth $20?

For the Returning Player (Owner of the Original Switch Game):

YES. The $20 “Upgrade Pack” is a strong value proposition. It gives you approximately 3-5 hours of new, high-quality level design, fun new Mouthful Modes, an epic boss fight, and, crucially, a generational upgrade that makes the entire 40+ hour game run at a buttery-smooth 60fps. The combination of substantial content and a major technical overhaul easily justifies the premium price for this specific gaming software.

For the New Player (Buying the Full Switch 2 Edition):

The value is less clear. While the full $79.99 price point for a game that is a few years old is high, the new content and the definitive 60fps experience make this the best version of an already excellent game. If you’ve never played Kirby and the Forgotten Land, the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World offers an incredible, complete package of a top-tier 3D platformer.

Conclusion: If you love Kirby and the Forgotten Land, or if 60fps in a platformer is important to you, the $20 upgrade is a justifiable, worthwhile investment that delivers a definitive, enhanced experience. For those with a base copy, the new stages are simply a delightful bonus to the most significant performance boost the game has ever received.