Kirby Super Star

What if, instead of a single game, they gave you eight at once? Kirby Super Star proudly presented itself with the slogan „8 games in one“ — and it wasn't empty advertising: this 1996 cartridge was literally packed with content that made the pink puff called Kirby one of the most generous offerings at the end of the SNES life cycle.

Instead of a single linear adventure, it offers a bundle of separate modes each with their own structure: classic platforming quests, a combat race in which a rival stands against you, a boss rush that tests your skills, and several shorter sub-games. At the heart of it all remains Kirby's iconic mechanic — you inhale enemies and copy their ability, whether a sword, fire, hammer or dozens of others. Super Star deepened this system with rich move sets for each ability.

The most valuable new feature was co-op. A second player could take control of a Helper — a companion materialized from Kirby's copied ability — and go through the game side by side. That turned a traditionally solo series into a pleasant shared experience too. The graphics are fresh, colourful and rounded, the soundtrack catchy, and the whole thing breathes that unmistakable Kirby cosiness, beneath which, however, hides a surprisingly thoughtful design.

The game was directed by Masahiro Sakurai, the father of the Kirby series and later the creator of the Super Smash Bros. phenomenon. His signature — the joy of a game accessible to everyone, yet with depth for connoisseurs — is clearly felt here. The title later received a highly acclaimed remake, Kirby Super Star Ultra, on the Nintendo DS, which expanded the content even further.

Why play it: It offers exceptional value and variety in a single game, is accessible even for younger players, and in co-op it becomes great shared fun.