Top 10 Best Kirby Characters

From pink puffball pals to sword-swinging rivals and robotic bosses with questionable job ethics, the Kirby franchise has built up a surprisingly deep bench of personalities over the years.

Kirby games are known for their colorful art, clever mechanics, and oddly dark lore. The characters are a big reason the series keeps people coming back. Some make you laugh, some frustrate the heck out of you, and others just look ridiculously cool doing whatever it is they do.

This list is a celebration of those characters. The ones you love to play as, fight against, or maybe just watch from a safe distance.

So scroll through the lineup, think back to your favorite boss fights or cutscenes, and throw your vote behind the characters you think deserve more love. If you're Team Masked Knight or ride-or-die for the pink puff himself, your votes help decide who floats to the top and who gets left behind in the Fountain of Dreams.

Note: This list focuses strictly on the characters who appear in the games only. That means no anime-exclusive additions or manga-only deep cuts.

The Top Ten

Meta Knight

Meta Knight is a fictional character from the Kirby series of video games created by Nintendo and HAL Laboratory. He is often portrayed as one of Kirby's rivals, although he sometimes allies with Kirby to battle common enemies.... read more

If you take away the fact that he has a very good Spanish accent in the anime, I still think Meta Knight is a pretty good character. Maybe it's just because I have slowly started to grow more attached to the edgier characters. Or maybe it's just his battle in Forgotten Land that changed my mind a bit.

Meta Knight can be described as a wise, mysterious knight. He fights for his own good and is known to be an antihero. What I like about him is that he is dark compared to everyone else in the Kirby universe. He definitely stands out.
King Dedede

King Dedede is a fictional character and the primary antagonist in Nintendo and HAL Laboratory's Kirby video game series. He is typically portrayed as a rival to Kirby, though his role varies between games. King Dedede is recognizable for his hammer weapon and royal attire.

Overall, the best. If you pay attention to the timeline, Dedede is absent in Amazing Mirror, and when he reappears in Squeak Squad, he helps Kirby on his cake mission.
This can be concluded from the time in Super Star Ultra (which may have chronologically come before those games) when he was beaten as Masked Dedede by Kirby and left the kingdom. It seems that during his time away, he received some personality development, although he still has his flaws.
Even though he is a bit narcissistic at times, and that might even be an understatement, he still cares about Kirby, Bandana Dee, and even Meta Knight because they are his friends.
He also tends to rush into things and smash them with a hammer to solve problems, which reminds me of Amy Rose a bit. At times, he can be used against the enemy.
This may have been a bit of a weird essay, but I just wanted to show that Dedede is probably the best around.
Kirby

Kirby is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Kirby series of video games, owned by Nintendo and developed by HAL Laboratory. His first appearance was in Kirby's Dream Land, released in 1992 for the Game Boy. The pink, spherical hero is known for his ability to inhale enemies and copy their... read more

Kirby is awesome. He's my favorite character of the series and one of my faves in general. He is adorable on every level but also absolutely badass, and I adore characters like that. How is the pink boi not #1? It is beyond me. He deserves to be #1!

Kirby is the man and is one of my favorite characters of all time. He's absolutely adorable and badass at the same time, and that equals awesomeness.

It's main character time! Kirby is just a little puffball with a literal endless stomach. This guy is the reason this wonderful franchise exists in the first place.
Marx

Out of all Kirby villains of darkness (aside from Dedede), Marx is by far the best and the main Joker of Darkness to Kirby. They should've put him in that show after the death of Nightmare. That was my only hope. Bottom line, Marx is Dreamland's best villain of darkness. He should come back.

He's the cutest thing I have ever seen, but don't let him get on your good side because he will trick you and take over Popstar!
After you defeat him (if you do), he will turn into Marx Soul, an even more powerful Marx! I still would hug him for the rest of my life, though, if he is not evil!
Susie Haltmann

I think she is one of the best characters in the franchise. She has lots of scenes in Kirby: Planet Robobot, and she's also a boss in the game. At the end, she has a special scene singing "The Noble Haltmann."
Since her first appearance, she has appeared in Kirby Blowout Blast, Kirby Clash Deluxe, Kirby Battle Royale (as a cameo), and in Kirby Star Allies as a playable character. I want to see Susie in future Kirby games as a boss or playable character. I think she has a chance to enter the next Smash Brothers game or maybe in Ultimate as a DLC.

She has an interesting personality and a terrible past. She is one of the characters with more development (with lots of scenes of her), and now she makes an appearance again in Kirby Star Allies.
Bandana Waddle Dee

Look, I'm going off the usefulness of a character, and in Star Allies, Bluster Bandana Waddle Dee is godly. With the tornado added to the Waddle Copter, the flying spears, and overall floatiness, he's great for blasting through enemies. Not only that, he's so adorable! Look at him and tell me he's not the cutest little thing.

He's a pure, wholesome boy. If I could have a Kirby character as a child, it would be Bandana Waddle Dee. I mean, he would literally make you apple juice every day. Seriously, he needs to be higher up on the list.
Magolor

Magolor is a fictional character from the Kirby series of video games owned by Nintendo and HAL Laboratory. He first appeared in Kirby's Return to Dream Land as a mysterious ally who later reveals a more complex agenda. Magolor has since become a recurring character in the series, appearing in spin-offs... read more

I definitely started to like him more with the new remaster of Return to Dreamland. You honestly just have to feel bad for the guy, and I have a personal headcanon that he actually didn't mean to try to take over Popstar. I feel like it was the crown that was manipulating his mind.
He's actually a good guy but lost control when he put the crown on.

He is the best consistent villain (Meta Knight and King Dedede switch back and forth) simply for two reasons. One, he committed the most surprising and fantastic betrayal in all of video games, and two, the face he caused Dedede to make once he put on the crown. Seriously, look up his face. It's fantastic.
Waddle Dee

Waddle Dee is a fictional character in Nintendo and HAL Laboratory's Kirby franchise. Typically depicted as a loyal servant of King Dedede, Waddle Dee has appeared in nearly every mainline Kirby game since the original. Although generally portrayed as an enemy, some variations of Waddle Dee have also... read more

Waddle Dees are so cute with their very cute faces and cute everything. That's all I've got to say.

I love these little guys! They're super adorable and have a major role in Forgotten Land!

Cute, modest, and mighty. What more could a character be?
Galacta Knight

He could've just used those lasers to kill everyone. He only uses his true power on Team Kirby. When he does that, he is one of the strongest, if not the strongest Kirby character. By the way, he wasn't killed by Morpho. He survived as a developer said he would return in another world.

Actually, Kirby and Meta Knight both took him down individually. He was probably holding back on Meta Knight, though. Just imagine if he unleashed his full power on Meta Knight.

I think he wasn't taking the heroes seriously. He can quickly switch forms and create one-shot lasers. Wait, this isn't the hardest bosses page...
Gooey

Just a silly little guy made of the essence of negative emotions.

He's pure and wholesome. He needs to be higher up.

I love Gooey! He is forgetful like me!

The Newcomers

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Elfilin

I'm really surprised no one added him until now, with the release of Forgotten Land.
I actually really liked this character. He was kind of cute, and I mean, he's extremely powerful too.

#56 (as of the time of posting this comment)? Really!?
Elfilin may have only appeared in one game, but he was a BIG part of it, and he was so selfless at times! He is also insanely powerful when it comes to his counterpart.
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Noir Dedede

The Contenders

Taranza

Definitely one of my new favorite characters, even though I've known this guy since I started getting into Kirby. Like Magolor, you just have to feel really bad for him. He lost one of his best friends, especially when you find out that he actually had a crush on Sectonia.
Just watching him twirl that little flower of his, I just feel bad for him and hope he finds the miracle he's looking for.

Taranza is awesome. Just look at his attacks. Energy Burst is the best attack. He can summon his projection of Queen Sectonia (which I hate so much because she betrayed Taranza). This poor guy. I think he should be one of Kirby's friends. So cool and awesome.
Kracko
Whispy Woods

Whenever I beat this dude, I always feel sorry. The single tear just makes me feel horrible for attacking this guy. I'm no tree hugger, but I'd snuggle this tree any day.
Adeleine

Go see 10 Kirby Characters That Should Be in Smash Ultimate if you want my opinions on Adeleine. There's a reason she's 2nd on that list.

She is sweet and loves to draw, just like me. I like the concept of her being the only human, and I would like to be her friend.

I always liked Adeleine, ever since her debut in Kirby 64. She is a great healer in Star Allies.
Chef Kawasaki

A very helpful friend and powerful enemy.

He's just a nice, chill chef and doesn't deserve to be made fun of by the Cappies.
Knuckle Joe

How is Knuckle Joe not on this list? He is cute, and he's one of the best enemies/helpers in the game. He especially did well in his return.

Knuckle Joe, Kirby, Waddle Dee, King Dedede, and Meta Knight are all obese, although Kirby, Knuckle Joe, and Waddle Dee are already light.
Daroach

Daroach is the OG. And just like Dedede, he is one of Dark Matter's "chosen ones." Along with Magolor, Daroach is just so cool and shady and stuff.

The fourth best thing in Squeak Squad. He advocates for female rights, animal rights, and UFO rights. He looks cool, has a cool theme, and has my favorite ability magnified into a huge beam. Great character.

I've never played Squeak Squad, but he is one of my favorite characters in Star Allies!
Dyna Blade
Waddle Doo
Morpho Knight

The butterfly plot twist was so epic, and it's cool how they brought back an old design to make this masterpiece.

He's a fusion of Galacta Knight and a butterfly. Who wouldn't like this guy?

This guy's very existence is fan service, and giving him cool powers and lore is just so good.
Parasol Waddle Dee

These are my favorite variants of Waddle Dees!
Prince Fluff

Needs more love. He is a cute fluff and needs to make a return. My sister would never let me play as Kirby when I was little, so I honestly like Fluff more for the nostalgia.

I like him. He needs to appear as a regular puffball for future games and have a darker side.

I've played Epic Yarn since I was 3, so I just have a connection to him.
Bugzzy

I like animal characters in Kirby.
Ribbon
Nightmare

Kinda cool guy. I wish he was in more games and had an even more important role in the lore.

His boss fight in Adventure was flawless and brilliant. Excellent!