One day, an evildoer with a magic cane appears and splits Kirby into 10 pieces. Kirby sets off on a journey to return to his original form. Players use the touch screen to control a mass of Kirby characters in a new and novel way. Swipe the touch screen to launch them in a mass attack against enemies, then tap the enemies into submission.

While wandering the sunny shores of the Popopo Islands, the ever-cheerful Kirby settles down for a peaceful nap, unaware that danger is closing in. Necrodeus, the sinister leader of the villainous Skull Gang, arrives with plans to conquer Planet Popstar, and he sees the sleeping hero as the last obstacle in his way. With a strike of his magical staff, Necrodeus splits Kirby into ten small, weakened copies, each carrying only a fraction of the original's power, and scatters them before nearly wiping them out entirely. Only a single Kirby survives, and he is soon joined and guided by a glowing star, the embodiment of his own brave heart. Determined to undo Necrodeus's dark magic and restore himself, the lone Kirby sets off across the varied islands, gathering more copies of himself as he goes. Together the growing swarm must overcome the Skull Gang and reclaim Popstar's peace.