Key

"To open a chest, you need a key. But know this. If you drop a key, it will vanish."

- Daroach

Keys are items featured in the games Kirby's Pinball Land, Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble, Kirby: Squeak Squad, Kirby Mass Attack, Kirby's Return to Dream Land, and Kirby: Triple Deluxe. They are most notably used to unlock treasure chests and certain doorways.

Kirby's Pinball Land
Keys have an extremely minor role in this game. After Kirby defeats Whispy Woods, Kracko, or Poppy Bros. Sr., a key with a star-shaped handle will appear and spin around. If Kirby falls down to the Warp Star before he can grab it, he will travel to the top level of whichever Pinball Land he's in and will have to return to the key's location. He will not have to fight the boss again.

When Kirby touches the key, two more Kirbys will appear and do the Kirby Dance. He will return to the Pinball Land selection screen and be unable to return to that Pinball Land. Once the player acquires all three keys, a Warp Star will appear, and can take Kirby to King Dedede.

Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble
Though rather uncommonly seen, keys appear as items in Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble. If the player picks one up, he/she can open locked doors. Keys are sometimes found in treasure chests or guarded by enemies such as Blockbots.

Kirby: Squeak Squad
In Kirby: Squeak Squad, Hidden Door Keys appear as collectible treasures. They are found in every level except for Gamble Galaxy, and unlock a secret stage in each level.

Kirby Mass Attack
In Kirby Mass Attack, keys are common items that open treasure chests. They can be held by Kirbys and open the chests. Buzzybat and Skullseer have special keys that can open mid-boss doors in Volcano Valley. Skull keys also appear, which transport the Kirbys to a dimension of Skullys and can unlock skull chests.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land
There are no treasure chests in this game, so keys (called Lock Keys) serve to open doorways only. Carry Dees hold keys and attempt to run away with them. The character holding a key cannot float (Kirby) or perform multi-jumps (the others), and if red-colored Scarfies and Degouts are nearby, they will transform and attack the character.

They work similarly to the keys seen in Super Smash Bros. Brawl's Subspace Emissary mode.