In 1999, Rare released the first-ever Donkey Kong 3D platformer,Donkey Kong 64. WithDK64releasing to commercial and critical success, fans have been waiting ages for Nintendo to follow up with another Donkey Kong 3D platformer. A staggering 26 years later, Nintendo has finally delivered withDonkey Kong Bananza. A Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive,Donkey Kong Bananzais Donkey Kong’s biggest adventure yet, carving out a bold new direction for the franchise while simultaneously paying homage to its past.
Donkey Kong Bananza’s redesigned and highly expressive Donkey Kongfinds himself on a journey to the planet core alongside a 13-year-old version of Pauline, who first appeared in the original 1981Donkey Kongarcade game. The duo has to work together to stop a trio of evil apes that are plowing through one subterranean layer after another and stealing each world’s bananas. As far as Nintendo 3D platformers go,Donkey Kong Bananza’s story is entertaining and the characters are endearing. There are some surprises along the way and there are plenty of memorable moments throughout. It’s not going to win any awards for its narrative, butDonkey Kong Bananza’s story is fun and lays the groundwork for its wild gameplay mechanics.
WhileDonkey Kong Bananzawas originally envisioned for the original Switch, it’s hard to see how it would have possibly worked on that dated hardware. Utilizing the power of the Nintendo Switch 2,Donkey Kong Bananza’s primary gameplay mechanic is demolishing virtually all the terrain in the game. The destructibility inDonkey Kong Bananzais definitely impressive, and while there have been reports of performance issues, I personally experienced little to none. Occasional slowdown happens in the game’s especially busy moments, but nothing that has any impact on the gameplay or the “wow” factor of being able to obliterate everything in sight.
Bananza Abilities Are a Game-Changer
As players smash throughDonkey Kong Bananza’s worlds,DK gains powerful new Bananza abilitiesthat give him even more ways to tackle the game’s challenges. One of the first Bananza abilities gives DK extra strength so he can punch through concrete, while another gives him super speed. I don’t want to spoil the later Bananza abilities, but rest assured that DK’s arsenal of moves expands significantly as the game goes on, and it’s always a treat to see what new power is next.
Bananza powers give players more tools to work with inDonkey Kong Bananza, but DK by himself is plenty versatile. Players can punch their way through the terrain, but they can also rip it up and throw it at enemies. Alternatively, they can use chunks of the ground as surfboards to make their way safely across otherwise hazardous areas. Plus, DK can climb on most surfaces and has a roll that can help players successfully complete wider jumps. Donkey Kong’s deep, easy-to-control move-set ensures that the core platforming is consistently engaging from the start of the game all the way until the credits roll.
Donkey Kong Bananza features a co-op mode where a second player is able to wreak havoc with Pauline’s singing voice, but it’s tacked on and doesn’t enhance the experience.
Donkey Kong’s skills are used to collect hundreds of bananas, find hidden fossils, and amass a fortune of gold. Whereas some 3D platformers have players hunting down collectibles for the sake of it,Donkey Kong Bananzaoffers extra incentive by using the collectibles as in-game currency.Collecting bananas grants skill pointsthat can be used to purchase new skills or upgrade existing ones, while fossils are exchanged for outfits that enhance DK and Pauline’s stats. Gold, meanwhile, is used for a variety of things, from purchasing “getaways” that players can use to heal to filling up the Bananza meter. By tying incentives to the collectibles,Donkey Kong Bananzamakes everything feel more worthwhile.
Characters like the Fractones and the general vibes of Donkey Kong Bananza make it feel like a 2025 version of a 90s Rare game.
By and large,Donkey Kong Bananzais a blast, but that doesn’t mean it’s not without its missteps. Smashing things to smithereens is fun, but it does get old after a bit, and repeat mission types make things feel pretty repetitive at times. The game also relies heavily onBreath of the Wild-style shrines that are sectioned off from the main world and set in sterile environments that aren’t particularly imaginative.
Perhaps the biggest issue with the game is its distinct lack of challenge. The 2DDonkey Konggames are known for their high level of difficulty, but that’s nowhere to be found inDonkey Kong Bananza. The game is a breeze, with even its stiffer challenges barely offering much friction thanks to items like balloons that keep players from falling down pits andapple juice that instantly restores DK to full heartsif he takes too much damage. By extension, the boss fights are a letdown because they’re all way too easy.
Donkey Kong Bananza is a Showpiece for the Switch 2
Donkey Kong Bananzabosses don’t put up much of a fight, but they are at least visually spectacular. In general,Donkey Kong Bananzalooks great, with highly-detailed worlds that take full advantage of the Switch 2’s beefier hardware when compared to its predecessor. It’s easily the most impressive Switch 2 game to date and a real showcase of the console’s capabilities. It even utilizes the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls for those that want to mess around with the bonus DK Artist mode, where players can create their own sculptures, and optional motion controls let players beat the Joy-Cons against their chest to activate Bananza mode.
You can complete Donkey Kong Bananza’s main story in about 10-15 hours, but doing everything in the game will bump things up to about 50, easily. I took my time with the game and had about 600 bananas and 30 hours by the time the credits rolled.
It’s all wrapped in a neat package that fully embraces new ideas while simultaneously serving as a loving homage to Donkey Kong’s decades of history.Donkey Kong Bananzais stuffed with Easter eggs and throwbacks to older games, with nods to the arcade classic and the SNES Rare trilogy alike. There are side-scrolling stages, appearances from fan-favorite characters like Cranky Kong, and music pulled straight from the classics. Theinfamous DK Rapcan be heard when resting at getaways, while classic sounds from the older games are expertly used to trigger nostalgia. In typical Nintendo fashion, the new music is incredible, and it pairs brilliantly with the revamped classic tracks from yesteryear.
For Nintendo Switch 2 owners,Donkey Kong Bananzais a no-brainer. It successfully appeals to old-school Donkey Kong fans and newcomers to the franchise alike. Simply put,Donkey Kong Bananzais the Nintendo Switch 2’s first must-have game sinceMario Kart Worldand a good reason to go out and buy the new console.
