Many gamers think thatNintendomissed out by not havingDonkey Kong Bananzaas a Switch 2 launch title. The latest mainlineNintendoconsole was released a little over a month ago, though its launch lineup mainly consisted of updated Switch 2 versions of previous games likeCyberpunk 2077andThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The two major exceptions to this wereMario Kart WorldandNintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a sort of tech demo that many feel should have been packed into the Switch 2 like the PlayStation 5 did withAstro’s Playroom.
Meanwhile,Mario Kart Worldwas included in aspecial Nintendo Switch 2 bundle at launch, and earned rave reviews as a solid introduction to the more advanced console. About a month later, Nintendo releasedDonkey Kong Bananza, marking DK’s first solo gaming outing in nearly 11 years. So far,Donkey Kong Bananzahas been met with widespread acclaim from critics and players alike, with much of this praise going towards the game’s environmental destruction gameplay and charming story.
Donkey Kong Bananzais such a big hit that some fans are wondering why Nintendo didn’t include it as a Switch 2 launch title, especially since it seemingly makes more use of theSwitch 2’s new featuresthanMario Kart World. Reddit user theerealdeal asked this question in a post on r/NintendoSwitch2, with commenters either supporting the idea thatDonkey Kong Bananzashould have been a launch game or arguing that it was smarter of Nintendo to space out the releases of its major first-party titles across the Switch 2’s first few months.
Nintendo Fans Argue About Donkey Kong Bananza Being a Switch 2 Launch Title
These Reddit users note that Nintendo likely wanted to capitalize on the party game nature ofMario Kart Worldto draw consumers to the Switch 2 out of the gate, especially given how theMario Kartfranchise is a reliable big seller. Meanwhile, waiting about a month before releasingDonkey Kong Bananzaarguably helped keep the Switch 2 fresh in the public’s mind, as it gave players another big Nintendo title so soon after the new console launched.
WithPokemon Legends: Z-Aset to launch in October and thelong-awaitedMetroid Prime 4: Beyondsupposedly being released at some point later in 2025, it looks like the Switch 2 will have a solid first year on the market in terms of major first-party exclusives. Nintendo seems to have laid the foundation withMario Kart WorldandDonkey Kong Bananza, both of which have already performed incredibly well.
