Donkey Kong Bananza is the breakout donkey kong game that explodes the genre, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. Developed by the Super Mario Odyssey team, it sends Donkey Kong and Pauline to Ingot Isle, where banandium gems power the underground city’s collapse. The game blends Super Mario creativity with platform game destruction mechanics in an explosive return to form.
From destructible terrain to Pauline’s special singing abilities, it’s a giant leap from the original Switch's limitations.
Donkey Kong Bananza combines nostalgic charm with modern mechanics like destructible environments, partner co-op, and DK’s dynamic transformations. Its rich world-building, layered level design, and chaotic creativity set it apart as one of the most innovative and satisfying adventures on the Nintendo Switch 2 platform.
The Void Company is draining the planet’s banandium gems, destabilizing Ingot Isle and the world beneath it. It’s up to DK and Pauline to punch their way down to the planet core, unlock DK’s powers through her special singing, and stop the environmental collapse.
In every layer, you collect banandium gems that double as skill points used to level up powers like terrain smashing or stamina during DK’s Bananza transformations.
The music direction by Naoto Kubo reimagines the classic DK Rap, adding modern beats and orchestration while staying nostalgic. It’s featured in key boss fights, along with subtle nods to past Donkey Kong Country games and even B C D E puzzle rooms named after levels from the SNES era. Some collectibles even unlock secret trials labeled B C D and B C, rewarding veterans with legacy fanfare.
Though not full two-player, Donkey Kong Bananza lets a second player control Pauline in assist mode, activating her singing powers, opening doors, or helping DK glide through tight platform sections. It’s perfect for friends or family who want to share the action without the pressure of full control.
Reminiscent of the systemic gameplay in Tears of the Kingdom, Bananza’s terrain is fully destructible. The voxel engine allows DK to punch, roll, and transform his way through soft terrain, creating alternate routes and uncovering secrets. This environmental flexibility is central to traversing the game’s challenge courses—dynamic, time-based rooms packed with puzzles and explosive platforming.
Each level spirals deeper into the planet core, a concept likened to Nintendo’s own Gold Rush through layers of biomes—from molten mines to icy halls and jungle ruins. At every turn, you’ll uncover pieces of an ancient odd rock civilization lost beneath the crust. As DK and Pauline descend, their bond—and her special singing abilities—become the key to survival.
Bananza brings back fan favorites like Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, and a surprise cameo from Donkey Kong Jr. But it's the newcomers who steal the show:
Grumpy Kong, a cranky but wise miner who offers upgrades in exchange for rare fossils.
Void Kong, a corrupted simian enforcer of the Void Company, serves as a chilling mirror to DK himself.
Pauline isn’t just a partner—her singing abilities power DK’s various Bananza transformations, allowing him to morph into forms like Boulder Kong, Ostrich Kong, and even Void Kong temporarily.
Whether you're a longtime Donkey Kong Country fan or a newer player, Bananza offers a thoughtful assist mode. Players can toggle slower platforming, auto-punch mechanics, and even mouse controls in docked mode, making it one of the most accessible video games Nintendo has ever built.
Exploration and challenge completion award skill points, which can be used to boost health, increase transformation duration, or unlock hidden paths. A flexible upgrade system makes DK’s adventure feel tailored, much like what we saw in Mario Kart World Tour and Tears of the Kingdom.
Thanks to Switch 2’s upgraded power, Donkey Kong Bananza runs at a rock-solid 60 FPS with incredibly detailed voxel destruction. The expressive animation—especially the facial expressions of DK and friends—has been heavily praised. Whether he’s grinning mid-air or reacting to a surprise boss, DK feels more alive than ever.
According to Wataru Tanaka, lead artist, the expressive style borrows from Mario Kart’s charm and emotional range, something they pushed even further with Kazuya Takahashi’s direction on cinematics.
In an in-game journal titled “Discovery of the Century,” DK learns of ancient apes who lived in harmony with the core’s energy—a narrative thread that ties beautifully into the final boss battle at the core.
Bananza uses this thread to mirror DK’s modern conflict with the Void Company—a corporate villainy evocative of early Donkey Kong Country games, giving the story an emotional punch alongside its mechanical depth.
When Donkey Kong Bananza Direct dropped earlier this year, fans erupted with joy at the gameplay’s blend of New Donk City vibes, destructible worlds, and pure platforming chaos. Critics, including Nintendo World Report, called it "the most promising DK game since the SNES era.”
And Bananza didn’t disappoint. On release, major outlets like IGN and CNET dubbed it the best Nintendo Switch 2 launch title yet.
Donkey Kong Bananza is more than just a platform game. It’s the evolution of everything that made the original Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Country games beloved. It’s bold, bonkers, and banana-fueled mayhem—and that’s exactly what Nintendo fans wanted.
Whether you're revisiting your roots with Donkey Kong Jr or diving into the chaos of this banana banditry for the first time, Donkey Kong Bananza delivers one of the most creative and satisfying experiences on Nintendo Switch 2. It’s more than a sequel—it’s a statement.
Miles Hollen · Editor
Editor
