Donkey Kong: Bananza Reviews

Donkey Kong Bananza’s first DLC is a bit of a whiff, despite its strong potential. Emerald Rush is a pleasant enough mode to play a few times, but the emptiness of DK Island is fairly disappointing given the price tag.

Donkey Kong Bananza is an immaculate return to 3D for DK. Bananza offers creativity seen in very few games in our industry have achieved. Each Layer is expertly crafted, Donkey Kong is endlessly fun to control, and the narrative is surprisingly great. While the general lack of difficulty, especially with bosses, leaves a bit to be desired, Donkey Kong Bananza is one of my favorite Nintendo games of the last decade. Let's just hope this marks a new era of consistent Donkey Kong games.

Nintendo experiments with the recipes of its classic platformers to give us true freedom in Donkey Kong Bananza, giving us new ways to beat up enemies but also a catchy soundtrack, puzzles, and minigames to unearth.

Donkey Kong Bananza is nothing short of a revelation and revolution about what DK can be as a character and how his games can be different from Mario’s, Kirby’s, and others of his platforming ilk. He and Pauline are the epic “dynamic duo” that Nintendo can rally around to start the Switch 2 age, and you’ll love this game from start to finish…then go back for even more.

Donkey Kong Bananza is a true showcase for the Nintendo Switch 2, offering an almost unmatched platforming experience that makes collectibles feel important. An absolute joy to play.

A chimera of Nintendo's best franchises infused with new ideas and a real narrative heart in Pauline, Donkey Kong Bananza is a must-play on Switch 2 and kickstarts the next generation of Nintendo with an all-time great.

The most surprising part of Donkey Kong Bananza is the emotional bond between Donkey Kong and Pauline. It's not the most complex relationship, but it doesn't need to be. It's very sweet and emotional to witness something that we don't typically see in Mario games. With Donkey Kong Bananza, it should be highly regarded with other platformers like Super Mario Odyssey and Astro Bot. Donkey Kong Bananza is a prime example of why gamers need a Switch 2.

Donkey Kong Bananza blends new ideas with the series’ core DNA to create something that's not only incredibly fun, but hard to put down. It’s not just a great Donkey Kong game—it’s a must-have title, and a reason all on its own to pick up a Switch 2.

Just as Super Mario Odyssey cemented the original Switch as a must-have platform, Donkey Kong Bananza smashes it's way into the Nintendo hall of classics, bumping the Switch 2 from "really nice" to "must buy" status. Don't let the smashing mechanics fool you, this game is just as smart, deep, and clever as any of the Mario or Zelda titles. Nintendo has set up and intricate and beautiful playground, and then releases the player into it as a wrecking ball. Fun doesn't get much more fun than this.

Mario may be the most important platformer in Nintendo’s gameography, but depending on your generation (mine, specifically), Donkey Kong represents a very, very close second. Maybe even a first, depending on my mood that day. Rare’s Donkey Kong Country games are formative video game experiences for me, and Retro’s Returns and Tropical Freeze games are some of the best 2D platformers ever made. Donkey Kong has, however, often been a franchise farmed out to talented developers outside of ...

For Nintendo Switch 2 owners, Donkey Kong Bananza is a no-brainer. It successfully appeals to old-school Donkey Kong fans and newcomers to the franchise alike. Simply put, Donkey Kong Bananza is the Nintendo Switch 2's first must-have game since Mario Kart World and a good reason to go out and buy the new console.

There's a certain level of risk for Nintendo to launch new hardware without a new The Legend of Zelda or 3D Mario. The last two hardware launches without one of the iconic duos (3DS and Wii U) ended up as disasters, and though the 3DS recovered, it never came close to matching the historic sales of the DS. Nintendo's biggest successes, Wii and Switch, both launched with Zelda titles and had a 3D Mario waiting in the wings a few months later. So, for the Switch 2 to launch with no new Zelda or Mario title feels like a risk. Instead, Nintendo is hoping a new 3D Donkey Kong, the first since the Nintendo 64, will help tide players over. Donkey Kong Bananzais the end result, a new 3D platforming game developed by the same team that worked on Super Mario Odyssey, but with an emphasis on destruction. Can Donkey Kong Bananza fill the massive 3D Mario and The Legend of Zelda hole in the Switch 2's lineup or are these bananas rotten?

Donkey Kong Bananza is an absolute blast. The destruction and creativity that the level design brings are constantly engaging, and the hunt for Banandium gems is always fun.

I will be the first one to admit I was bummed out with the initial reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, as well as its launch lineup. Ever since grabbing a portable gaming PC, the entire concept of “big budgeted AAA gaming on the go” had lost its novelty. It’s still very much appealing, of course, but when you have access to a Steam library on-the-go, a launch lineup plastered with third party ports and just, like, two new Nintendo games wasn’t delivering the best of first impressions. Su...

Donkey Kong Bananza blends the adventurous spirit of Zelda with the precise platforming of Mario, culminating in the ultimate Nintendo experience.

Donkey Kong Bananza takes everything you expect from a Donkey Kong game and polishes it with such a fine coat that almost any type of player can find something to have fun with. If it’s collecting every Banana, mastering the Bananza’s, completing side quests, or just playing through a fun story, there is something fun for all ages. With plenty of easter eggs for players familiar with the franchise, Bonanza doesn’t rely purely on nostalgia to make it enjoyable. If you’ve missed collect...

Donkey Kong Bananza is a groundbreaking 3D platformer from the Super Mario Odyssey team that pushes the genre to thrilling new heights.

Donkey Kong Bananza is an incredible iteration and spin on the Odyssey formula creating another incredible first-party experience. The world destruction did rob some of the challenge of the world, but it was a smaller percentage of the time.

Donkey Kong Bananza is perhaps the best 3D platformer of the 2020s so far. It has immaculate movement, mountains of incredibly fun content, challenges that genuinely test your skill, and a style so charming that you'll be thinking about it for weeks. Every part of this game comes together to make something cohesive and tightly designed, even in a world that you can fully dig through and destroy nearly every piece of. It's a generational great, an incredible use of the Donkey Kong franchise, and the star of the Switch 2 lineup.

One of the most unique Nintendo Switch 2 games is finally here and Donkey Kong Bananza is awesomer than a bunch of just-ripe bananas.

Donkey Kong Bananza is a joy to play from start to finish thanks to the game’s destructible environments and unique visuals. It’s the 3D Donkey Kong game fans of the character have always wanted and it lives up to the hype, even if there are a few minor issues with its camera here and there and far too many Banandium Gems to collect in a single playthrough.

This is the best reason yet to own a Switch 2, and shows Nintendo at its absolute best. The central destruction mechanic is so much fun, and smart level design keeps it delightful from beginning to end with an adventure rivaling Mario's very best.

When the Switch 2 was finally announced, there was plenty of debate over what games we might see in its first year. With how many times and ways the recent Donkey Kong Country Returns games have been released, I certainly wasn’t expecting Donkey Kong Bananza as one of the first titles to arrive on the console.

Nintendo hit it out of the park with this one, and I believe that any Switch 2 owner should get this game. You won’t regret it, I assure you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have one more Banana to find to increase my strength and hours of gameplay to enjoy.

This freedom is even the case for specific level mechanics, including brightly colored goo that can be destroyed to create objects in a different space. You can interact with the game as intended, or spice things up and try to go at it a different way with a power-up/form, or good old-fashioned digging. You can't dig your way out of everything (some locations are built out of impossible-to-smash materials), but you can come close. In my experience, slowdown is infrequent, and did not occur during any crucial gameplay moments (like a key platforming sequence or a boss fight).

Donkey Kong Bananza is a game so committed to its premise you can’t help but revel in the gorgeous, destructive genius of it all. Constantly building to a spectacular finish and incorporating the most comprehensive post-game experience I have seen in a Nintendo game to date, this is a proper benchmark of brilliance for what a first-party Switch 2 title should be. The world is your oyster – so why not punch it into pieces.

A triumphant return to centre court for Donkey Kong, with the best destruction effects in gaming and mountains of bizarre and wonderful ideas – and a surprising amount of jank when it comes to the camera.

Donkey Kong Bananza is an almighty re-introduction to the world of 3D platforming for DK, and arguably the Switch 2's first absolute must-play. The punching and crashing is a passing novelty that, once you get your fill, quickly becomes just another way of exploring the wonderfully varied and beautifully presented layers. Whether it's smashing through the scenery with a Bananza Transformation or carefully planning a route to a hidden Banandium Gem, you'll have trouble finding more originality and, crucially, more enjoyment from a platformer in recent years. As the DK Rap so wisely said, "Donkey Kong is here." Now let's just hope he stays.

Bananza is a great platformer, but it can't match Mario's heights

Donkey Kong Bananza is a smashing good time. With Pauline clutching onto the fur on his back as the pair race to the centre of the world, you’ll be rampaging across the landscape of each level, slapping rock-encased enemies around, and dig-punching yourself in a gluttonous frenzy of screen-filling button mashing as you search for the moreish bananas that DK goes ga-ga for.

With the arrival of Donkey Kong: Bananza, Nintendo’s legendary gorilla is finally back in the spotlight for a new 3D platformer. This sprawling journey is rich with challenging platforming sequences, a plethora of unique enemies, and features that will alter the DNA of this franchise moving forward. Top it all off with a story full of heart, and you’ve got an excellent addition to the Switch 2’s young library.

Despite being the franchise that started it all for Nintendo, Donkey Kong has never been as meticulously managed as, say, Mario or Zelda. For decades, DK was largely entrusted to teams outside Nintendo’s core Japanese development structure, with the likes of Rare, Retro Studios, and the occasional third party offering their own varying spins on the franchise. That said, between a major role in the recent Super Mario Bros. movie and new Universal Studios attractions, it seems clear Nintendo is interested in returning Donkey Kong to true top-tier franchise status. As part of this, Nintendo is rolling out Donkey Kong Bananza, a new Switch 2 3D platformer from the EPD Tokyo team behind the likes of Super Mario Odyssey.

Donkey Kong Bananza is a raucous, wildly inventive, and propulsive platformer that reboots one of Nintendo's most iconic mascots.

Donkey Kong Bananza offers surprising depth and truly stands out as one of this year's top games. It's definitely the most exciting Donkey Kong adventure we've seen so far.

Explore a vast underground world—by smashing your way through it! Bash through just about anything with the raw power of Donkey Kong! Crash through walls, carve tunnels with your fists, punch straight down into the ground, and even tear off chunks of terrain to swing around and throw in groundbreaking exploration—the more you smash, the more areas open up for you to move through. Switch 2 version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.

Bananza is pretty much the pinnacle of Donkey Kong I’ve been waiting for since the 90s. This game is so good, it’s changed my whole outlook on DK as a character. He was always second-string, at least for me. Now, DK has been bumped up to A-rank, and it’s all thanks to Bananza. This game is beautiful, with an incredible soundtrack, seamless mechanics, relentless pacing, and brand new levels of Nintendo polish. Mario Kart World was a great introduction to the Switch 2, but Donkey Kong Bananza is the first can’t-miss game to come to the platform. You’d be a fool to pass on this one.

The team behind 2017’s Super Mario Odyssey returns to deliver a love letter to the burly primate, making the genius decision to transform Nintendo’s hairiest mascot into its version of the Incredible Hulk.

A brilliant core mechanic and clever design twists make Bananza a delightfully sticky 3D platform adventure topped off with a sweet central character relationship.

Donkey Kong Bananza is a truly groundbreaking 3D platformer, with satisfying movement, powerful abilities, impressive destructible environments, and clever challenges that all come together in complete harmony to create Nintendo’s first Switch 2 masterpiece.

Donkey Kong Bananza is the greatest Nintendo Switch 2 title to date, delivering an incredible destruction system that showcases the power of the new system. It’s visually impressive and, while the story isn’t anything to write home about, benefits from charming and expressive voice acting and animations. Throw in a seemingly endless stream of collectibles and secrets, and you have a meaty adventure that’s a delight to explore.

Falling short of Odyssey’s genius, Donkey Kong Bananza is still a top tier Switch 2 platformer from the masters of the genre. A heartfelt story and pleasing nods to DK's past make this the ape's most memorable adventure in many years.

The last 3D Donkey Kong platformer was released last century. Let that sink in. It’s been an incredibly long time between drinks for everybody’s favourite ape. Of course, that doesn’t mean he’s been out of the spotlight. Starring in some incredibly strong side-scrolling platformers, continuing to feature in ensemble Mario games, and a stand-out appearance in the recent Super Mario Bros. Movie have ensured he remains popular. Well, his star is about to skyrocket, because Donkey Kong Ba...

I'm happy to say that Donkey Kong Bananza is here to whisk you off to multilevel worlds of satisfyingly smashing madness, to cheer you up and give you an excuse to punch the heck out of things.