Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble

Video ChumsA.J. Maciejewski

8.1/10

It's been a long time but monkey-rolling fans like me finally have a new game with Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble and it's great fun.

GameSpewRichard Seagrave

8/10

Suitable for fans of Super Monkey Ball and those new to the series, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble offers more of the same ball-rolling action but with a new spin dash mechanic. In any case, while its multiplayer offerings aren't the best, the Adventure mode here is better than ever, offering a wealth of excellently designed stages to play through and master.

The Nerd StashNat Collazo

8/10

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a great addition to the series with new levels and abilities though is not nearly as exciting as other installments with fewer characters and an incredibly short story.

For a series that has struggled to recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of that first title from a few decades ago, it’s great to see that with Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble the developers have landed on what might be a strong future direction for the series. Banana Rumble in itself is a little undercooked overall, but it’s still pristine Monkey Ball action, backed by manic good fun multiplayer, and hopefully will be backed up with a second game that more completely executes on the potential.

Press StartKieron Verbrugge

7.5/10

Though it does little to stray from the formula, Banana Rumble is a worthy original entry in a series that has somehow survived decades on a fairly simple concept. With a worthy Adventure Mode full of fun stages and addictive challenges, some great inclusions for approachability, a healthy suite of unlockables and some amusing, if not particularly compelling, multiplayer Battle modes, this is a decent overall package for Monkey Ball vets and newcomers alike.

Nintendo WireRicky Berg

7.5/10

With all the Sega revivals in the mix, it’s nice to see the Super Monkey renaissance continue. Multiple titles have been remade since 2019, with the highlight

Checkpoint GamingCharlie Kelly

7.5/10

More than 20 years since the series debut, Super Monkey Ball is a property that just won’t quit. Did you know that, including ports and remakes we’ve had 22 entries in its 23-year existence? Simply put, there’s something so innately satisfying, addictive and proven as the simple gameplay mechanic of controlling a little monkey inside a little ball through an obstacle-ridden course. You are the ball. Be and control the ball to your will. This mantra is simple and effective in the new Sup...

Impulse GamerJames Davie

Time for another round of monkey balling in Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble. Can you believe the latest entry marks the franchise's nineteenth appearance!

Gamers HeroesCasey Scheld

70/100

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble sticks to its roots a little too closely, with its multiplayer mode coming off as more of a bonus than the main attraction. Those that don’t mind the same old song and monkey dance will have fun, but don’t expect anything revolutionary.

WayTooManyGamesLeo Faria

7/10

Created by the same lunatic visionary behind the Yakuza franchise, the Monkey Ball franchise is one of the most iconic Sega franchises of all time. It encompasses everything the company is famous for: simple gameplay loops, color, high-octane performance, and an arcade-like mentality. It was most successful in the early 2000s, when the first game in the franchise was even one of the Gamecube’s launch titles. Not counting Banana Blitz HD (itself a remake of the first three Monkey Ball games ...

GamingBoltRavi Sinha

7/10

The glory days of Super Monkey Ball may be far behind, but Banana Rumble is a new beginning. Tight stage design, responsive controls and an appealing aesthetic make it one of the series' best in years.

Metro GameCentralGameCentral

6/10

The best Monkey Ball game in over a decade is not much of a compliment, as while the adventure mode is almost up to par with the originals the multiplayer most certainly is not.