Donkey Kong Bananza gives Nintendo’s iconic ape a full 3D adventure for the first time in years. This time, you’re not swinging through trees or hopping between barrels. You’re heading underground, tearing through terrain, and collecting golden bananas with Pauline by your side.
The team behind Super Mario Odyssey handled development, and their influence shows. Instead of moons and hats, you’re working with Banandium and fists. It’s a mix of platforming, destruction, and light progression that makes each layer feel dense and packed with things to do. You dig through levels, punch through walls, and earn new skills as you go.
Donkey Kong feels fast and responsive, and the terrain destruction never wears thin. Every time I thought I’d seen it all, I ran into another hidden challenge or new ability that changed how I approached the next area.
Digging Down with DK
Donkey Kong Bananza starts on Ingot Isle, where golden bananas are being mined deep below the surface. After a meteor crashes into the island, Donkey Kong is sent underground. Not long after, he teams up with Pauline, who was turned into a rock and now wants to return home. Together, they begin exploring toward the planet’s core.
DK is after bananas. Pauline is trying to escape. Standing in their way is Void Company, the mining group responsible for sending them underground and stealing the bananas. As you work through each layer, you learn more about their plan and why they’re digging so deep.
The story is light, but it has charm. Pauline checks in at shelters called Getaways, and her banter with DK gives the journey some personality. After one boss fight, she joked about his banana obsession, and I laughed out loud. Their conversations aren’t long, but they make the world feel less empty.
You’ll meet other characters too. Some are helpful. Others block your path. Most show up briefly before letting you move on. The focus stays on DK and Pauline, which keeps things grounded and easy to follow. It’s not a complicated story, but it holds everything together. The game stays focused and doesn’t waste time getting to the next challenge.
Smash Everything and Keep Moving
At its core, Donkey Kong Bananza is all about movement and destruction. Each layer is packed with breakable terrain, hidden rooms, and collectible bananas. DK’s moveset gives you options to roll, jump, climb, and punch through everything from soft dirt to reinforced steel.
You’ll dig through each level hunting for Banandium Gems. These can be spent on new skills like double jumps, faster punches, and extra health. Some abilities change how you play, depending on what the level throws at you. The Zebra and Ostrich forms add more variety, letting you dash through hazards or take to the air when needed.
There’s also a Smashin’ Stats menu that tracks how much terrain you’ve destroyed. It’s a fun extra and ties into milestone rewards for bonus gold. Assist Mode is available too. You can turn it on or off whenever you want, and it never gets in the way.
One challenge took me by surprise when it suddenly shifted to a 2D Donkey Kong Country layout. I ended up replaying it just to grab every last item. Bananza keeps mixing things up like that. Most stages include side paths, fossils, or hidden shops that reward you for exploring.
Boss fights aren’t complex, but they’re satisfying. They move fast and give you a chance to test out new skills. Between digging, unlocking upgrades, and jumping into side challenges, there’s always something to do.
Bright, Bold, and Built for Destruction
Donkey Kong Bananza makes strong use of the Nintendo Switch 2’s hardware. It runs clean, looks great, and leans into its destructive style. The environments are packed with colour, and every layer has a clear theme. Mud, stone, and metal all break apart with chunky detail when DK tears through them.
Donkey Kong’s expressions carry a lot of personality. From wide-eyed surprise to full-on banana joy, his face reacts to just about everything. Pauline looks great too, with smooth animation and expressions that always land. Whether they’re chatting at a Getaway or cracking up at something weird, it all feels spot-on.
The menus are simple and easy to follow. Load times between areas are short, and most transitions happen quickly. At one point, DK punches through a mud wall and splatters go flying everywhere. I paused just to watch the muck stick to the walls. It’s a fun touch that surprised me.
Performance mostly holds up, but there are dips during bigger destruction scenes. The frame rate dips a little when there’s a lot on screen or the action gets hectic. It’s not game-breaking, but you’ll notice it now and then. The camera also slips occasionally, especially when you’re moving through narrow spots. It resets quickly, though, so it never caused real problems.
The sound does its job and then some. Each area has music that fits, and the destruction effects hit with a nice crunch. Pauline’s voice lines add a bit of personality too, especially during quiet moments. It all blends with the visuals to keep things feeling upbeat and fun.
Co-op That Fits the Pace
Donkey Kong Bananza includes a local co-op mode that’s simple to set up and fun to use. A second person can jump in as Pauline using a shared Joy-Con 2 setup. She handles support duties, helping DK by singing to reveal hidden paths and trigger puzzle solutions.
You don’t need a full second controller. Just split one Joy-Con 2 and go. DK handles the heavy lifting, while Pauline’s role keeps things moving without slowing the action down. The setup feels best when you’re sitting next to someone on the couch, working through levels together.
There’s also GameShare support. You can stream your copy of the game to someone else and play co-op. It doesn’t add puzzles that require two people, but it does let someone else join the fun without needing their own copy and play on their own screen.
Co-op never takes center stage, but it fits naturally into the overall design. You’re free to play the whole game by yourself, but if someone wants to tag in, it’s an easy and lightweight way to share the experience.
Donkey Kong Bananza Sets a New Standard for 3D Platformers
I didn’t expect Donkey Kong Bananza to hook me this hard, but it really did. I expected polish from a Nintendo release, but I didn’t expect to enjoy the destruction this much. Whether I was smashing through metal or unearthing bananas from a hidden corner, something always pulled me back in.
The upgrades kept things moving. Every time I got a new ability or transformation, I spotted places I’d missed before. I kept telling myself it’d be my last run, then I’d spot a hidden area or hit a new puzzle. That kind of rhythm is tough to nail, but Bananza pulls it off.
Even when the camera slipped or the frame rate dipped, the game stayed fun. The action feels tight, and the pacing rarely slows down. Everything is built to keep things moving without distractions.
Donkey Kong Bananza is more than just DK’s return. It’s a strong reminder of how fun a 3D platformer can be when it focuses on movement, destruction, and smart level design. As a launch window title, it also shows how much energy the Nintendo Switch 2 can bring. If you like platformers, this one’s worth playing.
Donkey Kong Bananza
Summary
Donkey Kong Bananza focuses on fast movement, fun destruction, and steady upgrades. It’s responsive, satisfying, and full of surprises. A few frame dips and camera slips don’t get in the way. Whether you’re playing by yourself or with a friend, it’s one of the best 3D platformers out there.
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