Nintendo aired a brand-new Donkey Kong Bananza Direct this morning, giving a full look at Donkey Kong’s next big Switch 2 game. The Direct focused entirely on Donkey Kong Bananza, a 3D platformer launching July 17 exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.
The presentation revealed new gameplay footage, character details, transformations, creative modes, and more. Donkey Kong is back in the spotlight, and he’s not alone. Pauline joins the adventure as DK’s newest partner, helping him fight, sing, and dig deeper through a mysterious underground world.
If you missed the announcement earlier this week, check out our full breakdown here: Donkey Kong Bananza Direct Announced for June 18.
Here’s everything we learned from the Donkey Kong Bananza Direct.
A Quest for Bananas and the Planet Core
Donkey Kong Bananza begins on Ingot Isle, where golden bananas have been discovered underground. DK just happens to be nearby when a storm strikes, sending him deep into the planet.
That’s where he meets Odd Rock, a mysterious singer who later reveals herself as Pauline. Together, they explore the Underground World, smashing through obstacles, jumping across platforms, and using Pauline’s singing powers to unlock hidden paths.
Their goal is the Planet Core, a legendary place said to grant your heart’s desire. DK wants more bananas. Pauline wants to return to the surface. But they aren’t the only ones racing toward it.
The Void Company, a shady mining group, is also digging toward the core. They caused the storm, turned Pauline into Odd Rock, and have their own plans for the underground. You’ll face Void Kong, the leader of the operation, along with his crew: Grumpy Kong, Poppy Kong, and others.
Along the way, you’ll also run into returning favourites like Cranky Kong and Rambi, as well as giant Elders scattered throughout the deeper zones.
Bananza Forms, Bananergy, and Smashing Combos
Donkey Kong can punch, grab, throw, and roll his way through the Underground World. Several abilities were shown during the Direct, including Dive Punch, Hand Slap, and Turf Surfing. These let DK drill into the ground, uncover secrets, and even ride debris through enemy zones.
As you collect gold throughout each level, your Bananergy meter fills. Once it’s charged, Pauline’s voice activates special Bananza transformations, each with a unique skill set.
The Direct highlighted three transformations:
- Kong Bananza boosts DK’s strength and lets him smash through larger obstacles.
- Zebra Bananza increases speed and adds a quick dash for crossing gaps.
- Ostrich Bananza gives DK the ability to fly short distances and drop Egg Bombs on enemies.
Transformations are temporary, but once your Bananergy is recharged, you can swap between forms freely. You’re not limited to a specific time or place, so you can get creative with how and when you use them.
Local Co-op and Joy-Con 2 Support
Donkey Kong Bananza supports two-player co-op, letting you team up with a friend using Joy-Con 2 controllers. One person controls Donkey Kong, while the other plays as Pauline.
Pauline’s voice powers are tied to the mouse input feature on Joy-Con 2. You can aim and activate her abilities with pointer-style controls, giving her a different feel from DK’s brawler-focused moves.
If your friend doesn’t own the game, GameShare lets you temporarily share the game with another console, including the original Nintendo Switch, for local co-op play.
GameChat is also supported. It allows you to chat with friends online using either voice or video on your Nintendo Switch 2. That includes during co-op sessions.
Banandium Gems, Chips, and Gold
While exploring the Underground World, you’ll collect banana-themed resources that power up Donkey Kong and unlock new gear. The most important are Banandium Gems, hidden in walls, buried in dirt, or earned through challenges.
These Gems give you Skill Points, which unlock new moves and upgrades for Donkey Kong. You can also earn them by completing timed battles, obstacle courses, or special side-scrolling stages.
Other collectible types include:
- Banandium Chips: Trade these at the Chip Exchange for more Gems.
- Banandium Gold: Use this at the Stuff Shop to buy items.
- Fossils: Bring these to the Style Shop to unlock new outfits and fur colours for DK and Pauline. Some come with stat boosts.
You can also find treasure chests while digging. These sometimes contain maps that mark the locations of nearby Banandium Gems and Fossils. The game tracks everything you collect, making it easy to see what you’re missing.
This system adds a steady layer of progression without needing to backtrack or grind. You’re rewarded just for exploring and trying side paths.
DK Artist and Photo Mode
If you need a break from platforming, Donkey Kong Bananza includes a few lighter side modes. First up is Photo Mode, which lets you pause the action, move the camera, and snap custom shots. You can change angles, lighting, and visual effects before saving your photo.
Then there’s DK Artist mode. This creative tool lets you carve and sculpt designs using the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls. You can smooth out rock surfaces, add paint effects, and even drop in banana-themed flourishes. It’s a separate space from the main game where you can focus on building your own creations.
The game also features Getaways, where you can rest in a carved-out area to restore health. While resting, you can use the music player to listen to tracks. You’ll even unlock new music discs by defeating enemies throughout your journey.
Nintendo showed all of this briefly in the Direct. These modes offer a change of pace without pulling you too far from the main adventure.
amiibo Bonuses and Unlocks
Donkey Kong Bananza includes full amiibo support, with both new and existing figures offering in-game bonuses. A Donkey Kong & Pauline amiibo launches on July 17, the same day as the game. Scanning it unlocks Pauline’s Diva Dress early and grants explosive KONG tiles.
Other Donkey Kong series amiibo can be scanned to earn gold KONG tiles, which help during combat. If you scan any non-series amiibo, you’ll receive a giant sphere of terrain material. These help with movement and environmental interaction.
Everything tied to amiibo is optional, but the rewards add a small boost if you already have figures on hand.
Donkey Kong Bananza launches on July 17
The Donkey Kong Bananza Direct packed a lot into its 15-minute runtime. From new transformations and co-op support to creative tools and character reveals, the game looks like a major shift for the series.
Seeing Pauline as a playable character felt like a nice surprise, and her musical powers add a different dynamic than usual. I’m also curious how deep the customization and fossil system goes. Being able to earn new outfits through exploration sounds more rewarding than just buying them outright.
With GameShare, GameChat, and Joy-Con 2 features all supported, Nintendo seems to be leaning into everything the Nintendo Switch 2 can do. Whether you’re playing solo or with a friend, Donkey Kong Bananza looks like it’ll give you plenty to do.
The game also includes Assist Mode, which reduces damage, adds guidance, and makes the experience easier if you need extra support.
Donkey Kong Bananza launches July 17 exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. Are you planning to jump into Donkey Kong Bananza next month? Which transformation or feature has you most interested? Let us know below.
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I can’t wait for this game, I love how DK looks absolutely unhinged with the different facial expressions and all the activities he’s up to. I can’t wait to play when it’s released.
Thanks for the great article, Jon! I am super hyped for this game – even more so now that we have more insight into game play and all of DK’s different abilities and transformations. And I already know my daughter will love Pauline!