Donkey Kong Bananza is now available for Nintendo Switch 2, which is a big deal for the popular ape. This 3D platformer was made by the same team that made Super Mario Odyssey. It puts a lot of focus on destruction and exploration, which is something that not many games do. It came out on July 17, 2025, and soon got a lot of good reviews. Many critics say it's one of the best games for the new platform.
What is Donkey Kong Bananza?
In Donkey Kong Bananza, players control Donkey Kong as he travels across a huge underground realm in 3D. His job is to get back banana-shaped gems that a group of bad monkeys stole. The main part of the game is the sandbox-style stages from Super Mario Odyssey, but the landscapes may be destroyed, which makes it stand out. You can crush, dig through, and rearrange almost any landscape to make new paths and find hidden objects.
Gameplay Mechanics: Fun that destroys things and lets you move freely
The main thing that makes Donkey Kong Bananza fun is how much it destroys the environment. Donkey Kong can punch, throw, and climb over practically anything that gets in his way. This concentration on destruction came from a coder who attached enormous arms to a Goomba after Super Mario Odyssey came out. It became a key design idea to make players feel good about destroying the environment.
"Donkey Kong Bananza isn't just a game; it's a master class in interactive destruction!" Every punch feels huge. #DKBananza #NintendoSwitch2
DK's main skills and how he moves
His moveset is based on how strong he is. He may pull pieces of the ground off and throw them at foes, swing them to break walls, or even surf on them to move quicker and get through difficult regions safely. He can also punch in any direction, ground slap to get gold and show valuables, and roll-jump to get farther away. Being able to climb practically any surface that isn't slippery gives exploration more freedom.
The game's terrain is made with voxel technology, which lets you destroy things in great detail without making them look blocky like in Minecraft. This technology makes it possible for the environment to change and explode in real time.
Characters and Story: DK and Pauline's Trip to the Center of the Planet
The story starts with Donkey Kong finding a strange person, at first called Odd Rock, who is stuck below. This person turns out to be a 13-year-old girl named Pauline who loves to sing. Pauline asks Donkey Kong to assist her get back to the surface so she can follow her ambition of becoming a singer. They go further into the Planet Core on their journey, looking for a power that will let them get back home.
Pauline's Part and Vocal Projectiles
Pauline isn't just a sidekick. She is an important part of the game's story and mechanics. Her singing voice makes Donkey Kong's strong Bananza transformations happen. In co-op mode, a second player can control Pauline and use the Joy-Con 2's mouse controls to make her voice sound like explosives. She may also replicate terrain material that is close by to make her vocal blasts stronger, which adds a strategic element to fighting and solving puzzles.
"Pauline's role in Donkey Kong Bananza is surprisingly deep, and those Bananza transformations?" A big change in the game! #DonkeyKong #Switch2
Teenage Pauline comes from New Donk City, which makes people think that Donkey Kong Bananza is a predecessor to Super Mario Odyssey, where an adult Pauline is the mayor of the city.
Collectibles and Progression: Learning the Skill Tree and Outfits
Donkey Kong Bananza is a game where you collect things for a reason. There are different items in the game that affect how you progress and how you can customize your character.
How to Find and Use Bananadium Gems
Like Odyssey's Power Moons, Bananadium Gems are the main thing to collect. Donkey Kong gets a skill point for every five Bananadium Gems he collects. He can utilize these points to improve his health, moves, and Bananza transformations through a skill tree.
Fossils and clothes that are only worn in certain areas
Fossils are another type of collection that is very important. You can swap them for clothes that are distinctive to each region for Donkey Kong and Pauline. These costumes not only affect how they look, but they also give you bonuses, such making it more likely that you'll locate treasure chests.
Management of Gold and Bananergy
Gold is a sort of money and is needed to power Donkey Kong's Bananza transformations. You need to fill up a "Bananergy" meter by collecting gold in order to use these strong forms.
Bananza Transformations: Let Donkey Kong's Strong Forms Out
As Donkey Kong and Pauline go deeper, DK gets new Bananza powers that change him into superpowered animal forms. These changes only last for a short period and need Bananergy.
Kong Bananza: Unfiltered Power
Kong Bananza is a better version of Donkey Kong. This form lets him break up harder things that usually need explosives to crack.
Zebra Bananza: Quickness and Flexibility
The main objective of Zebra Bananza is speed and agility. In this form, Donkey Kong can run over ground that would break if he were his usual weight.
Ostrich Bananza: Glide and Explore
Ostrich Bananza gives Donkey Kong the power to glide through the air, which makes it easier to overcome gaps and find hard-to-reach places.
While powered up, players can quickly switch between different Bananza transformations, which gives them more options for how to deal with problems.
Nintendo Switch 2 Performance: Frame Rates, Voxel Tech, and Developer Insights
Donkey Kong Bananza really tests the Nintendo Switch 2's limits, especially with its voxel-based destructible surroundings. The game usually runs at a steady 60 frames per second, however it sometimes drop a few frames when there is a lot of devastation or when you initially reach a new location.
What Director Kazuya Takahashi Said About Performance
Director Kazuya Takahashi said that these performance drops happen from time to time. He said that these moments are typically caused by effects that are meant to happen, such hit-stop and slow motion to make collisions stand out, or the big shifts in the world that voxel technology makes possible. Takahashi said that the development team "put fun and playability ahead of small changes in frame rate."
@IndieGameDev: "The director putting 'fun and playability' ahead of little drops in frame rate in Donkey Kong Bananza? A real Nintendo way of thinking. #GameDev #DonkeyKongBananza"
Amiibo Integration: How to Get Unlocks, Rewards, and the Diva Dress
Donkey Kong Bananza works with amiibo figures, which give you different bonuses in the game.
Scanning Donkey Kong Amiibo for KONG Tiles
Players get four golden KONG tiles when they scan amiibo that have to do with Donkey Kong, including the new Donkey Kong and Pauline figure or previous Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, or King K. Rool amiibo. These tiles act like bombs to assist clear passageways.
Benefits of Amiibo Other Than Donkey Kong
When you scan amiibo figures that aren't Donkey Kong, you get different elemental spheres. You can throw these as weapons or use them to surf on the ground.
Getting Pauline's Diva Dress to work
You may get Pauline's Diva Dress outfit by using the new Donkey Kong and Pauline amiibo. This costume not only modifies how she looks, but it also makes it twice as likely that slain opponents will drop music discs. The amiibo gives you early access, but you can also get the Diva Dress by finishing the main game and a mission after the game.
Challenges After the Game and 100% Completion
It takes about 10 to 12 hours to finish the main tale of Donkey Kong Bananza. However, there is a lot of extra content for completionists after the game.
Finishing the main story and first thoughts
After the credits roll, Donkey Kong goes back to Ingot Isle, where Grumpy Kong and Poppy Kong, who have changed their ways, show him a Warp Gong. This lets you go back to layers to explore them more.
Secret Rooms and Hidden Challenges
Pauline's secret story in the post-game is about how she gets ready for a show in New Donk City and asks the Kong Elders for help writing a new song. This means doing additional Bananza challenges and finishing the Elders' last gauntlet in the Planet Core. You can also find 777 Bananadium Gems and about 700 fossils spread out over 17 strata. It can take dozens of hours to finish everything.
"Donkey Kong Bananza has endless replayability, from collectibles to post-game content," says @CompletionistGamer. I can't let go of my Switch 2! #DK #Nintendo
A Comparison of Donkey Kong Bananza and Other Nintendo Platformers
Donkey Kong Bananza is one of Nintendo's most famous 3D platformers, along with Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Tears of the Kingdom vs. Destructible Environments
What makes the game different is that you may destroy things in it. Tears of the Kingdom lets you change the landscape, but Bananza's main gameplay is about smashing and remaking the world. This makes Donkey Kong Bananza a one-of-a-kind game for the Switch 2.
Philosophy of World and Story Design
Nintendo games are known for being enjoyable and easy to play, and this game's design philosophy is no different. Voxel technology made it easy for developers to swiftly test and change level designs.
Should you buy Donkey Kong Bananza? A Full Value Analysis
Donkey Kong Bananza has gotten a lot of praise, having an average critic score of 91 on OpenCritic. A lot of people who have reviewed it have liked its new gameplay, interesting tale, and charming style. Many people say that Switch 2 owners should play it.
Value for Money: Who Should Buy Bananza?
This game is for anyone who like 3D platformers that emphasis on exploration and changing interactions. The fact that you can destroy things in the game is a new spin on the genre. Some critics say that the game can be easy at times, however the many obstacles and extra content beyond the game are great for committed players.
Donkey Kong Bananza: Tips and Tricks from the Pros
Tips for New Players Who Are Just Starting
New gamers should try out Donkey Kong's moves right away. To open up new passageways and solve problems, you need to tear pieces off the ground and use them in different ways. Look for visual clues in your surroundings; they can often point you to regions that can be destroyed or hidden mysteries.
Advanced Skills and the Ability to Speedrun
The game's destructible landscapes give players chances to come up with unique ways to solve problems and possible speedrun paths. Sometimes, players can get around puzzles by making their own paths. To make the most of movement and fighting, you need to learn how to quickly switch between Bananza transformations.
Finding Secret Areas and Easter Eggs
You can find a lot of trinkets and mysteries in underground caves and tunnels, which you can get to by breaking through certain areas of the landscape. Donkey Kong's sonar skill, which may be improved, and Pauline's singing can assist you find hidden items and mark spots on the map.
Multiplayer and Co-op Details: Playing Donkey Kong Bananza with Friends
There is a two-player co-op mode in Donkey Kong Bananza. The first player is in charge of Donkey Kong, and the second player is in charge of Pauline.
Controls for Assist Mode and Joy-Con
Pauline rides on Donkey Kong's back, and she mostly controls the action with a pointer on the screen that is controlled by the Joy-Con 2's mouse function. She can use vocal blasts to hurt adversaries and destroy the ground. This co-op option is less about everyone having the same level of control and more about one person helping the other. This makes it good for playing with younger or less experienced players. The game also supports GameShare, allowing a second person to join locally or online on another Nintendo Switch 2, or even locally on an original Nintendo Switch, with only one copy of the game.
The Music of Donkey Kong Bananza: A Musical Journey
Naoto Kubo is in charge of the sound in Donkey Kong Bananza, and the soundtrack is great. The music in the game is based on music from old Rare games like Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong 64. Grant Kirkhope, the original composer, has found the addition of the "DK Rap" funny. Pauline's singing is a big part of the show; she sings the Bananza Transformation songs. Players can also gather music discs from adversaries and listen to them in a music player in the game.
Features for people with disabilities
There are a number of ways to make Donkey Kong Bananza easier to play. Players can choose between Normal or Assist difficulty modes, which can be changed at any time. Assist mode helps players find their way by providing them musical notes that point them to their next goal. You may turn off motion controls or change their sensitivity, and you can also turn off camera shaking. The game also offers options to invert camera axes, adjust camera sensitivity, and remap some button controls. While some players have reported motion sickness, settings like disabling gyro aiming, camera sensitivity, and camera vibration can help. Subtitles are generally a good size and contrast.
Donkey Kong Bananza is a triumphant return for Donkey Kong in the 3D platforming space. Its focus on destructible environments, coupled with a charming story and engaging characters, makes it a must-play title for the Nintendo Switch 2. The game offers a wealth of content, from its satisfying core gameplay to its extensive post-game challenges, ensuring many hours of smashing fun.