Donkey Kong Bananza Review

Donkey Kong Bananza — The Switch 2's First Must-Own Game

Let me cut straight to it: Donkey Kong Bananza is the real deal. This was one of the games people were most hyped about heading into the Switch 2 launch, and it didn't just meet the hype — it blew past it. Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 8 took DK, a franchise that's been criminally underserved for over a decade, and delivered something that feels genuinely fresh while honoring everything that made the original Donkey Kong special.

Story — Down to the Core

The setup is simple but effective. DK is living his best life on Ingot Isle, mining Banandium Gems and gold, when VoidCo — a shady mining corporation led by the menacing Void Kong and his two lieutenants, Poppy Kong and Grumpy Kong — summons a massive meteor that sends the entire island spiraling into the earth. This cracks open a path to the Planet Core, and so begins a race between DK and VoidCo to reach it first.

Along the way, you encounter Pauline — and watching how she and DK meet and become friends is genuinely heartwarming. Pauline isn't just along for the ride either. Her voice powers are central to triggering DK's Bananza transformations, and she plays a critical role in the final showdown with Void Kong. Without spoiling too much: when Void turns DK to stone in their last battle, it's Pauline who brings him back. Their dynamic is one of the best parts of the game.

Gameplay — Smash Everything, Ask Questions Never

The core loop is beautifully clean. You descend from sublayer to sublayer, clear the level (usually collecting Banandium Gems — the game's golden bananas), and move down to the next. Simple on paper. In practice, every single sublayer feels like its own world. From the Hilltop Layer to the Forest Layer, the Lagoon, the Freezer Layer, the Feast Layer, the Groove Layer, the Radiance Layer, the Landfill Layer, the Tempest Layer, the Resort Layer, the Forbidden Layer, and finally the Planet Core — each biome brings its own vibe, mechanics, and surprises. A snowy tundra one level, a murky bog the next, a rhythm-driven groove zone after that. I was genuinely giddy every time I dropped into a new sublayer.

The destruction mechanic is the star here. Unlike a Mario title, Bananza actively encourages you to demolish damn near everything in the environment using DK's raw monkey might. Smashing through terrain, tossing chunks of rock with the right trigger, leveling entire hills — it's viscerally satisfying in a way few platformers achieve. It's literal groundbreaking stuff.

The game also does an exceptional job of NOT holding your hand while still making it crystal clear what to do and where to go next. That's a razor-thin line to walk, and Nintendo nailed it. New mechanics are introduced throughout the adventure at a pace that keeps things fresh without overwhelming you.

Bananza Transformations — The Secret Sauce

The titular "Bananza" powers let DK transform into different animal forms, each with unique abilities:

• Kong Bananza — Transforms DK into a giant ape with devastating charged punches that smash through concrete. This is your raw power form.

• Zebra Bananza — Blistering speed that lets you sprint over crumbling terrain and even run across water.

• Ostrich Bananza — Glide across chasms and reach otherwise inaccessible areas.

• And more unlocked as you progress deeper.

These transformations are triggered by Pauline's singing, and collecting gold from destroyed environments and defeated enemies keeps them active. Each form can be powered up via the skill tree, adding layers of depth. Combining Kong's raw strength with Zebra's speed and Ostrich's flight in the late game is an absolute blast. It captures that same "what'll I transform into next?!" energy that made Super Mario Odyssey special.

Skill Tree & Progression

There's a pervasive skill tree running through the entire game. For every five bananas you find (or buy with coins), you unlock a skill point to invest in DK's abilities — new moves like surfing, enhanced Bananza forms, passive perks. It gets surprisingly deep by the back half of the game, and it's one of the things that makes the second half feel like a completely different (better) experience than the opening hours.

Platforming — This Is Still Donkey Kong

Don't let the 3D sandbox elements fool you — there are plenty of sections that feel like classic DK. Tight platforming, barrel cannons, minecart sequences, bonus stages. This is unequivocally Donkey Kong. It honors the legacy of the original arcade game and the Country series while pushing the franchise to brand new heights with all its uniqueness and originality.

Replay Value — There's a Ton Here

Costumes to collect at Style Shops, fossils to unearth and trade at Stuff Shops, tearing up an entire sublayer looking for every last Banandium Gem, unlocking all the Getaways (rest spots that double as fast travel points and wardrobe stations), finding all 17 Cranky Kong locations, tracking down the NPC Collecto for rare outfits, completing every Bonus Stage and Challenge Room — there is a staggering amount of content here for completionists. The DLC (DK Island & Emerald Rush) adds even more with its roguelike Emerald Rush mode where Void Kong strips your abilities and you rebuild from scratch.

Presentation — Stunning

Graphically, this game is gorgeous. The lighting in particular is outstanding — each sublayer has its own color palette and atmosphere that makes you stop and just look around. The Switch 2 hardware is flexing hard here. I noticed the smallest amount of FPS drop in a couple of busy sections — c'mon guys, it's a Nintendo game, hit those 120fps docked and 60fps handheld targets consistently — but it's a minor nitpick in an otherwise buttery smooth experience.

The audio deserves special mention too. DK has always been Nintendo's funkiest franchise, and Bananza leans into that hard. The soundtrack is groove-driven, percussive, and gets lodged in your head for hours. Remixed classics sit alongside fresh cuts, and Pauline's vocal performances during Bananza transformations are a highlight. This soundtrack was nominated for Best Score and Music at The Game Awards 2025 for good reason.

Woke Check

Nothing. Zero. Zilch. This is a game about a gorilla in a necktie smashing rocks and collecting bananas with his singer friend. No lectures, no agenda, no forced messaging. Just pure, unadulterated fun. Nintendo continues to understand that games should be games. This is what we're here for.

The Verdict

Donkey Kong Bananza far exceeded my expectations. The early hours are a touch slow as the game builds its foundation, but once you hit the midpoint and the Bananza forms start stacking, the mechanics clicking into place, the sublayers getting more intricate and colorful — it's all gas until the climactic finish. This game was nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025, earned a 91 on Metacritic, and won Best Family Game. Every bit of that recognition is deserved.

If you own a Switch 2, this is non-negotiable. Buy it.