Donkey Kong Bananza Review: Unprecedented Fusion of Nintendo Franchises

Donkey Kong Bananza is Nintendo’s biggest attempt in years to elevate its most famous ape into the same prestige tier as Mario. Built by many of the minds behind Super Mario Odyssey and released on the Switch 2, Bananza swings for the fences with a new 3D sandbox approach, puzzle elements, and a healthy dose of destruction-based fun. It is joyful, inventive, and often stunning to look at. While it does stumble occasionally, it firmly reestablishes Donkey Kong as more than just a side attraction in Nintendo’s library.

– Donkey Kong Bananza is a game resembling Super Mario Odyssey, augmenting it with elements from Zelda and other key Nintendo franchises, and serving as a reboot to Donkey Kong.
– The game features various exciting platforming challenges, a rich storyline with a redemption arc for DK, and levels involving terrain deformation and resource gathering.
– Despite minor issues with game performance and confusing features, Bananza is recognized as another strong single-player adventure from Nintendo and carries potential for the future of Donkey Kong’s character.

From the very first level, Bananza feels different. Donkey Kong is still the same lovable brute, but the world around him has been reimagined as a series of semi-open zones that are as interactive as they are colorful. These environments are bursting with life, lush jungle canopies filled with parrots and monkeys, crumbling temple ruins that beg to be explored, and bustling beachside markets that act as small hubs. Each area rewards curiosity, with secrets hidden in destructible terrain, caves that only appear if you smash through the right wall, and NPCs offering small quests that nudge you off the main path.

The big new mechanic here is terrain manipulation. Bananza uses a voxel-based destruction system that lets you punch, roll, and pound the environment in ways that actually change the layout. You can break through rock formations to reveal shortcuts, collapse wooden bridges to trap enemies, or dig tunnels through soft soil to reach hidden collectibles. It is incredibly satisfying and feels like a natural evolution of Donkey Kong’s iconic strength.

Adding another layer are the animal transformations tied to Pauline’s new “Echo Song” ability. At certain points you can temporarily merge with animals in the environment, like becoming a rhino to charge through barriers or a chameleon to stick to walls and climb hidden surfaces. It is a clever nod to the classic animal buddies of the Donkey Kong Country games, reimagined in a way that adds puzzle-solving depth without breaking the flow of exploration.

The platforming itself is solid but a little looser than in the Mario series. Donkey Kong is intentionally heavier and more momentum-driven, which feels good most of the time but can lead to awkward moments when precision is required. The camera occasionally struggles to keep up, especially in tight indoor sections or during boss fights with multiple vertical layers. These are minor annoyances but noticeable in an otherwise polished experience.

One thing Bananza absolutely nails is replayability. Levels are designed to have multiple layers of secrets, with puzzles that only make sense after you’ve unlocked certain abilities later in the game. There are also time challenges, hidden banana coins, and a robust quest system that encourages you to revisit completed zones. Unlike many collectathons, it never feels padded.

The presentation is top-tier. Bananza runs at a smooth 60 frames per second, even in large, destructible environments, and the visual detail pops on the Switch 2 hardware. Each zone is packed with tiny environmental touches, like background wildlife or hanging vines that sway realistically as you brush past them. The soundtrack is excellent too, mixing new orchestral tracks with remixed classics from Donkey Kong Country.

Where Bananza stumbles is in its narrative pacing. The story is paper-thin, which is fine for a platformer, but the cutscenes feel oddly spaced and sometimes break the flow of gameplay. A few of the later boss fights also rely heavily on scripted sequences rather than letting you use the mechanics you’ve mastered, which can feel like a missed opportunity.

Despite those minor flaws, Donkey Kong Bananza is an easy recommendation for fans of 3D platformers. It captures the spirit of the character, introduces smart new ideas like destructible environments and animal transformations, and delivers a playground of vibrant worlds worth exploring. It may not quite hit the highs of Super Mario Odyssey, but it comes close enough to feel like a worthy companion.

For longtime Donkey Kong fans, this is the evolution you have been waiting for. For newcomers, it is an approachable, creative platformer with plenty of surprises.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars.

Donkey Kong Bananza is now available for Nintendo Switch 2.