It’s been several years since Nintendo’s Donkey Kong franchise – once beloved in the community – graced a Nintendo console. 2014’s Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was a terrific game that had the misfortune of being released (and tanked) on the ill-fated Wii U. The lovable gorilla has made his big return in Donkey Kong Bananza for the Switch 2, and it’s a triumphant one. Dare I say, it might be one of the best games Nintendo has released in the past ten years.



The story of Donkey Kong Bananza wastes no time throwing you into the action. A big gold rush for Banandium Gems is taking place on Ingot Isle and this is where we find Donkey Kong, all suited up with his tie and smashing rocks. After the arrival of the fiendish mining company, Void Co, the gems are stolen and Donkey Kong is sent spiralling deep underground. Throughout the game, he has to make his way through the layers, meeting some interesting people along the way – including and most importantly, a young girl named Pauline.



I’ll avoid talking about story spoilers because there’s a lot to unpack here for fans of Donkey Kong as well as another previously released Nintendo title that took me by surprise with its connections. That said, the story is kept straight-forward and simple while the gameplay takes centre stage. Donkey Kong Bananza takes a few notes from Red Faction and incorporates mostly destructible environments, literally right down to the bedrock of the earth. Donkey Kong can smash through almost any surface except steel or metal, which requires some explosive rocks and creativity to demolish.

What Nintendo has accomplished here is nothing short of astounding in the gameplay department.

That’s not to say entire levels are destructible as Donkey Kong is still limited to smashing the ground, hills and other objects that the game deems destructible – but what Nintendo has accomplished here is nothing short of astounding in the gameplay department. Thanks to great feedback and satisfying sound design, it’s incredibly fun to just punch through rock and dirt endlessly, with most areas containing valuable healing or currency items that make all the spelunking worth it.



The trick comes in how Nintendo infuses this simple mechanic with a variety of puzzles, enemies and scenarios that requires players to think out of the box. Certain enemies will be covered in rock, meaning you’ll need to punch through their rock armour repeatedly to expose them. Others will coat themselves in sharp vines that hurt Donkey Kong, so you’re encouraged to rip boulders right out of the ground and use them as weapons. There’s so much versatility in how you approach situations and encounters, especially during the game’s many boss battles that are simply a joy to experience.

With Pauline on your shoulder, Donkey Kong Bananza unlocks a few more interesting gameplay features. Pauline’s singing can create a string of musical notes for Donkey Kong to follow to his next destination, guiding you along the right path in case you get lost (and trust me, you will get lost if you decide to mindlessly dig into rock formations and accidentally create an intricate cave network). Did I also mention that Pauline is just a wonderful character?



Once Donkey Kong encounters elders in the game, he can unlock animal-like transformations. These abilities grant various powers that are handy for any given situation, such an ostrich transformation that lets Donkey Kong glide and drop egg bombs, or a zebra form that increases his speed. It’s all perfectly baked into the game’s core mechanics and nothing feels out-of-place or useless once you wrap your head around when to use your specific abilities and skills in the moment. Because of this, Donkey Kong Bananza’s gameplay is consistently entertaining, surprising and wildly addictive, even after dozens of hours. This is the most fun I’ve had playing a game where the entire concept is to literally create your own fun in its surprisingly massive sandbox world.

Donkey Kong Bananza’s gameplay is consistently entertaining, surprising and wildly addictive, even after dozens of hours.

On that note, each layer of the underground world is imaginatively realised with various biomes that Donkey Kong can explore – icy tundras, tropical paradises, and volcanic wastes - complete with NPCs that offer side quests, tips and even clothing items to customise Donkey Kong and Pauline (the clothing also grants buffs and unique properties). Taking the time to explore the world, smash through environments, and uncover hidden secrets is the driving force behind its magnetic, rewarding exploration. There’s a lot I can’t really talk about regarding certain layers without dipping into potential spoiler territory but let’s just say it left this Donkey Kong fan very pleased and saying “I can’t believe they pulled this off.”



Layers also contain various puzzles that Donkey Kong can engage with, either to unlock bananas or reveal hidden paths to other locations. Sure, you can keep smashing things until you get results, but the level design intentionally halts you if you aren’t thinking of ways to navigate some environmental puzzles or surroundings. For example, a revolving rock strip can push you forward into spikey vines, so you’ll need to pull a boulder out from the ground to use as a weapon and destroy the vines before the strip moves you into its path. At its heart, Donkey Kong Bananza is a platformer – one that’s a bit more inventive than most platformers, but it follows the tried-and-tested rulebook of one, requiring you to dig deep into its mechanics (no pun intended).

Let’s just say it left this Donkey Kong fan very pleased and saying “I can’t believe they pulled this off.”

You’re also going to get plenty of enjoyment from uncovering and collecting bananas scattered around each level – Donkey Kong is a very simple-minded gorilla who only yearns for the yellow fruit. They aren’t just mere collectibles, though. Once five bananas are collected, Donkey Kong can put those points into a skill tree that improves things like his health, effectiveness when smashing certain types of rocks, or movement. It gives you plenty of reasons to seek out bananas so you aren’t high-tailing it from one area to the next. As the game progresses, so do its challenges and you’ll need all the skills you can acquire.



On a visual level, Donkey Kong Bananza is bursting at the seams with vibrant colours and stunning locations. Every single level and character is meticulously detailed, well-designed and endlessly charming in ways only Nintendo can pull off. There are a few NPCs that had me howling with laughter too – it’s a very self-aware game and the writers absolutely know how goofy some things can seem. Technically, it’s also near-flawless. It runs at a rock-solid (again, no pun intended) 60FPS on Switch 2 and maintains that with ease throughout. My only minor gripe is sometimes the camera can wedge itself behind objects and obscure your view a bit, but beyond that, it’s pristinely polished.

I cannot sing Donkey Kong Bananza’s praises more highly. Nintendo has genuinely created one of the best platformers ever made – an insanely addictive, inventive, and endearing game that packs more personality and charm than most AAA games could ever hope to achieve. With wondrous levels, a vibrant presentation and air-tight gameplay that prioritises fun above all, it’s nothing short of masterful and a worthy return of one of gaming’s most iconic mascots.

Review code provided by Nintendo | Donkey Kong Bananza is now available for R1,770