Mario vs. Donkey Kong Reviews
Despite its release 20 years ago, the Mario vs. Donkey Kong Remake holds up as a solid choice for fans of puzzle platformers. Its simple yet challenging gameplay, vibrant visuals, and catchy soundtrack make it a joy to play. While the gameplay can become repetitive and tiresome after a while, the addition of bonus levels and post-game content keeps things interesting. If you’ve not played the original GBA title, you’ll definitely find this remake quite a-peel-ing!
All in all, Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a remix that - between highs and lows - manages to have its say. It is definitely an uninspired but enjoyable remake for Nintendo Switch (provided you get through the first few hours of play unscathed and overlook the clumsiness of some of the mechanics that slightly undermine the gameplay experience) that allows you to experiment with new ways of approaching the genre in what in our opinion turns out to be a good postmodern puzzle-platformer and nothing more. That said, although two additional worlds are available - complete with an extra mode (which will keep you glued to the screen) and local co-op mode for two players, Nintendo could have made an extra effort and added some extra content that would certainly have benefited the (rather skimpy) duration.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a remake without great pretensions, for one of the funniest puzzle-platform games in the history of the mustachioed plumber. Without great pretensions, yes, but with various new features and also an almost hardcore drift that makes you think: perhaps the developers got carried away? Perhaps they tried to touch the chords of a more adult audience inclined to try to solve an enigma? Maybe. In all of this, the 2004 game has been brought back to light, and it's a good showing for Nintendo.
Review in Italian | Read full review
"Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a remake with a well-deserved graphical update, featuring entertaining puzzles and a fantastic soundtrack. The rivalry between Mario and Donkey Kong is fun to watch in the cutscenes and boss battles, and the co-op mode is a great addition. However, the game is better suited for a younger audience, as it lacks the challenge that seasoned players might expect, making it less ideal for those seeking a more difficult experience."
Review in Dutch | Read full review
"Get off the platform DK, the price is too high."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a blast from the past that, while unique and fun, doesn't do enough to breathe new life into a classic title.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a great puzzle platformer you can play on the go. It's not on the level of Mario Wonder or Oddysey, but it can entertain just as much.
Review in Czech | Read full review
In what the last months of the Nintendo Switch will be, if we have to believe the rumors, Nintendo gives us a nice encore. After Super Mario Bros. Wonder At the end of last year, a slick remake of a Gameboy Advance classic: Mario vs. Donkey Kong. In the twenty years after the release of the original, the Italian plumber and his ancient rival seemed to have grown at each other, but in this remake the battle between the two can be tasted again.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Mario Vs. Donkey Kong marks a competent and, above all, fun return to one of the most underrated subseries by the famous plumber. Most levels are simple and short, but very well designed, offering a wide variety of challenges. The game's new paint job is also appealing, the new levels add several new elements and the single player mode (along with the cooperative mode) can be the perfect gateway to show a younger person how fascinating the world of video games can be. It suffers a little from some inconsistency regarding the quality of the Plus levels and some problems in detecting collisions and contact with enemies. But overall, it's a quality experience, which will please new players as well as those nostalgic for this type of monkey business.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is an excellent remake that enhances everything from the visuals to adding new worlds to the inclusion of two-player co-op. The bite-sized levels are perfect for short play sessions and especially well-suited for kids.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is still a game that kids can easily gravitate to, but its added levels, co-op mode, and revamped presentation makes it a no-brainer even for older gamers looking for a relaxing, not-too-difficult good time.
Mario vs Donkey Kong is a charming puzzler that’s great in short bursts, but the repetitive formula, short length, and occasionally frustrating controls leave it paling in comparison to other top-tier Mario outings on Switch.
Super Mario remains one of Nintendo's most important brands today. While games continue to evolve with technological innovation and captivate a new generation of gamers, Mario himself remains an unchanging pop culture icon. The journey of this legendary plumber has gone down in history as a living example of how video games can evolve into an art form and a cultural phenomenon.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
I honestly could not recommend this more. It’s faithful to the original and has a ton of quality of life improvements that make it so much more fun to play
Overall, I wouldn’t say Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a challenging game. It’s a nice puzzle and platformer that urges you to want to collect all the collectables in each stage for that gold star marking your completion. I would say it’s a good introduction to some puzzle games for younger audiences, or if you just want something to relax with and play, Nintendo has you covered with this release.
While Mario vs. Donkey Kong has a charming concept and visual direction, the twenty-year-old puzzle platformer shows its age through frustrating level design, bizarre controls, and very little content that improves upon the original. Further, with its $49.99 price point, it's hard to justify purchasing the remake unless you're a die-hard fan of the original GBA title.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a surprising remake to see, and one that is full of content and charm to keep puzzle fans satisfied.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a beautiful remake that successfully raises the bar with the improvements it brings, even though it's a game that stays as loyal to its core as possible.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Mario vs. Donkey Kong’s simplicity makes it perfect for quick gaming sessions during quiet moments. Plus, with the new 2-Player mode, you can enjoy the fun with a friend. It’s well-designed, and the different mechanics and level themes keep it from getting boring. Even though it’s not trying to do too much, Mario vs. Donkey Kong is still a charming game that offers a break from more complicated puzzles, a throwback to simpler times and a joy to play.
Despite the limited length and a lesser capacity to surprise as you progress through the eight worlds, Mario Vs Donkey Kong is still an exciting, fun and challenging experience. The gameplay is impeccable, as well as the revamped graphics have a catch-all that the original clearly no longer produces unless you're a die-hard fan of retro games. Mario vs Donkey Kong's cleaned face fits the Switch screen well, shining through colours, enemy detail and moving objects. It's one of those games that asks us to think and reflect, continuously, between jumps and other spinning operations. A great alternative to the usual platform games.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review