Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Reviews
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a great game to play. It always has been and always will be. What's more, you can enjoy it with a friend in local co-op, which adds to the fun. The problem is that this remaster feels too basic. Nintendo has got a little lazy compared to the remasters at the start of the Switch generation, which brought a wagonload of new content.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
A typical Nintendo remaster. It's hard to talk about new quality, there is a lack of great novelties here, but the gameplay is good enough to charm new players, and for IP fans it will provide an enjoyable gameplay for several hours.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD offers an experience worthy of old-school platform games: both frustrating and exciting at the same time. A timeless jewel that comes to Switch for you to enjoy with your family, now in HD
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a really good ptlatformer that deserves to be rediscovered or discovered for the first time. The art direction may not be top of the line, but it works well, and the level design is even over the top. The pacing of the game is also excellent, providing longevity to a relatively compact experience without letting it slip into banality or repetitiveness.
Review in Italian | Read full review
As a Wii veteran, I can't help but feel a little let down but that isn't entirely Donkey Kong Country Returns HD's fault and it doesn't change how special it was when I played it originally in 2010 so if you play it as a newbie, I'm sure you'll have a great time.
With its combination of nostalgia and innovation, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is shaping up to be a must-play title for Nintendo Switch owners. Whether you're a veteran of the series or a new player looking for a compelling challenge, this edition promises hours of fun in the company of the world's most famous Kongs in video games. Also, don't underestimate the title just because it's a remaster of the remaster. Each scheme offers many secrets and an unexpected depth that still captivates.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is still a fantastic platformer. Its level design, tight controls, and fun boss fights make it one of the best 2D platformers featuring Donkey Kong. The addition of Modern Mode helps open the game up to a wider audience, and this Switch version is easily the best way to experience the game today.
Nintendo serve us up yet another helping of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. Whist it doesn't feel like a full remaster, it still plays well and has me pleading with Nintendo to make a full new DK game when the Nintendo Switch 2 arrives.
Despite the occasional gripe about difficulty, and the fact that this is the third remaster/remake of a title from 30 years ago, Donkey Kong Country HD remains such a joyous experience that it deserves a recommendation.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD stands as a solid remastering of an already exceptional platformer, delivering a visually enhanced adventure that remains as captivating as it was over a decade ago.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is the best version of this Wii classic… by default. Nearly 15 years later, it's still a delight to overcome its challenging levels, find its optional collectibles, and appreciate its rich three-dimensional worlds — especially now that we can do so at 1080p60FPS with traditional controls. However, a 2D platformer of this caliber deserved a more refined port, one that features a more ambitious graphical update and doesn't introduce new issues to the experience, from frame rate drops to severe setbacks in cooperative mode.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD can be pretty frustrating at times, and if there is one thing I don’t like in my games, it’s frustration. There is a lot of content here and especially for people like me who never played the original you’ll keep busy for quite a while. But there are better 2D platformers under Nintendo’s wings and I recommend playing them first.
As much as I feel I’m beating up DKC Returns HD, I do love the game, I just happen to love and appreciate Tropical Freeze more. Hopefully this means more platforming DKC titles are on the horizon when Nintendo launches the Switch 2, but until then I’m glad a larger audience of fans can still play DKC Returns.
Donkey Kong Country Returns may not be the news that fans of the series have been waiting for after waiting so long for a new game, but it's still a decent entry point for many new players to one of the masterpieces of the platformer genre despite some of the drawbacks of this release
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is just as excellent and entertaining a platformer as it was all the way back in 2010. It can be infuriatingly punishing at times, but surpassing its finely crafted challenges delivers an immense rush of satisfaction in both co-op and solo play. This is without question the best way to experience the game today.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is still an excellent platformer with varied levels, challenging gameplay and a great co-op mode. If you don't know the original, this is a real highlight with many hours of fun. However, anyone who has already played the Wii or 3DS version should ask themselves whether the HD upgrade alone justifies a repeat purchase - especially in view of the steep price. With this new edition, Nintendo delivers a technically solid, but not perfect version of an already great game. The level design, the variety and the demanding challenges make it a timeless classic. At the same time, the feeling remains that more could have been possible. An upgrade to the more modern gameplay of Tropical Freeze or an overhaul of the visual weaknesses would have made the new edition even more valuable. Those who love the original or have not yet played it will still have a lot of fun with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. For everyone else, it remains a question of price: Are you willing to pay full price again for a slightly improved version of a 15-year-old game?
Review in German | Read full review
As a release, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a logical but questionable offering, especially in terms of pricing, as it offers virtually nothing new for those looking for a replay. To make matters worse, players spend more time staring at loading screens than before, and all this comes at a minimum cost of 55 euros — unless you happen to catch it on sale, either in a store or in the depths of the eShop. While there were certainly enjoyable moments with the Kong family this time around as well, I’m disappointed: in my opinion, the ape clan deserves better.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is still a great 2D platformer in 2025. Do I recommend it at the current price? No, because I think it's a bit steep to pay full price, especially if you've played it before. This is the ultimate version of the game, and the one I'd recommend in any collector's bookshop, despite the lack of novelty. Even so, the reissue work carried out by the developer is notable and well done. In short, it's up to you to decide whether or not to add this to your console.
Review in French | Read full review
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD swings back into action, capturing the charm of its predecessors while introducing new difficulty modes and quality-of-life features. Though it loses some of the 3DS version's 3D magic, the jump to HD brings noticeable visual improvements. The game remains a classic platformer with rewarding collectibles and solid performance, despite longer load times. While its pricing as a full-priced game is steep, it offers enjoyable gameplay and nostalgia for fans of the series.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fun and difficult platformer, which impresses players mainly with great level design. The wobbly controls do spoil the experience and make the game unnecessarily difficult, but if you can get past that, this is a well made remaster.
Review in Czech | Read full review