Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Reviews
The boss fights are all clever, the controls allow for precise maneuvers, and the visuals are nice and crisp. It took me a little time to get used to the controls, and I kept feeling slower than I would have liked. But the level design is excellent, the soundtrack is choice, and the difficulty never felt unfair.
With nine worlds of fantastic action-platforming, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD has aged rather well and is still a pleasure to play, despite its sequel Tropical Freeze remaining the series' high point.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ultimately, though, it’s worth it for anyone who hasn’t yet played Donkey Kong Country Returns before, since what they’ll find here on Nintendo Switch is absolutely the best way to play a game that represents a publisher at almost the very top of its game.
It must be said that the colorful and comical universe of Donkey Kong still works just as well. And let's not talk about the soundtrack, which is just as memorable even fifteen years later.
Review in French | Read full review
A special mention, even after many years, goes to the soundtrack that accompanies the gait of the Nintendo gorilla, in an extraordinary mix of motifs from the first trilogy and original tracks that contributed to the success of the platform game by Retro Studios.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a simple, but very well done remastered of this Nintendo classic. The thing is that is is based on the 3DS version rather than the Wii's version.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The ability to pick it up and put it down for short bursts was a perfect fit for the game, and helped keep my blood pressure under control for some of the endgame levels that really got me boiling over.
While it's not as strong a game as Tropical Freeze, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a great way to introduce younger or less skilled players to the wonderful world of Donkey Kong Country. However, those familiar with the game already through its two previous releases may struggle to find much value in another revisit, even if the visual improvements are numerous but sparse.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a phenomenal platformer and a must-play Nintendo Switch title, but it could be skippable for the fans that own the 3DS port.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a great title to rescue from the Wii's library, allowing a new generation of gamers to enjoy this masterful platformer. It didn't need a total overhaul, so it makes sense that it's just an HD rerelease rather than a total remake, but the problem is that it's priced the same as a brand-new 2025 title, which doesn't seem fair no matter how HD it is. If you don't mind the cost, you'll have yet another amazing game on Switch, but if you don't want to drop the full price on a 14-year-old game, I wouldn't blame you.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is the exact same, challenging game from the past, just looking slightly better. It is a charming if difficult classic platformer, but I’m not sure it stood the test of time. If I were to score it as a new product aimed at mainstream audience, the verdict would be a bit more negative.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Even though I love Donkey Kong, having the only games starring Donkey Kong released on the Switch being rereleases of older games is disappointing. Not only that, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD has the least amount of extra content to it compared to games like Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Mario vs. Donkey Kong. That doesn't dismiss the fact that this game is extremely fun and still has a great amount of content. If you haven't played the Wii or 3DS version of Donkey Kong Country Returns, then the HD Switch version is a must-play as it is one of my favorites in the series, but returning fans might not care for the touch ups that much.
The quality of its level design, the two-player coop and a wealth of stages, including the 3DS ones, are enough to recommend a purchase, but Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is sort of lazy if compared to other remastered versions of Nintendo old classics. If you have already played it before elsewhere, there is really no reason for a second playthrough.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Despite it feeling really late in the game to drop this HD re-release, the simple fact is that Donkey Kong Country Returns is a masterclass in tough-yet-exhilarating platforming, and the Switch is now the best place to play it all over again – or for the first time.
While it may be a 15-year-old game now, it holds up beautifully and still delivers thrilling platforming, spectacle, and diabolical challenges.
Despite its age, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD maintains exceptional quality, offering engaging platforming sequences, visually impressive set-pieces, dazzling vistas, and a high level of difficulty. While the majority of collectibles offer limited in-game value beyond unlocking mirror mode, their inherent appeal, driven by ingrained desire, compels players to seek them out. It's highly replayable and highly addictive, leaving gamers eager to keep playing. It is disappointing that this remaster doesn't include anything new for veterans, but when the foundation is so enjoyable, it's hard to be dissatisfied.
Nintendo Switch remaster of this classic platformer is the definitive version of it, and anyone who loved playing it previously is going to love the opportunity to play through it again. If you’re newer to video games… this is an essential modern classic.
A great continuation of the SNES series with imaginative twists and bright colors but it does not add nor improve much over the Wii/3DS originals.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
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