Donkey Kong Bananza Reviews
Donkey Kong Bananza is a breathtaking 3D platformer that somehow takes what already made Super Mario Odyssey incredible and builds upon it with an open ended nature focused on destruction that is both fun and addicting, coupled with some amazing challenge rooms and puzzles that blew me away with their creativity.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Donkey Kong Bananza is a bold and brilliantly messy outing for Nintendo’s original video game icon. It is a worthy follow-up to Super Mario Odyssey, but most importantly, the game’s blend of destruction and creativity carves out an identity that is entirely its own.
A chimera of Nintendo's best franchises infused with new ideas and a real narrative heart in Pauline, Donkey Kong Bananza is a must-play on Switch 2 and kickstarts the next generation of Nintendo with an all-time great.
Donkey Kong Bananza blends new ideas with the series’ core DNA to create something that's not only incredibly fun, but hard to put down. It’s not just a great Donkey Kong game—it’s a must-have title, and a reason all on its own to pick up a Switch 2.
With Donkey Kong Bananza, it should be highly regarded with other platformers like Super Mario Odyssey and Astro Bot. Donkey Kong Bananza is a prime example of why gamers need a Switch 2.
I wasn’t sure if Donkey Kong Bananza would hold up to my hype, but thankfully, it absolutely did. Not only does this game reinvent Donkey Kong for a totally new era and console, but it manages to bring it to the present with style to spare, and even makes the game part of the broader universe seen in Super Mario Odyssey. Throw in tons of replay value, some really fun cameos and surprises aplenty, and you have one must-own adventure and the first truly great game in the Nintendo Switch 2 library.
Donkey Kong Bananza is a burst of chaos and joy, marking a strong comeback for Nintendo’s once-dormant mascot — now in a game that embraces destruction as a form of expression and turns exploration into an almost therapeutic addiction.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Donkey Kong is back, and he's back with a truly unique adventure. Nintendo EPD has created a game with innovative mechanics and enormous potential, which it doesn't always manage to express. The digging mechanic, for example, could have been handled in a more interesting way, especially when it comes to solving puzzles, something that Odyssey, with Cappy, did very well. Apart from this and a few minor technical hiccups, however, it's a great game to accompany the launch of Switch 2.
Review in Italian | Read full review
I feel like I should temper my praise of Donkey Kong Bananza, but at the same time, if I did, I’d be lying. This is one of the most enjoyable games I’ve played in a long time. If you’ve been holding out on buying a Switch 2, this is the game that should make you buy one: it really is that phenomenal.
Donkey Kong's journey in search of bananas is not just a display of destructive strength; it’s an adventure full of ideas and delightful moments—a quest that respects the player’s time, rewards exploration, and constantly reminds them not to miss Nintendo’s major titles.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Bananza is a smashing start to a new era of Kong. Combining themes from across the Donkey Kong series with polished 3D platforming established in Super Mario Odyssey, this fresh take is a charming revival of Nintendo’s most beloved characters. The dynamic duo of DK and Pauline bring forth satisfyingly creative and calamitous destruction-focused gameplay, contrasted with a charming and heartfelt bond between the pair. Though what would have been a near-perfect platformer is let down by subpar technical performance and difficulty that’s entirely trivialised by the game’s overpowered transformations. Much like a bruised banana, Bananza is a partially flawed experience, but still well and truly a Heart of Gold.
Donkey Kong Bananza is the game fans of the franchise have been waiting for since 1999, delivering one of the best and most creative 3D platformers in recent years.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
While I'm happy to take the Big N down a peg when they're complacent and being greedy little s***s as a corporation, I'm just as happy giving them praise when they do right for its audience. Donkey Kong Bananza is that rare case where credit is definitely due. Feel free to go bananas with this long-awaited return of DK being the star of his own adventure; I know I did.
Donkey Kong Bananza focuses on fast movement, fun destruction, and steady upgrades. It’s responsive, satisfying, and full of surprises. A few frame dips and camera slips don’t get in the way. Whether you’re playing by yourself or with a friend, it’s one of the best 3D platformers out there.
Donkey Kong Bananza is a real masterstroke, a 3D platform game that draws on the best Nintendo traditions (with clear influences from Super Mario Odyssey) and adds a touch of innovation thanks to the high level of environmental destruction and the amazing Bananza transformations. Despite some obvious technical imperfections (particularly in terms of frame rate, which is rather unstable on several occasions, camera stability, which is rather shaky in the narrowest sections, and pop-ins when advancing towards distant scenarios), it offers a unique, rich, engaging experience that is suitable - although the difficulty is a little too low - for a wide range of players. A must-play for anyone who owns a Nintendo Switch 2: an exclusive title that is destined to remain - without a shadow of a doubt - in the history of Nintendo's current flagship console.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Donkey Kong Bananza not only meets but surpasses its high standards in a stylish manner. It may lack Super Mario Odyssey’s sophisticated structure and in-game depth, but it gives a distinct kind of happiness: the unadulterated excitement of taking apart a world and uncovering what lies behind.
Donkey Kong Bananza is a true love letter to fans of the most charismatic ape in gaming. With stunning visuals, an engaging soundtrack, and accessible gameplay, the game delivers a fun, heartwarming, and emotional experience, the kind that makes you smile from beginning to end. Its story, while simple, is effective, and the chemistry between characters makes the journey even more captivating. More than just the return of a gaming icon, we are witnessing the birth of a title destined to define a generation. A game that will be remembered, recommended, and celebrated for years to come as an essential experience for any video game fan
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Everything about this game echoes DK’s first big smash onto the screen in those opening moments, even though Bananza is a whole lot more than just mindless smashing. It’s loud, relentless, and in your face, and the amount of heart and creativity took me by surprise at nearly every turn. Donkey Kong Bananza is one of the best platformers I’ve ever played, a stunning showcase for Donkey Kong’s new visual redesign, and the perfect statement that Nintendo is still taking risks that are going to pay off in the Switch 2 era.
Donkey Kong Bananza never lets its foot off the accelerator, delivering some of the most inventive, addictive gameplay in the franchise to date - and undoubtedly one of the best platformers Nintendo has ever made.
By turning its core game design toward destruction rather than creation, Donkey Kong Bananza shines as a work of bold innovation. If The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild redefined open-world exploration, then Bananza carves out a space of its own in the realm of 3D platformers. It's a must-play if you own a Switch 2—and if you don't, it's the first title that should go on your wishlist.
Review in Korean | Read full review