Donkey Kong Bananza Reviews
Falling short of Odyssey’s genius, Donkey Kong Bananza is still a top tier Switch 2 platformer from the masters of the genre. A heartfelt story and pleasing nods to DK's past make this the ape's most memorable adventure in many years.
Donkey Kong Bananza should have launched with the Switch 2. This is the first game that has made me super excited to own the console. This is the next great platformer from Nintendo and gives me even more excitement for the next proper Mario game. DK holds his own though and I cannot recommend this enough. If you have a Switch 2, this game should be in your library.
Bananza is a lot of fun, but it's also a game that I wish I could have appreciated more. If its particular brand of sandbox gameplay had clicked with me, I might have considered calling it a Nintendo classic.
The open-ended nature of the game is key.
Donkey Kong Bananza’s core campaign is certainly substantial – even with a fairly lean and focused playthrough, it took me around 16 or 17 hours to roll credits. Of course, like Mario Odyssey, there’s a seemingly-infinite amount of extra stuff to collect and some specific incentives for doing so. You're going to be tallying everything Bananza has to offer for some time.
An action-platformer with a high-rate of destruction and fun. Donkey Kong Bananza succeeds in not making us miss a true 3D Mario on the Switch 2. It can easily be considered one of the best exponents of the genre since Odyssey and sits proudly next to Galaxy in terms of variety, eccentricity, originality and fun.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Mario Kart World was a great introduction to the Switch 2, but Donkey Kong Bananza is the first can’t-miss game to come to the platform. You’d be a fool to pass on this one.
From start to finish, Donkey Kong Bonanza is a riot. I wrapped up my journey to Bananza's credits in a little over 20 hours. Your mileage will vary wildly depending on how much optional content you decide to invest time in, but that's the beauty of it. If you're not big on collectathons, there's still plenty of game here for platforming purists to enjoy. I can't recommend enough taking on the various trials – think Shrines from Breath of the Wild – littered throughout the world, though, especially if you're a fan of 2D Donkey Kong. While performance issues were largely nonexistent in handheld mode, quite severe frame rate drops were commonplace when docked, especially during certain boss battles. This doesn't take into account any day one patches that may or may not arrive on release, and not egregious enough that your enjoyment will be hampered.
Just as Super Mario Odyssey cemented the original Switch as a must-have platform, Donkey Kong Bananza smashes it's way into the Nintendo hall of classics, bumping the Switch 2 from "really nice" to "must buy" status. Don't let the smashing mechanics fool you, this game is just as smart, deep, and clever as any of the Mario or Zelda titles. Nintendo has set up and intricate and beautiful playground, and then releases the player into it as a wrecking ball. Fun doesn't get much more fun than this.
Donkey Kong Bananza is incredible, one of the best games you'll play this year, and a game I plan on going back to over and over again throughout the life of the Switch 2. Sometimes,I just want to monkey around.
Donkey Kong Bananza serves up a new take on Nintendo’s lovable ape, and, boy, was it worth the wait. This is Donkey Kong reimagined, complete with new designs, new visuals and a new 3D gameplay that shoots the franchise into Mario Odyssey territory. Difficulty isn’t as challenging as previous Donkey Kong games, especially in the beginning, and the camera can get wonky while digging in tight spots. Charming characters, tight action and a beautiful world, however, make Donkey Kong Bananza the standout game in the Switch 2’s early life so far.
Throughout Bananza, Pauline is a constant source of exuberance and curiosity, with her songs eventually serving the mechanical purpose of allowing DK to transform into even more powerful mythological animals. Their growing friendship is the lifeblood of Bonanza—not just a reason to keep going, but a reason to slow down, enjoy the world, play around in it, and adore seeing its never-ending cavalcade of sights through the eyes of a kid who’s having the time of her life.
By swapping the little plumber for the big ape, Donkey Kong Bananza delivers a potent blend of action, creative level design, and environmental destruction that boldly reinvents the blockbuster Nintendo platformer formula.
“Donkey Kong Bananza” is a perfect crystallization of Nintendo’s game design philosophy. As the debut big adventure for the new console and its increased computational power, Nintendo wants this belief to punch through: Technology for the sake of play, not just for visual pleasure, is king.
Donkey Kong Bananza is another pinnacle game from Nintendo. The amount of new ideas and innovation is truly remarkable. A must have to every Switch 2 owner.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Quote nFunny, beautiful, fluid in almost all circumstances, brilliant in its level design and freedom of approach, Donkey Kong Bananza is a slap in the face and a dopamine hit that constantly stimulates and rewards the player's curiosity.ot yet available
Review in French | Read full review
In short, Donkey Kong Bananza arrives in dazzling form for its (highly anticipated) debut with gamers, once again demonstrating the extraordinary skill and fresh artistic vision of the creative team led by director Motokura, who previously rose to prominence with the splendid Super Mario Odyssey.
Review in Italian | Read full review
But Nintendo's hit rate is extraordinarily high, and when I look back on the Switch 2 era one day, Bananza will definitely be one of those extraordinary titles that I look back on with butterflies in my stomach.
Review in German | Read full review
Donkey Kong Bananza is one of the most creative and fun titles. Ever. The smashing, music, co-op, upgrades. The smashing. This must-play Switch 2 title has set the bar for years to come. Do yourself a favor and play Donkey Kong Bananza as soon as possible.
Donkey Kong Bananza takes everything you expect from a Donkey Kong game and polishes it with such a fine coat that almost any type of player can find something to have fun with. If it’s collecting every Banana, mastering the Bananza’s, completing side quests, or just playing through a fun story, there is something fun for all ages. With plenty of easter eggs for players familiar with the franchise, Bonanza doesn’t rely purely on nostalgia to make it enjoyable. If you’ve missed collectathons or just want to experience a DK game with your kids, Bananza is a great time!