Donkey Kong Bananza Reviews
Created by the team that developed Super Mario Odyssey, Donkey Kong Bananza is a celebration of the character, a 3D platformer that finally puts him in the place he deserves. Its colorful and fully modifiable world, its variety of mechanics and its collecting spirit make it a worthy heir to its predecessor.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Donkey Kong Bananza is one of the most unique and immensely enjoyable games that I've ever played. Plus, behind its chaotic open-ended gameplay and incredibly imaginative worlds, you'll find a lot of heart. 🍌
Donkey Kong Bananza is one of those surprises that only Nintendo can pull off. It's irreverent, original, and brutally fun. Despite some technical issues and a couple of questionable minor decisions, this is a game that feels fresh, necessary, and with its own identity. It's an adventure that not only reinvents Donkey Kong, but also makes him the perfect protagonist for a new generation. A game that, without recurring to nostalgia, smashes its way onto the list of must-haves for Switch 2.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Donkey Kong Bananza should be called Donkey Kong Odyssey because the amount of similarities with Super Mario Odyssey is astounding! In addition to how great the formula already was there were some smart additions. Harnessing Donkey Kong's movement and destruction opens up a whole new experience that breeds curiosity and creativity. It might not reach the same heights as Super Mario Odyssey and it unfortunately retains some of the shortcomings, but Donkey Kong Bananza is an experience unlike anything else.When the credits finally rolled, I wasn’t upset because the game was over, I was elated because the real game had just begun. For the entire life cycle of the Switch, Super Mario Odyssey was “the” game that you needed to get with the Nintendo Switch. While I don’t think that Donkey Kong Bananza reaches the same heights as Super Mario Odyssey, I feel confident that over the next seven years, when someone asks what is “the” game to buy for the Nintendo Switch 2, Donkey Kong Bananza will be the answer.
Should we ever get more of what Donkey Kong Bananza established, I will be in the front row hooting and howling like a banana-crazed gorilla.
Donkey Kong Bananza is a successful comeback for the most popular gorilla in gaming history. Excellent platforming combined with a lot of destruction in a nice visual setting is a good start to this comeback, and I hope Nintendo will continue to use DK instead of leaving him for another 10 years. Of course, the game isn't perfect, and monotonous boss fights, poor optimization, and material fatigue after a while can take their toll.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Despite minor balance issues and a lack of boss variety, Donkey Kong Bananza stands as a near-flawless 3D exploration adventure.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Donkey Kong Bananza is a true showcase for the Nintendo Switch 2, offering an almost unmatched platforming experience that makes collectibles feel important. An absolute joy to play.
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.
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