Donkey Kong Bananza Reviews
The relationship between DK and Pauline develops into something pretty heartwarming by the end, and the story goes places I wouldn't have dreamed. I don't want to spoil anything here, but the phrase "oh hell yes" was shouted multiple times by me during the final hours before rolling credits. Donkey Kong Bananza tries a lot of new ideas, and the vast majority of them not only work, but revolutionize the idea of a 3D platformer. There are definitely problems along the way, and it is a long way from perfect, but I can't argue with how much pure fun there is to be had in playing Donkey Kong Bananza.
With its diverse ideas, worlds, and gameplay, this experience is one of the games that is worth buying the Switch 2 for, enjoying the adventure, and enjoying it.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Donkey Kong Bananza, however, is a fantastic production that shows how Nintendo can take advantage of the new platform's capabilities to provide great fun.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Donkey Kong Bananza is the perfect launch window title for the Nintendo Switch 2. It highlights the kind of creative whimsy that Nintendo can achieve with its new hardware, demonstrates that the Switch 2 really is more than a slightly bigger Switch… and is just a very fine game on top of all of that. Donkey Kong has finally appeared in a 3D platformer worth a damn.
Following Mario Odyssey is a tall order, and the game should not be solely compared to it, and while this is still a very engaging platformer, it's more surface level than it initially seems.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
A fresh and ambitious 3D platformer that builds on Odyssey's strengths, Donkey Kong Bananza trades tradition for freedom'and mostly succeeds.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
A well-executed and fun proposal that leaves you with a smile on your face and hooks you from start to finish. It has everything it needs to be a fantastic new beginning for a gaming icon that should never be caged again
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Donkey Kong finds a new identity that embraces and rewrites the long legacy of the character, integrating his musical flair and his love for bashing stuff. It's a long, fun game, full of crazy ideas. It may be a bit too easy for veteran players, especially in the first half, but by now we know that's mostly to be expected from Nintendo.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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 the greatest Nintendo platformers of all time, utilizing the strong foundation of Mario Odyssey. It moves the genre forward through its destructive terrain-based platforming and enjoyable transformation mechanics. This is an experience that justifies the Nintendo Switch 2, as a platform, and I can't wait to see what the future of Donkey Kong holds.
Donkey Kong Bananza is an absolute blast. Barreling through vibrant non-linear worlds and pulverising everything in your path is incredible fun from the moment you pick up the controls. Donkey Kong feels more like a main character than ever before, and Pauline might be the most lovable sidekick Nintendo have ever produced – I’m genuinely excited to see her become a staple of the franchise for years to come. It’s a collectathon that’s driven by addictive playability and avoids the banana skin of becoming a grind like Donkey Kong 64 before it. The smaller, multi-part levels feel less daunting than the huge expanses in Super Mario Odyssey, but are just as varied and just as fun.
There were moments in the middle I felt like DK Bananza was a very good game. Sure at times things felt a little flat and the story a little thin. However after the closing 5 hours…. I felt a shift and have to say it’s an utterly superb game. DK Bananza truly lives up to the responsibility as the flagship launch(ish) title for the Switch 2 and if you own the console, it’s an absolutely must buy to own this game!
Donkey Kong Bananza is an excellent game. I had a ton of fun bulldozing my way through enemies and the underground world with DK and Pauline. It is visually impressive, the music is a bop, and the sound design is impeccable. Despite my gripes with its performance in some spots, it doesn’t take away from how much fun I had with this game. I feel players, both young and old, will definitely enjoy their time with this one. If you have a Nintendo Switch 2, I highly recommend you grab a copy of this one, it’s definitely a must-have title on this console.
The Nintendo Switch 2 has a great hit in its library with Donkey Kong Bananza. The game is fun to play, colorful and visually sweet to look at, and contains a ton of hidden things to discover that will keep anyone busy for a long time.
For Donkey Kong fans, Donkey Kong Bananza is an absolute dream come true. But at the end of the day, this is a modern Nintendo game for better and for worse, and that means it’s accessible to a fault, has a sparse story, and a focus on short, simple micro-challenges for quick dopamine hit rewards.
Donkey Kong Bananza is a great adventure game that will literally be a gold mine for children. The title offers one of the most advanced destruction models in gaming, capable of entertaining for dozens of hours. For Donkey Kong's fists can solve almost any gameplay "challenge" Bananza throws at you. And it can become repetitive despite the otherwise beautiful presentation of the entire title.
Review in Czech | Read full review
It's time for Mario to take a break and for the spotlight to shine on an iconic Nintendo character who has always deserved it, because Donkey Kong Bananza is the real launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 and is the exclusive title that makes the console worth buying. EPD Tokyo studio has managed to create a new masterpiece that joins their previous masterpieces thanks to crazy ideas that we have never seen before in this category, making it one of the most prominent games of the year.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Donkey Kong Bananza is a prime example of how to place well-known series characters in a fresh environment without losing their core essence. The mix of vertical level design, creative destruction, and clever transformations ensures that the game feels both familiar and new. Audiovisually, it impresses with its attention to detail and a harmonious overall composition. There are minor technical weaknesses in co-op mode and complex scenes, but these are overshadowed by the game's strengths. Anyone who wants to experience Donkey Kong in a mixture of classic platforming and modern game world interactivity will find a worthy, standalone addition to the series here.
Review in German | Read full review
Donkey Kong Bananza is a breath of fresh air for 3D platformers, and I fully believe the extra $10 is worth it in this case. It’s a really fun game that offers a ton of enjoyable moments for both casual gamers and hardcore completionists. This is a must have.