Donkey Kong Bananza Reviews
Donkey Kong's and Pauline's journey to the center of the Planet Core is one worth taking. Donkey Kong Bananza is one of the most creative and entertaining 3D platformers of recent years, with a huge world full of challenges with plenty of fun to find hidden throughout it if you take the time to explore.
From the team that brought us Super Mario Galaxy, Donkey Kong Bananza takes the big ape on a fantastic journey full of wanton destruction. (Review in Portuguese for Entertainium Brasil)
Donkey Kong Bananza is a gleeful wrecking romp through an imaginative underground world that rewards curiosity, experimentation, and sheer enthusiasm. Its physics-driven playground and rich destructibility set it apart, even when minor frustrations flare. For fans of DK’s legacy and players who value playful exploration over strict structure, this action-adventure brings the banana-fueled magic in spades.
Donkey Kong Bananza is a one-of-a-kind experience. I truly believe that Donkey Kong Bananza is another masterpiece from Nintendo. In the years to come, I can see this game being regarded as a classic, and that's a rare distinction for many games.
With innovative gameplay and a spectacular world, Donkey Kong Bananza is a modern masterpiece and a true must-own title for the Switch 2.
Donkey Kong Bananza is, simply put, one of Nintendo’s finest games and a must-buy for the Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo consistently innovate with its flagship titles, and Bananza is the latest to achieve this with its relentlessly exceptional level design. The gameplay is addictive, and the soundtrack pays tribute to the older games while recreating new DK sound beats for this new generation.
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
With Bananza, Nintendo once again proves they know how to make platforming truly enjoyable. Donkey Kong Bananza is one of those games that starts and ends with a big smile. It's not perfect. The co-op is disappointing, the upgrade system is somewhat limited, and navigating for collectibles could have been more intuitive. But what you get in return is a game bursting with energy, charm, variety, and fun. Along with Mario Kart Switch 2, this is the ultimate reason to get Nintendo's new console. If this is the level of quality we can expect from Nintendo this generation, we'll be fine. In fact, it'll be a party full of delicious bananas.
Review in Dutch | 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. 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