Donkey Kong Bananza (Donkey Kong) Part 1| [Live-stream]
0Donkey Kong Bananza is a 3D platformer adventure for the Nintendo Switch 2 where Donkey Kong explores an underground world filled with collectables and challenges, while also uncovering the secrets of the Planet Core. According to the developer, Nintendo, he is joined by Pauline, who aids him with her singing abilities and helps him unlock new powers. Together, they embark on a journey to recover stolen Banandium Gems and confront a group of villainous apes called VoidCo, who are mining for them.
Donkey Kong Bananza is a 2025 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch 2. The player controls the gorilla Donkey Kong, who ventures underground with a young Pauline to recover stolen banana-shaped diamonds from a group of villainous apes. It plays similarly to Super Mario Odyssey (2017), with players exploring sandbox-like levels while completing objectives, battling enemies, and collecting objects. Bananza is distinguished by its destructible environments; the player can destroy most terrain to create paths and find items.
Nintendo EPD began working on Donkey Kong Bananza following Super Mario Odyssey's completion. It was the first Donkey Kong game that Nintendo developed internally since Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (2004); development began on the original Nintendo Switch, but shifted to the Switch 2 after EPD determined that it would better realise their concepts. They used the voxel technology that allowed players to manipulate terrain in some Odyssey levels to a significantly greater degree, designing large, destructible worlds, emphasising Donkey Kong's strength. The soundtrack includes rearrangements of David Wise and Grant Kirkhope's music from Rare's Donkey Kong games alongside new material.
Donkey Kong Bananza was released on July 17, 2025, as the first original Donkey Kong game since Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2014) and the first 3D platformer since Donkey Kong 64 (1999). It received acclaim from critics, who considered it the Switch 2's killer app. They praised its visuals, gameplay, and story, but criticised its camera and frame rate problems.
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