Donkey Kong Bananza – Review – The explosive reinvention of a classic

July 20, 2025 Off By Markus Norat

GAME INFORMATION:
Release Date:  July 17, 2025
Genre:  Action, Adventure
Developer:  Nintendo
Publisher:  Nintendo
Available Languages:  Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese.
Available on:  Nintendo Switch 2.
Age Rating:  Free – Suitable for all ages (Fantasy Violence, Online Shopping).
Game Version Reviewed:  Nintendo Switch 2 Version.
Game File Size: 8.7 GB

If someone had told me years ago that Donkey Kong would become the protagonist of one of the most impactful games of Nintendo’s new generation, I would probably have smiled sympathetically, but I would have doubted it. After all, although the giant ape is one of Nintendo’s oldest icons, it’s been a while since we’ve seen him as the central figure in a truly daring game. But Donkey Kong Bananza doesn’t just dare; it explodes, literally and figuratively, in an underground adventure that is both an ode to destruction and a love letter to creativity.

From the first few minutes of the game, I felt I was in for something special. The premise is simple, almost cartoonish: DK, now a miner of a strange substance called banana , finds himself thrust into a journey to the planet’s core after a cosmic collision. Accompanied by a mysterious creature who soon reveals herself to be a transformed Pauline, we embark on an underground journey filled with secrets, vibrant biomes, civilizations affected by a greedy megacorporation, and, of course, tons of glowing bananas.

But Donkey Kong Bananza isn’t just about smashing things (although doing so is deliciously satisfying). It’s about experiencing a core mechanic that expands organically with each layer explored. It’s about discovering that, behind the “break everything” simplicity, lies a rich, engaging, and utterly addictive game. And it’s about seeing Nintendo, once again, reaffirming that innovation and tradition can, and should, go hand in hand.

Mechanics and Gameplay

If there’s one word that defines Donkey Kong Bananza ‘s gameplay , it’s destruction. But not empty or repetitive destruction. Here, destroying the environment is part of exploration, progression, puzzle-solving, combat, and even the narrative. Interaction with the environment is profound. Virtually everything we see can be destroyed or excavated. And the deeper we delve, the more layers (both literal and mechanical) the game reveals.

Donkey Kong is a force of nature. He punches, digs, rips off pieces of the environment to use as weapons, and can even transform into alternate forms, called Bananzas , each with distinct abilities that completely change the way he approaches challenges. The transition between these forms is fluid and intuitive, and is activated by Pauline’s songs, adding a rhythmic and strategic element to the journey.

There’s a skill tree that offers interesting choices, especially when combining transformations with power-ups and equipment that affect attributes like speed, strength, and even resistance to terrain types. Pauline, in addition to assisting with transformations, acts as a constant partner, whether in solo or co-op mode, and her presence adds dynamism to confrontations and the resolution of environmental challenges.

Collectibles are everywhere: fossils, maps, music records, outfits, and precious banana stones. But what impressed me most was how the game naturally encourages exploration. There’s no “artificial checklist” forcing me to search for everything; the desire to discover each secret simply stems from the fun of destroying and investigating.

The combat is also surprising. There’s freedom to deal with enemies in a variety of ways, with punches, rocks, explosions, or transformations. This keeps the game’s pace dynamic. And the bosses? Each one is a spectacle in itself. Creative, challenging, and with multiple phases that require mastery of the mechanics learned so far.

Graphics

Visually, Donkey Kong Bananza is a feast for the eyes. The first thing that caught my attention was the level of detail in the character models, especially DK. His fur has a texture and shine worthy of a cinematic cutscene. It’s almost tangible. With each costume change or visual change, we notice the artistic attention to detail in the lighting and reflections.

The biomes are incredibly varied. From the suffocating heat of magma layers to aquatic caves illuminated by bioluminescent crystals, each setting in the game is much more than a mere backdrop; it truly plays an active part in the gameplay. The game makes excellent use of vibrant color palettes, abundant particle effects, and art direction that combines the playful with the epic.

There are moments when the game feels like a playable Pixar animation. The expressiveness of the characters, the explosion effects of the terrain, the sparkles when collecting bananas—it all works like a visual symphony. And best of all: even with so many elements on screen, the visuals never become confusing. The camera, while requiring manual adjustments at times, does an efficient job of guiding our gaze.

Sound

Donkey Kong Bananza ‘s soundtrack is, without exaggeration, one of the best I’ve ever heard in a Nintendo game. Each layer of the planet has its own musical theme, reflecting the setting and challenges at hand. But the absolute highlight goes to Pauline’s music. Her songs, which activate DK’s transformations, are truly fantastic anthems, well-composed and with impeccable vocal performance.

The sound effects also deserve applause. The sound of each blow, each explosion, each rock crushing—everything conveys weight and impact. And there are small details that demonstrate the team’s attention to detail: the echo in caves, the muffled sound underwater, the sounds of creatures and NPCs, all contribute to the immersion.

The only thing that struck me as odd was Pauline’s voice acting at times. While technically sound, her voice seems out of step with the character’s visual age. There’s a certain “uncanny valley” there that might bother some players more sensitive to tone. But it’s a minor detail given the game’s excellent sound.

Fun

I’ve never had so much fun smashing things in a game. The feeling of smashing everything around, discovering hidden rooms, and solving physics puzzles with DK’s own fists is simply addictive. But the fun goes beyond the core mechanics.

The layers are rich in side activities: time challenges, combat arenas, customizable sculptures, shops with themed clothing, a jukebox to listen to collected tracks… everything contributes to prolonging the experience without feeling like “padding.”

And best of all: the game respects the player’s time. You can focus on the campaign, explore freely, play solo or in pairs, get straight to the point, or get lost (in a good way) for hours exploring every nook and cranny. The post-game, by the way, surprised me with new objectives, extra zones, and unexpected narrative twists.

Performance and Optimization

Even with all the graphical and audio exuberance, Donkey Kong Bananza runs surprisingly stable. I played both docked and handheld, and didn’t experience any crashes or severe framerate drops. Even in battles with dozens of enemies, simultaneous explosions, and particles on screen, performance remained solid.

There were some occasional fluctuations in more intense bosses and moments of great chaos, but nothing that detracted from the gameplay or caused frustration. The engine shows that the Nintendo Switch 2 has the firepower for ambitious experiences like this, and there’s still room for polish.

Loading times are quick, transitions between areas are fluid, and the autosave system prevents lost progress. The camera, while useful, sometimes requires manual intervention when digging indoors. Fortunately, the game offers a radar and visual aids to help with orientation.

Conclusion

Donkey Kong Bananza is, for me, the definitive rebirth of the character in the gaming universe. Everything here works with impressive precision: the gameplay is addictive, the visuals are stunning, the soundtrack is striking, and the content is vast. More than just a good platformer, this is a title that proudly represents Nintendo’s new generation.

It’s rare to find a game so cohesive and bold at the same time. It’s unafraid to explore the absurd, to break the mold, to surprise us with transformations, emotional stories, and unexpected challenges. It honors the series’ legacy while confidently pointing to the future.

If Mario Kart World opened the doors of the Nintendo Switch 2 with speed, Donkey Kong Bananza arrived like the punch that cemented its definitive mark: a must-have game, a new classic and, above all, an explosion of fun.

I recommend Donkey Kong Bananza without hesitation. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the franchise or a new player looking for something fresh and engaging, this game has everything you need to win you over.