90
Bananza isn’t just another Donkey Kong game leaning on nostalgia - it’s a reinvention of the iconic character, delivering one of the most creative and refreshing 3D platformers we’ve seen since Donkey Kong 64.
80
With a few hiccups, Donkey Kong Bananza succeeds in bringing back the character to the spotlight. The game’s ambition charges its price with technical difficulties, but still checks all the boxes and shows that there’s still space to subvert the most essential genre in gaming – and it makes all sense that this new approach comes from Nintendo.
93
Donkey Kong Bananza delivers a wildly inventive 3D platforming adventure full of chaos, creativity, and charm. Mining mechanics, massive levels, and transformative Bananza powers make exploration exciting, while gorgeous visuals and strong pacing keep the journey engaging. Performance dips, underused abilities, and a forced Donkey–Pauline dynamic hold it back from perfection, but its sense of discovery and explosive fun shine through. An instant classic that proves sometimes too much fun can still be just right.
9
I have not seen any flaws with this game. If you are a nintendo fan then I dont see a reason why not to play this game. If you already have a switch then the games you already own plus this are worth a switch 2 alone. BLAST through open worlds where you can break anything. YES ANYTHING even the NPCs.
10
This game keeps giving and giving. If you own a switch 2, this is a must-buy.
5
I wanted to like this game but it'd just so dumb. I never regretted a game purchase so much and I hard time not rating it a 2 out of spite. In the end, it's an ok game with pretty levels. The cons... well, the gameplay is weird and boring. They give you what feels like 90 different ways to punch but you can basically just button mash your whole way through the game. Kong's facial expressions are just over the top stupid. It feels like someone made a game to mock Nintendo's reputation for making kid games. The whole -you can punch anything- gimmick is a big mess. It was neat for about 5 seconds. Then it just got in the way. It never feels purposeful and it makes it hard to explore levels when you're stuck in tunnels of your own creation. The camera is always in an odd position too so you're often looking at Kong in a weird nebula of earth matter. It's so frustrating, why did they do this? What's the point. Another odd thing, the currencies. Another mess. Gold nuggets flying everywhere. moon coins, shell coins, star coins, coin coins, bananas, triple bananas, shiny bananas, treasure boxes, cds. You're constantly, incessantly, getting all this loot, it becomes meaningless. And for upgrades you don't need because you can button mash your way through the whole game.
Donkey Kong Bananza
Released On:
Jul 17, 2025
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
91
User score
Generally Favorable
8.9
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
91
100% Positive
143 Reviews
143 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Aug 27, 2025
100
Donkey Kong Bananza is nothing short of a revelation and revolution about what DK can be as a character and how his games can be different from Mario’s, Kirby’s, and others of his platforming ilk. He and Pauline are the epic “dynamic duo” that Nintendo can rally around to start the Switch 2 age, and you’ll love this game from start to finish…then go back for even more.
Jul 16, 2025
100
Every time I’d get to a new layer, I’d immediately ignore the story objective and spend a half dozen hours just smashing things around like a toddler in a sandbox.
User score
Generally Favorable
8.9
87% Positive
2584 Ratings
2584 Ratings
8% Mixed
240 Ratings
240 Ratings
5% Negative
160 Ratings
160 Ratings
Jun 16, 2026
10
This game keeps giving and giving. If you own a switch 2, this is a must-buy.
Jul 30, 2025
10
This is my second favourite game of all time (behind silksong of course) for its shmovement, story, and expertly crafted levels and puzzles. This isn’t a “dig through a mountain mindlessly” game like some people think. Also that final boss made my jaw absolutely DROP. Dlc is also good!
Jul 16, 2025
91
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.
Jul 21, 2025
90
It’s a little messy and definitely has a few missed opportunities, but the core gameplay is so much fun that I couldn’t put it down. It captures the thrill of exploration that made Odyssey so compelling while taking the gameplay mechanics in a completely unique direction that kept developing in ways I didn’t see coming, and that’s exactly why I love Nintendo’s fun-first approach to design so much. If you’ve been waiting for a reason to buy a Switch 2, it’s just arrived.
Jul 16, 2025
90
Bananza sets out to act as a fresh start for new and old fans alike, taking a fresh twist on what a Donkey Kong game feels like.
Jul 16, 2025
85
Innovative, refreshing and incredibly entertaining: Donkey Kong Bananza inspires with new ideas without forgetting its roots.
Jul 16, 2025
80
From start to finish, Donkey Kong Bananza is a riot. I wrapped up my journey to Bananza's credits in a little over 20 hours. Your mileage will vary wildly depending on how much optional content you decide to invest time in, but that's the beauty of it. If you're not big on collectathons, there's still plenty of game here for platforming purists to enjoy. I can't recommend enough taking on the various trials – think Shrines from Breath of the Wild – littered throughout the world, though, especially if you're a fan of 2D Donkey Kong. While performance issues were largely nonexistent in handheld mode, quite severe frame rate drops were commonplace when docked, especially during certain boss battles. This doesn't take into account any day one patches that may or may not arrive on release, and not egregious enough that your enjoyment will be hampered.
Jun 13, 2026
10
This game is perfect. It's full of emotion and plot twists. You can tell it was made with love. I even shed a tear at the end. (Breaking Through (Earth Gold) - Best Song)
Dec 26, 2025
7
It’s a good game but too simple for an older player to enjoy well. But A great game for younger players.
Dec 19, 2025
7
Highkey kinda mid. Donkey Kong Bananza is a stunning game, from the animation to the sheer detail in every environment. But to be honest, I got kinda bored after the first 30 minutes. There's fully the possibility that it just isn't a style of game I like, but it is very similar in style to Mario Odyssey and I loved that. I found that it got very repetitive and most Sublayers followed the exact same formula. Some stood out, but most blended together in my memory. However I really enjoyed the mechanic of the different Bananzas, but I didn't enjoy how to get them as it stayed the same for all five. DK's expansive moveset is really what makes this game enjoyable, being able to smash through any terrain and destroy everything is quite fun. I also found the game to be quite short, but I think at parts I may have rushed through and not gone for every side quest. The story was alright, I liked Void Co. as the antagonists but it became very apparent that this game was for kids. Donkey Kong Bananza is a good game but just not my cup of tea, especially considering the price.
Jun 8, 2026
4
I love Donkey Kong, but I don’t like donkey Kong bananza. The gameplay is boring.
But the game looks very nice, I just don’t have any fun in this game.
May 6, 2026
4
The game gets off to a good start with its impressive visuals, exploring is enjoyable, but after a few hours and a few worlds discovered, you quickly get bored and realise that the game doesn’t have much to offer and is very repetitive. It’s one of the few games I’ve found far too long – a shame, because the ending is cool, and it’s at that point you realise what the game could have been: a much more dynamic and linear game. Le jeu démarre bien avec un gros point fort sur le visuel, la découverte est agréable mais après quelques heures et quelques monde découvert on se lasse rapidement et on se rend compte que le jeu n'a pas grand chose a offrir est est très répétitif un des rare jeu où je l'ai trouvé beaucoup trop long dommage car la fin est cool et on et c'est à se moment qu'on se rend compte de se que le jeu aurait pu être, un jeu bien plus dynamique et linéaire
SummaryThe big guy is back—and he’s not alone! Explore a vast underground world with Donkey Kong and Pauline—by smashing your way through it! With DK’s brute force and Pauline’s special singing abilities, you can crash through walls, carve tunnels with your fists, punch straight down into the ground, and even tear off chunks of terrain to swing... Read More
Rated E +10for Everyone +10
