Donkey Kong Bananza

Smash apart every surface to find shortcuts, secrets, and boss-weapons — the terrain is your toolkit.

Last reviewed: August 16, 2026 Patched 6mo ago

Released Jul 2025 Adventure

Bananza dethrones Mario Odyssey as the Switch genre king — every surface is a smashable playground, and 100%-ing it is pure joy.

9.1 /10

Mighty

Previously an Editor's pick

For you if

You've 100%-ed every Mario 3D platformer and want a new smashing loop.
You like sandbox destruction with snappy movement and collectible hunts.
You own a Switch 2 and want the first must-buy exclusive.

Not for you if

You need a break from 'smash everything' — the gimmick can tire.
You're sensitive to FPS drops in busy scenes.
You hate post-game content that's mostly fossil collecting.

What players love

The destruction loop stays fun for hours — smashing, digging, and rebuilding never gets old for long-haul fans.

What frustrates them

FPS drops and repetitive late-game collection hurt the polish that Nintendo fans expect from a flagship.

See the reviews behind this →

Latest patch

Patched 6 months ago

Ver. 3.2.0 — Several issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

What critics say

4/5Eurogamer
A brilliant core mechanic makes Bananza a delightfully sticky 3D platform adventure
Alex Donaldson Read review →
9/10Game Informer
A showpiece for Nintendo's new console meeting incredibly high standards since the '80s
Kyle Hilliard Read review →
9/10GameSpot
A raucous, wildly inventive, and propulsive platformer that reboots an iconic mascot
Steve Watts Read review →

Before You Play

Refreshed monthly

What should new Donkey Kong Bananza players prioritize?

Bananza isn't a class-based game — your "build" is which Bananza Transformation you've unlocked. Kong Bananza (raw destruction) is the default heavy hitter; Zebra Bananza speeds across water and crumbling terrain; Ostrich Bananza enables flight and Egg Bomb drops. Always keep Red Balloons in your inventory (buy them whenever you visit a vendor — they're your respawn safety net). The map's "+" button resets the current layer's terrain if you've dug yourself into a stuck position. Unlock Getaways at every opportunity for fast travel.

Source: Revolution Arena Beginner's Guide

Does Donkey Kong Bananza have selectable difficulty modes?

Not in the traditional easy/normal/hard sense. The game has an Assist Mode you can toggle on at any time, which provides persistent objective markers (so you'll rarely get lost in the open destructible levels) and increases DK's health. Most players don't need it for the main story, but it's a clean accessibility option for younger players or anyone wanting to focus on exploration over platforming challenge. The post-game Elder Rehearsal content is significantly harder than the main campaign.

Source: Nintendo Life Walkthrough

Are any collectibles missable in Donkey Kong Bananza?

Nothing is permanently missable — the game lets you return to every layer/world after the credits to clean up Banandium Gems (777 total), Fossils (696), and Discs (110). The secret ending requires finding all of them, so completionists won't run out of content. Layers also let you reset terrain via the map "+" button if you've broken an environment in a way that hides a collectible.

Source: Game Rant Post-Game Content

Do I need to play earlier Donkey Kong games before Bananza?

No. Donkey Kong Bananza is a fresh 3D platformer experience designed for the Switch 2; it shares characters and world-flavor with the Donkey Kong Country and Mario universe (Pauline appears as a key co-protagonist), but the gameplay is built from scratch around terrain destruction and voxel manipulation. No prior series knowledge is required. If anything, the gameplay is closer in spirit to Super Mario Odyssey than to past DK platformers.

Source: Wikipedia

Is there content to do after beating Donkey Kong Bananza?

Substantial. After defeating King K. Rool in New Donk City, Pauline's new Elder Rehearsal questline opens up — these are some of the most intense platforming challenges in the game and unlock the Diva Dress cosmetic for Pauline. Beyond that, returning to earlier layers to mop up Banandium Gems, Fossils, and Discs unlocks the secret ending if you collect all 777/696/110. Most completion-focused players spend 30+ hours in post-game alone.

Source: GamesRadar Post-Game Guide