Donkey Kong Bananza vs Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
One is a $70 new-console exclusive built for destruction; the other a $58 licensed romp that asks less time but more DRM tolerance.
Updated 27d ago
Bananza dethrones Mario Odyssey as the Switch genre king — every surface is a smashable playground, and 100%-ing it is pure joy.
Best LEGO Batman yet if you can stomach Denuvo DRM and repetitive Catwoman collectibles.
By the numbers
Prices checked Sep 25; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Sep 25.
| Measure | Donkey Kong Bananza | Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | ||
| Price now | $69.99 eShop | $42.33 −40% · Playsum |
| All-time low | — | $42.34 |
| Cost / hour | — | $3.29/hr $42.33 · 13 h main story |
| Off its low | — | At its low low was Oct 2026 |
| Main story | — | 13 h |
| Health | ||
| Steam reviews | — | 95% 14k reviews |
| Recent reviews | — | 90% 293 votes · vs 95% lifetime · souring |
| Metacritic user score | 8.9/10 3,264 ratings | — |
| Peak players | — No PC release | 2,536 Sep 2026 · ↑ 26% MoM |
| Launch peak | — | 8% of May 2026 launch peak · as of Sep 2026 |
| All-time peak | — | 33,053 May 2026 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 8 months ago | — |
| Patch cadence | 0 in last 90 days | — |
| Steam Deck | — | Platinum |
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Donkey Kong Bananza
The destruction loop stays fun for hours — smashing, digging, and rebuilding never gets old for long-haul fans.
FPS drops and repetitive late-game collection hurt the polish that Nintendo fans expect from a flagship.
from our August 2026 verdict
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
Celebration of Batman's entire history is the hook 100-hour fans rave about, with the Arkham Asylum level as the standout.
Collectible repetition in Catwoman side missions is the friction even platinum chasers flag, alongside Denuvo launch failures.
from our June 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Donkey Kong Bananza if
- You've 100%-ed every Mario 3D platformer and want a new smashing loop
- You own a Switch 2 and want the first must-buy exclusive
- You like sandbox destruction with snappy movement and collectible hunts
Pick Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight if
- You can name deep cuts from Batman comics, films, and animated series
- You enjoyed Platinum-ing previous LEGO games
- You have high tolerance for Denuvo server checks
Bottom line
Pick Bananza if you want a new-console showpiece with destruction and long-tail collecting; pick Lego Batman if you value a short, 96%-positive licensed story and can accept Denuvo.