Donkey Kong was Nintendo’s first big hit in arcades once it was released in 1981. The big ape was mostly an antagonist to Mario until he got his big break on the SNES in 1994 with the arrival of Donkey Kong Country. Along with his cousin Diddy Kong, Donkey Kong finally got a platformer series all his own. His first 3D adventure was on the N64 in 1999 via Donkey Kong 64.
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Since then, there has never been another 3D Donkey Kong adventure. That is changing on the Switch 2 via Donkey Kong Bananza. It looked like a wild adventure on par with Super Mario Odyssey when it launched on the Switch in 2017. Let’s see what details can be gleaned from the latest Donkey Kong Bananza trailer.
6
The Release Date And Price
A Better Launch Game?
Donkey Kong Bananza is not quite a launch game for the Switch 2 on June 5. Fans won’t have to wait long, though, as it will be released on July 17, just about a month after the fact. It will cost $70 which is an increase from Switch games being $60 for most of its lifecycle.
Donkey Kong Bananza is not the most expensive Switch 2 game around the launch window as Mario Kart World looks like it will be $80. Fans are used to Nintendo games being pricey and rarely going down but this can be a bit too much to handle for some. Regardless, Donkey Kong Bananza is surely going to be the biggest new platformer for the Switch 2 in 2025.
5
Punch Through Rocks And The Ground
Move Over Shovel Knight
There has been no shortage of digging games over the years with Shovel Knight Dig coming to mind as far as Switch games go. While the titular Shovel Knight required a shovel, Donkey Kong can use his fists to burst underground. Based on the trailer, it looks like he can dive underground with incredible speed as well as above ground.
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Not only that, but the trailer and Nintendo website show him breaking through entire rock structures like he is a one-ape tornado of destruction. Nintendo has never had a game with as much destructibility as this, which showcases what the Switch 2 is capable of. It’s reminiscent of Red Faction: Guerrilla, which is more than a little funny, given the name. If only Donkey Kong could wield a shotgun, too.
4
What’s The Plot?
Void Out VoidCo
Players probably spotted three boss-like characters in the trailer that were also apes. There’s a giant one tinged with red hair, a tiny one, and a female one. While their names are unknown individually, they are collectively called VoidCo, and they stole Donkey Kong’s bananas and retreated underground.
They will assuredly be in boss fights throughout the game and there has to be more. In Super Mario Odyssey, Mario fought rabbit-like bosses, called Broodals, along with Bowser several times. While boss fights have not been confirmed, nor has the existence of more than three VoidCo members, Nintendo fans can almost count on them. If not Donkey Kong will still have plenty of enemies to tangle with.
3
That Thing On His Back Is Sentient
Is This The New Cappy?
“DK makes a new friend: together they chase down the mysterious VoidCo.” That’s what it says on Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Bananza website, referring to the purple rock monster on his back but it doesn’t give a name oddly. In Super Mario Odyssey, Mario was given a sentient partner too via Cappy, a ghost that lived inside Mario’s hat.
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Is this a similar situation in Donkey Kong Bananza? Is the purple rock just a ghost that possessed a purple rock and gave Donkey Kong powers and is that ghost tied to Cappy? Let’s reserve that speculation for later, but this purple rock isn’t the only buddy Donkey Kong has. At one point in the trailer, he can be seen talking to an ostrich which might be Expresso. Expresso was a mount that first appeared in Donkey Kong Country, so perhaps this time he will take on a different role.
2
Cruise Around The Underground In Style
We Love Mine Carts Don’t We Folks?
While fans loved Donkey Kong Country on the SNES, it was also a hard game. Some of the hardest levels pertained to the mine cart sections. In homage to his platformer origins, it looks like mine carts will return in Donkey Kong Bananza, but hopefully driving them won’t create as many frustrating moments.
Besides the mine cart, Donkey Kong can pick up rocks and slide around on them like a skateboard. He can also roll and his coolest traversal feature is his ability to climb. He can also dive from small or great heights into the ground and start going to town. Overall, this version of Donkey Kong seems more like The Hulk than some simple jungle ape.
1
The Presentation
From Environments To Perspectives
Even though Donkey Kong is retreating underground, that doesn’t mean his days will be dark. In the trailer, there are several environments from typical mine shafts to flower-filled fields to icy mountains. It’s unknown if the game will be fully open-world like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or just contain open hubs like Super Mario Odyssey.
What can be confirmed is that there will be alternations in the perspective as there is a quick moment when Donkey Kong goes into 2D. There are even barrels to jump into like the Donkey Kong Country games. What else could the game be hiding in the proper release?
Action
Adventure
Platformer
- Released
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July 17, 2025
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence
- Number of Players
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Single-player
- Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
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July 17, 2025