One of the more unique titles shown off during the Nintendo Switch 2 preview sessions feels like it will be one of the console’s most divisive titles: Donkey Kong Bananza. Set to launch on July 17, 2025, just over a month after the console’s release, this highly anticipated title promises to redefine the Donkey Kong franchise and showcase the capabilities of Nintendo’s next-generation hardware.
Donkey Kong Bananza is the first 3D Donkey Kong game since Donkey Kong 64 hit the Nintendo 64 in 1999. At its core, the game is a 3D platformer that builds upon the foundation laid by its predecessors while introducing the ability to bust through most terrain. Players will guide DK through vast, destructible environments, collecting Golden Bananas and other treasures along the way. For anyone who enjoys 3D Nintendo platformers, Donkey Kong Bananza‘s structure bears a striking resemblance to Super Mario Odyssey, featuring self-contained explorable sandboxes and isolated challenge rooms that test players’ combat and platforming skills.
But it’s the destruction and environmental interaction that seems to be the main focus of Donkey Kong Bananza, at least from what I played of the game. Good old DK can now smash up most of the terrain in his path, with only a few exceptions from the early game really standing as roadblocks. Using his strong punches, he can now dig new routes and uncover secrets buried under the earth, and the full process is oddly fun. This destructive capability extends to the game’s map system, which displays a fully rendered 3D model of the entire area in its current state, including all the walls players have punched through and caves they’ve carved.
“It’s amazing to see Donkey Kong Bananza running so well on the Nintendo Switch 2, especially with the level of destructibility and environmental detail.”
To me, it feels a bit like the original Red Faction, with the ability to destroy elements of the environment playing a major role in the game. It’s incredible how much of the world you can smash through—digging tunnels in the map and even creating new pathways to your objective. I’m amazed this is even possible on the Nintendo Switch 2. It might seem like a small detail, but the system’s ability to keep track of all the chaos you cause is impressive and shows what the new Switch 2 can really do.
From what I’ve seen online, people aren’t quite sure what to make of the game’s new look—especially when it comes to DK’s redesign. The visual style takes a noticeable turn from previous entries, and Donkey Kong himself now sports a more exaggerated, cartoonish vibe. It’s a bold choice, and yeah, it might take a bit of time to warm up to. Personally, I was never that into DK’s look to begin with, so the change doesn’t really bother me. Still, I get why longtime fans might be side-eyeing it.
Donkey Kong’s packing some new tricks this time around. Alongside his classic punches from past games, he can now perform ground pounds, diving attacks and even swing around massive boulders like it’s no big deal—making the very terrain part of his arsenal. The expanded moveset makes gameplay feel much more dynamic, giving players room to experiment and get creative when tackling the game’s tougher challenges.
Environments I experienced during the early stages of Bananza are varied and colourful, ranging from thick forests to dark caves—and based on the trailer, the full game goes much further. Players will be able to dig below the surface to discover buried treasures using DK’s destructive power, as well as create new routes to explore. The game’s levels are designed to be visually striking and highly interactive, encouraging players to smash, throw and climb their way past almost every obstacle in their path.
For me, while the game may not be something I’m personally clamouring to play—the early game felt a bit easy for my liking—it’s the technical aspects that make it so impressive. It’s amazing to see Donkey Kong Bananza running so well on the Nintendo Switch 2, especially with the level of destructibility and environmental detail. We don’t yet know all the specifics of the Nintendo Switch 2’s hardware, but the fact that Donkey Kong Bananza runs this well, with an incredibly smooth frame rate and stunning visuals, is truly impressive.
We can barely wait for the opportunity to go bananas with DK on July 17, 2025. One thing’s for sure: Nintendo’s popular primate is set to showcase what the Nintendo Switch 2 can really do. Donkey Kong Bananza is a fresh take on the concept, a fun experience for all ages, and a tantalizing preview of the future of Nintendo’s IPs on their next-gen hardware. It still remains to be seen how people will take to this new concept for DK, but with only a few months to wait, we’ll soon find out.
