Release Date: July 17, 2025
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
Metascore: 90 (6th Best of 2025)

Nintendo’s long-awaited 3D return for gaming’s favorite ape has arrived, and critics agree: Donkey Kong Bananza is a groundbreaking showcase for the Switch 2. Developed by the team behind Super Mario Odyssey, this destructible-platforming adventure blends chaos, charm, and technical ambition into what many call Nintendo’s best game in years. Below, we compile the most glowing verdicts.

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Perfect 10s: “A Groundbreaking Triumph”

1. IGN

“A brilliant successor to Super Mario Odyssey and a smashing return for a classic Nintendo character… Every element comes together in complete harmony to create Nintendo’s first Switch 2 masterpiece.”
Key Highlights:

• Revolutionary destruction that feels intentional, not gimmicky.
• 20+ hours of densely packed, inventive challenges.
• Pauline’s singing mechanic adds emotional depth and gameplay versatility.
  Read the Full Review

2. Siliconera

“A constant series of pleasant surprises… Shows exactly what the Switch 2 can handle.”
Key Highlights:

• Emotionally resonant story with hilarious DK-Pauline dynamics.
• Bananza transformations (Kong, Ostrich, Zebra) offer exhilarating mobility.
• Over 50 hours of content via secrets and challenge rooms.
  Read the Full Review

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Near-Perfect Scores: “The Switch 2’s Killer App”

3. GameSpot (9/10)

“Deserves mention alongside Mario Odyssey as among Nintendo’s best… Captures DK’s titanic strength perfectly.”
Key Highlights:

• Elegant material physics (e.g., ice + lava = platforms).
• Co-op lets a second player control Pauline for strategic destruction.
• Minor performance hiccups in busy scenes.
  Read the Full Review

4. CNET

“The best reason to buy a Switch 2 yet… Combines Zelda’s exploration with Mario’s joy.”
Key Highlights:

• Hollow Earth concept evokes Tears of the Kingdom’s layered worlds.
• Only 8GB install size—a technical marvel.
• “Pauline’s voice-throwing co-op is more engaging than Odyssey’s hat.”
  Read the Full Review

5. Mashable (4.6/5)

“A redemptive work for DK… Buttery movement and surprisingly elegant destruction.”
Key Highlights:

• Pauline is “one of Nintendo’s best companions”—adds humor and heart.
• Resetting terrain fixes potential exploration frustrations.
• Weak early bosses, but “late-game encounters are spectacular.”
  Read the Full Review

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Technical & Thematic Standouts

6. Eurogamer/Digital Foundry

“A technically ambitious Switch 2 showcase… Voxel-based destruction pushes hardware limits.”
Key Insights:

• Dynamic 1080p–1200p resolution; minor pop-in/shadow issues.
• No physics-based collapses (e.g., ceilings won’t cave)—a smart design choice.
• “A hybrid of Nintendo polish and Rare’s 90s whimsy.”
  Read the Full Analysis

7. The Guardian

“Delirious destruction derby… Nintendo’s morphable madness shines.”
Poetic Praise:

• “DK is less a mascot than a potassium-powered level editor.”
• Late-game “Bananza” forms may trivialize challenges, but feel empowering.
  Read the Full Review

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The Consensus

• Why It Works: Bananza masterfully balances open-ended destruction with tightly crafted levels, using indestructible “bones” to guide players . Its heart comes from the DK-Pauline friendship, voiced cutscenes, and a plot that channels “90s Nintendo weirdness” .
• Drawbacks: Occasional frame drops in docked mode and camera struggles while tunneling .
• Legacy: Dethrones Donkey Kong 64 as DK’s definitive 3D adventure and sets “a new bar for Switch 2 exclusives” .

“Bananza is Nintendo’s big blockbuster summer game—one of the best I can remember.” — CNET

For the full Metacritic rankings and more reviews, visit Android Police or Nintendo Life’s Roundup.