Donkey Kong Bananza
Most streamers rate Donkey Kong Bananza a must-play.
7 streamer verdicts· Released 2025-07-17Streamer Verdicts
7 of 7
Absolute masterpiece with terrain destruction mechanics and massive innovative content.
This DLC feels like a split banana. The new Emerald Rush roguelike mode is the star — fast, frantic, with build-resetting perks and randomization that gels surprisingly well with Bananza's destructive movement and combat. But the headline DK Island setting is a wasted opportunity: pretty and nostalgic yet lifeless, with no unique gems, fossils, missions, bosses, or shops, leaving the $20 package feeling thin and best summarized as a 7 out of 10.
A very good 3D platformer that honors the entire Donkey Kong legacy, with fantastic controls and a uniquely satisfying voxel-digging mechanic, capped by an outstanding final two hours. It stumbles on a reverse difficulty curve from unclear banana-gated upgrades, inconsistent and inorganic level design after the standout opening, a merely forgettable soundtrack outside a few highlights, and asinine checkpointing at the final boss.
An excellent 3D platforming adventure that reboots Donkey Kong by fusing Super Mario Odyssey-style exploration with Tears of the Kingdom-like terrain deformation, all carried by an enormously expressive DK and a sweet bond with sidekick Pauline. The compulsive banana-hunting loop, transformative Bonanza powers, and constant sense of surprise stand out, though the confusing fossil-costume system and notable camera quirks and frame drops from the destructible environments hold it back.
Brilliant successor to Super Mario Odyssey. Brilliant puzzles, great levels, fleshed-out characters. IGN's first 10/10 in over a year.
An excellent, enjoyable Switch 2 platformer from the team behind Super Mario Odyssey — high-quality and a lot of fun for fans and newcomers alike. The main caveats are a few performance drops and a steep £60 price point.
A fantastic 3D platformer for Switch 2 with a destructible voxel-based world and creative level design that constantly introduces new mechanics. The game is engaging and addictive, earning strong recommendation despite technical performance issues.
About
- Released
- 2025-07-17
- Genre
- Platform, Adventure
Creator Mentions · 5
- BBacklog Battle😐 mixed
“A must-have Switch 2 launch title that combines acrobatic platforming with environment destruction. The whimsical anarchy and freedom to goof off makes it enjoyable even for non-platformer fans.”
Watch - SSavun👍 positive
“A good game with well-executed transformation mechanics and enjoyable stages, though bosses are poorly designed and the terraforming potential feels underexploited.”
Watch - Aarhn.eu😐 mixed
“An outstanding platformer that innovatively combines destructible terrain mechanics with excellent level design and a compelling story. Despite minor issues with boss difficulty and performance, it's a complete, content-rich title that stands among the best Nintendo platformers.”
Watch - KKENT for 任天堂ゲームレビュー😐 mixed
“A groundbreaking 3D action game that breaks conventions with unrestricted destruction, climbing, and exploration. Packed with fan service, compelling story, and extensive collectibles, offering incredible sense of fulfillment despite a steep learning curve for controls and camera.”
Watch - DDost Kayaoğlu😐 mixed
“Enjoyed the satisfying destructive mechanics and physics-based gameplay despite some technical issues. Praised the fun first impression and mechanics, though still early in the game.”
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