Donkey Kong Bananza

This article is about an upcoming game. Editors must cite sources for all contributions to this article. Edits that do not follow this standard may be reverted without notice.
Do not upload any unofficially leaked images or media files before this game is released. Per our policy, any such files will be immediately deleted.

"DKB" redirects here. For the Flash game based on Donkey Konga, see Donkey Konga Beat.

Donkey Kong Bananza
North American box art For alternate box art, see the game's gallery.
Publisher	Nintendo
Platform(s)	Nintendo Switch 2
Release date	July 17, 2025
Language(s)	English (United Kingdom) English (United States) French (France) French (Canada) German Spanish (Spain) Spanish (Latin America) Italian Dutch Portuguese (Brazil) Russian Japanese Simplified Chinese Traditional Chinese Korean
Genre	Platformer, action-adventure
Rating(s)	ESRB: - Everyone 10+ PEGI: - Seven years and older CERO: - All ages ACB: - Parental guidance USK: - Six years and older ClassInd: - General audience SMECCV: - Twelve years and older Gmedia: - Seven years and older
Mode(s)	Single player
Format	Nintendo Switch 2: Game Card Digital download

Donkey Kong Bananza is an upcoming 3D open-world platformer set to be released for the Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17, 2025. First announced during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct presentation, it is the second 3D platformer in the Donkey Kong franchise following Donkey Kong 64, the first Donkey Kong platformer to not be directly based on Donkey Kong Country in gameplay and setting since Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, and the first original game in the franchise since Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. In this game, Donkey Kong explores and traverses increasingly deeper layers of the Underground World in pursuit of VoidCo, a villainous group of primates who have stolen the Banandium Gems. The game places much emphasis on Donkey Kong's raw strength, enabling him to perform a variety of moves in order to smash through obstacles, dislodge hard objects, and even excavate the level terrain itself. The game centers thematically on rocks, minerals, and the concept of mining, introducing a host of sentient stony creatures. While some act as enemies, one such creature is friendly and assists Donkey Kong throughout his journey. Despite the game taking place underground, many places seem to have an open sky, adding to the setting's fantastical nature. The game appears to take structural inspiration from Super Mario Odyssey.

As with other games following the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, Donkey Kong uses his new design resembling the 2D illustrations drawn by Shigehisa Nakaue. The game also features full voice acting, specifically for the supporting character Odd Rock.

Donkey Kong Bananza was covered during the Nintendo Treehouse: Live events on April 3 and 4, 2025.

Story

Ingot Isle as seen during the game's intro

After a rumor spreads about a material known as Banandium appearing on Ingot Isle, an island far off the shores of DK Island, Donkey Kong and a crew of Prospector Monkeys explore the island's mines to search for it. During their expedition, a group of primates called VoidCo arrives on a giant, planet-like boulder and steals the Golden Bananas known as Banandium Gems as the boulder pushes Ingot Isle further into the ground, with the resulting storm sending Donkey Kong and the Prospector Monkeys into the depths along with it. After regaining consciousness, Donkey Kong surveys the scene of Ingot Isle's cave-in, when a purple rock entity falls from the sky. Upon investigating, Donkey Kong discovers that the entity is called the Odd Rock. Together, they explore the Underground World in pursuit of VoidCo to recover the Banandium Gems.

Controls

DK boasts an expanded moveset compared to previous appearances, including the ability to climb most vertical surfaces, tear off chunks of terrain, and use them in several ways, such as a "chunk jump" and a "turf surf". The following table lists moves and functions whose inputs have been shown on-screen.

Action	Input
Basic controls
Move
Look around
Jump Talk Advance text
Punch
Punch upward
Punch downward
Dive Punch	Press and hold in midair
Hand Slap
Tear off	Hold
Make music	Hold
Map
Holding object
Swing
Throw	Hold to aim, then release
While climbing
Drop
Turf surfing
Stop
Speed up
Barrel Cannon
Exit
Fire
Map
Places	/
Zoom	/
Place pin
Your location
Reset terrain
Back
Bananas & Fossils	/

Characters

Playable

Character	Information
Donkey Kong	The protagonist of the game.
Odd Rock	A purple, rock-like entity with two stubby legs, blue diamond-like eyes, and various VoidCo symbols and inscriptions on its body that aids Donkey Kong in his journey. Unlike most characters in the game, it has fully voiced dialogue.

Non-playable

Character	Information
VoidCo	The main antagonists of the game. After the Banandium Gems were discovered, VoidCo took the opportunity to steal them and escaped deep underground, where Donkey Kong must chase them to recover the Banandium Gems.
Cranky Kong	The patriarch of the Kong Family. Cranky rides Rambi to the Underground World to chase after an unknown banana thief. He provides Donkey Kong with useful information.
Prospector Monkeys	A group of spider monkey miners. They are sent to the Underground World alongside Donkey Kong by VoidCo.
Salvager Monkeys	A group of monkeys native to the Underground World.
Rambi	Rambi comes to the Underground World alongside Cranky Kong.
	A young female human resembling Pauline wearing a rock bracelet, shown on alternate key artMedia:Dkpauline.jpg in place of the Odd Rock.
	Eyed, shapeshifting rock- or gem-like creatures that come in multiple colors.
	Ostriches with hair and wearing clothing.
	A giant, black chimpanzee sitting in a throne, wearing headphones and headgear made of ripened bananas.
	A large, rolling boulder-like lava creature resembling Boss Brolder.
	A rocky blue eel that eats DK to "Teeleport" him.
	A larger version of the eel with an anglerfish-like lure resembling traffic lights.

Enemies

Image	Name	Description
	TBA	An ant-like enemy that carries Banandium or rocks in its crystal-like abdomen
	Buzzoid	A flying bug-like creature that throws chunks of various types of terrain, such as stone or Boom Rock
	Peekaboopoid	A small colorful octopus-like enemy that hides in groups in the environment and appears to swarm Donkey Kong
	Crockoid	A golden crocodile skeleton covered in a concrete shell

Items

• Banandium Gem
• Banandium Gold
• Banandium Chip - "Trade these for bananas at any Chip Exchange."
• Red Balloon - "Float back after falling, without taking damage."
• Fossil - "Trade for new fashion items at any Style Shop."
  • Ammonite
  • A fossil depicting a Gnawty
• Apple
• Map - "Reveal hidden items on the Map ()."

Objects

• Crystal
• Barrel
• Barrel Cannon
• Mine Cart
• A detonator activated by a Dive Punch
• Hand Slap panel
• Geyser
• A checkpoint resembling a tuning fork
• Crate
• Thorns
• A VoidCo device that creates indestructible "voided terrain"
• Water Ball
• Boom Rock
  • Boom Bomb
• Treasure chest
• Shifty Stone
• Bopper Switch
• Void Stake

Locations and Banandium Gems

Donkey Kong exploring the Lagoon Layer

Sublayer 1

Checkpoints

• Checkpoint: SL1

Banandium Gems

• The First Banandium Gem
• Through the Banana-Mining Belt
• Digging Up a Snack

Ingot Isle Cave-In

Terrain strength: ★☆☆☆☆

Lagoon Layer

Terrain strength: ★★☆☆☆

Sublayer 100

Checkpoints

• Ape Cape: SL100
• Reservoir Hills: SL100
• Reservoir Bank: SL100

Banandium Gems

• First Crockoid Cracked! (×3)
• Cave by the Cape
• Bathing Banana
• A Nook behind Concrete
• Cranky's Lagoon Rant
• Rise and Rinse
• Shifty Smash Challenge: Atop the Pipes
• Placed in a Pipe
• Shifty Smash: Beyond the Wall
• Rest Stop on Roof Road
• At the End of Roof Road
• Battle: Stoney, Grassy Goons

Challenges

• Lagoon Layer Challenge Course 1: Hangin' on Roof Road (Banandium Gems ×3)
• Lagoon Layer Battle Challenge 1: Crockoid ×3

Sublayer 101

Other locations

• Baboomtown

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Donkey Kong Bananza.

• 

  Donkey Kong throwing a punch

• 

  Donkey Kong holding a large rock

• 

  Barrel Cannon

• 

  Banandium Gems

References to other games

• Donkey Kong: A sign with "Arcade 81" appears, referencing this game's release in 1981. In addition, Cranky Kong indirectly refers to Mario when remarking that rivals in his day had charisma, even when wearing overalls.
• Donkey Kong Country: A fossil's appearance is based on Gnawty's artwork. There is a gameplay segment that resembles Jungle Hijinxs.
• Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!: The background of maps resembles the Northern Kremisphere, specifically the area around Funky's Rentals, Mekanos, and Krematoa.^:4:40
• Donkey Kong 64: When Donkey Kong breaks a Banandium Gem, a voice clip saying "Ooh, banana" plays, much like in this entry. Cranky Kong calls Donkey Kong the "leader of the bunch", a line from the DK Rap.
• Super Mario Odyssey: Crates with "NDC" and "New Donk City" written on them appear in the opening area. Checkpoints function similarly to the Checkpoint Flags in this game.

Naming

"Bananza" is a portmanteau of "banana" and "bonanza", referring to the game's initial gold rush setting.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ドンキーコング バナンザ Donkī Kongu Bananza	Donkey Kong Bananza
Chinese (traditional)	咚奇剛 蕉力全開 Dōngqí Gāng Jiāo Lì Quánkāi	Donkey Kong Banana Bonanza
Korean	동키콩 바난자 Dongki Kong Bananja	Donkey Kong Bananza

External links

• North American website
• Japanese website
• Korean website
• European website (English)