Donkey Kong Bananza

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"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[?]
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 game starring Donkey Kong in the Donkey Kong franchise following Donkey Kong 64, the first 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 villanous group of primates who have stolen his bananas. 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. Like with Donkey Kong 64, full voice acting also makes a return. As with other games following the release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Donkey Kong uses his new design resembling the 2D illustrations drawn by Shigehisa Nakaue.

The game was covered during the Nintendo Treehouse: Live event on April 3 and 4, 2025.

Story

Donkey Kong explores the Underground World to recover Golden Bananas known as Banandium Gems that VoidCo stole from Ingot Isle.

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". Only moves whose inputs have been shown on-screen are currently noted here.

Action	Input
Basic controls
Move
Look around
Jump Talk Advance text
Punch
Punch upward
Drop (while climbing)
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
Turf surfing
Stop
Speed up
Barrel Cannon
Exit
Fire
Map
Places	/
Zoom	/
Place pin
Your location
Reset terrain
Back
Bananas & Fossils	/

Characters

• Donkey Kong
• The Odd Rock
• VoidCo
• Cranky Kong
• Prospector Monkeys
• Eyed, shapeshifting rock or gem-like creatures that come in multiple colors
• An ostrich-like bird in a shirt
• A giant rocky catfish
• Buzzoids
• Crockoids
• Peekaboopoids
• Salvager Monkeys
• A large rolling boulder-like creature
• Rambi
• A rocky blue eel that eats DK to "Teeleport" him.
• A young female human resembling Pauline wearing a rock bracelet, shown on alternate key artMedia:Dkpauline.jpg in place of the Odd Rock

Items

• Banandium Gem
• Banandium Gold
• Banandium Chip
• Red Balloon
• Fossil
  • Ammonite
• Apple

Gallery

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

• 

  Donkey Kong throwing a punch

• 

  Donkey Kong holding a large rock

• 

  The members of VoidCo

• 

  The Odd Rock, a stone-like creature that befriends Donkey Kong

• 

  A Prospector Monkey

• DKB Golden Bananas.png

  Golden Bananas

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 collectible's appearance is based on Gnawty's artwork. There is a gameplay segment which resembles Jungle Hijinx.
• Donkey Kong 64: When Donkey Kong breaks a Golden Banana, 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.

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