Map Key

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Revision as of 23:21, March 1, 2025 by Salmancer (talk | contribs) (Rewrite to fit it all into one paragraph. Accounts for Cloud lacking a locked level)
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Map Key
Map Key from Donkey Kong Country Returns.
First appearance Donkey Kong Country Returns (2010)
Latest appearance Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (2025)
Effect Unlocks a new path on the map
“What, you need a key to bust through some flimsy lock?”
Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong Country Returns

A Map Key is a special golden key used in Donkey Kong Country Returns and its Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch ports. In each world of the game, excluding Cloud, it can be purchased from Cranky Kong's Shop for 20 Banana Coins. In New Mode of the 3DS version and Modern Mode of the Switch version, it instead costs ten Banana Coins. Once the player leaves the shop with a Map Key, it automatically unlocks the path on the Level Selection Screen in that world that is otherwise blocked by golden chains and a lock. Each such path leads to one additional level, with the path for completing that level sometimes creating a route to the world's boss level that has fewer levels total.

Unlocked levels

The following levels are accessible via Map Keys:

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese もんキー[?]
Monkī
Pun on "monkey" and "key"