Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2 title, "Donkey Kong Bananza," slated for a July 2025 release, recently gave media outlets a sneak peek, and the buzz is bananas! Reviewers are not only hailing it as a fresh 3D adventure for Donkey Kong but also eyeing it as a potential spiritual successor to "Super Mario Odyssey." The game's free-form gameplay, satisfying destruction mechanics, and blend of exploration with unique character abilities are injecting new life into classic Nintendo platforming.
"GTA-Level" Freedom and Destructive Fun
According to TheGamer, "Donkey Kong Bananza" packs a serious "GTA-style mayhem" punch with its open-ended design and gameplay freedom. It evokes that nostalgic thrill of messing around with cheat codes at a friend's house while playing "Grand Theft Auto."
The game's environments are almost entirely destructible. Donkey Kong can freely dig tunnels and smash through walls to uncover treasures, constantly unlocking new routes for players to explore. Random treasure chests and hidden collectibles are also scattered throughout. While this might be a tad overwhelming for completionists, it promises an activity-packed experience for most players.
What's more, the game's visuals and system performance show a clear upgrade compared to "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom." "Donkey Kong Bananza" boasts improved graphics, frame rates, and object persistence, running smoothly at 60fps with 4K support. Destroyed terrain remains altered unless players manually reset it, further enhancing the world's continuity and malleability.
Inheriting "Odyssey's" Exploration Spirit with Layered Level Design
IGN, meanwhile, focused on the game's overall structure, noting that its open-world design carries the core spirit of "Odyssey." Each area is brimming with bananas to collect, NPCs offer hints, and the environments hide clever mechanisms and puzzle challenges, all encouraging players to explore freely.
However, unlike "Odyssey's" expansive overworld, "Donkey Kong Bananza" adopts a "vertically stacked" layered design. Each layer functions like a self-contained mini-map; completing the main objective on one layer allows players to delve deeper into the next, with some challenges even requiring a detour back to a previous layer. This structure brings to mind the more compact yet intricate level designs of "Super Mario 64" and "Super Mario Sunshine," blending them with "Odyssey's" sense of exploratory freedom to create a balanced rhythm.
In terms of controls, IGN praised Donkey Kong's moveset, which combines power and speed. He can deliver mighty punches, ground pound to break walls, and even pry objects from the ground to use as a skateboard. Basic attacks are mapped to different buttons for various directions, allowing players to carve paths based on material—sand, metal, and rock all react differently. Plus, Pauline joins as a second player character, offering support attacks reminiscent of "Super Mario Galaxy's" Co-Star mode, making it perfect for family fun.
"Odyssey" Dream Team at the Helm, Rich Physics and Transformation Mechanics
Eurogamer highlighted Nintendo's rare move of revealing the "Super Mario Odyssey" development team behind "Donkey Kong Bananza" before the previews, significantly boosting expectations. The outlet noted that Donkey Kong's gameplay isn't just about destruction; sand can be piled into bridges, gold nuggets exchanged for currency, and metal used as weapons, showcasing a remarkably detailed physical interaction system. The game's "transformation system" also diversifies gameplay, allowing players to glide as an ostrich or enter a "Kong state" for vastly increased destructive power, complemented by a skill tree to unlock new abilities. 
Even more surprising, Eurogamer mentioned the game is brimming with "Rare-esque energy"—from humorous objects with eye accessories scattered across the map to a balloon revival mechanic, nostalgic musical arrangements, and 2D side-scrolling levels. There are even scenes and music that pay homage to "Bramble Blast." These detailed tributes aren't just superficial nostalgia; they symbolize Nintendo's deep dive into Donkey Kong's history, blending its own classic elements with Rare's iconic touches to create something truly new.
"Donkey Kong Bananza" is set to launch on July 17, 2025.