DK Challenge
- This article is about the limited-time Nintendo Switch Online event. For the fictional event from the Donkey Kong Country television series, see Annual Donkey Kong Challenge.
The DK Challenge is a limited-time event for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2. It was announced in the June 9, 2026 Nintendo Direct, to be ran from June 9 to September 1.[1] The DK Challenge event is focused on challenges within various Donkey Kong games, which players can complete to earn collectible Challenge Cards. The challenges are accessed through the Nintendo Switch Online app on the HOME Menu, and are split between Nintendo Classics and Donkey Kong Bananza.
List of challenges[edit]
There is a total of 39 challenges, 15 from Nintendo Classics and 24 from Donkey Kong Bananza. British/Australian English challenge titles are listed with small text. Challenges marked with an asterisk (*) are denoted as "hard" challenges.
Nintendo Classics[edit]
Launching a Nintendo Classics challenge will open the game in its respective Nintendo Classics application at a preset suspend point. From here, completing the challenge will return the player to the Nintendo Switch Online app (rewarding them with a card if applicable), while losing the challenge (such as by losing a life) will prompt the player to either rewind, retry from the beginning, or close the challenge.
| Challenge | Description | Game |
|---|---|---|
 Rumble in the Jungle! Rumble Through the Jungle |
Adventure alongside Diddy and Rambi and complete Jungle Hijinxs. | Donkey Kong Country |
 High-Flying Mine Cart! High-Flying Mine-Cart |
Jump over cutoff and damaged rails and complete Mine Cart Carnage. | Donkey Kong Country |
 Barreling to the Top! Barrelling to the Top |
Reach the summit and complete Kannon's Klaim. | Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest |
 Barrel Cannon Blowout!* Barrel Cannon Knockabout |
Blast between Barrel Cannons and complete Bramble Blast. | Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest |
 Dodging Fireballs!* Dodging Fire-Balls |
Explore Mekanos and complete Fire-Ball Frenzy. | Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! |
 Freedom from DK! Freedom From Donkey Kong! |
Climb the scaffolding while avoiding the barrels that Donkey Kong keeps throwing. | Donkey Kong (NES) |
 The Fall of DK! The Fall of Donkey Kong |
Topple Donkey Kong by removing all of the bolts holding the scaffolding in place. | Donkey Kong (NES) |
 Freedom for DK?! Freedom for Donkey Kong?! |
Free Donkey Kong from his cage by opening all the locks. | Donkey Kong Jr. |
 Catch the Key!* Key Chase with Donkey Kong |
Solve the puzzles and then bring the key to the door with the keyhole. | Donkey Kong (Game Boy) |
 A Blast with DK! Shooting the Breeze with DK |
Aim the spray and get Donkey Kong to the very top. | Donkey Kong 3 |
 DK Accounting! Donkey Kong Accounting |
Combine symbols and numbers to arrive at the number Donkey Kong is holding. | Donkey Kong Jr. Math |
 DK's Construction Site!* Donkey Kong's Construction Site |
Navigate the girders to complete the construction-site level. | Donkey Kong Land |
 DK on the High Seas! Donkey Kong on the High Seas |
Explore the ship and complete Pirate Panic. | Donkey Kong Land 2 |
 DK Sets Sail! Donkey Kong Sets Sail |
Rampage across the docks and complete Red Wharf. | Donkey Kong Land III |
 King K. Rool Battle!* Bruising King K. Rool |
Evade the onslaught and defeat King K. Rool. | Donkey Kong Country |
Donkey Kong Bananza[edit]
Challenges for Donkey Kong Bananza work differently from the Nintendo Classics challenges; objectives must be completed using the player's own save file, and are marked as completed once their conditions are met (with a notification that the player has received a Challenge Card). Challenges in the "To the Planet Core" and "Feel the Nostalgia" categories may be automatically marked as completed if the player has already completed their objectives on their save file.
| Challenge | Description |
|---|---|
| Bananza Transformations! | |
 Kong Charge Punch! |
Deliver Charge Punches using Kong Bananza while the event is active. |
 Zebra Water Dash! |
Run across water using Zebra Bananza while the event is active. |
 Ostrich Egg Bomb! |
Drop Egg Bombs using Ostrich Bananza while the event is active. |
 Elephant Water Vacuum! |
Suck up water using Elephant Bananza while the event is active. |
 Snake Slow-Down Glare! |
Glare using Snake Bananza while the event is active. |
| To the Planet Core | |
 Grumpy Kong Battle! Battle Grumpy Kong! |
Progress through the story and defeat Grumpy Kong. |
 Poppy Kong Battle! Battle Poppy Kong! |
Progress through the story and defeat Poppy Kong. |
 Void Kong Battle! Battle Void Kong! |
Progress through the story and defeat Void Kong. |
 Harmoneel Battle! Battle the Great Harmoneel! |
Progress through the story and break the Great Harmoneel's mask. |
 Planet Core's Secret! |
Progress through the story and see the game's ending. |
| Feel the Nostalgia | |
 Find the Hiding Spot! Find the Hidden Spot! |
Get the Banandium Gem from where it's hidden in the Hilltop Layer's Nostalgia Country challenge. |
 Escape the Maze! |
Get a Banandium Gem from reaching the goal in the Forest Layer's Bramble Country challenge. |
 Mine-Cart Madness! |
Get a Banandium Gem from reaching the goal in the Resort Layer's Mine-Cart Country challenge. |
 Jump Those Girders! |
Get a Banandium Gem from reaching the goal in the Radiance Layer's Arcade Country challenge. |
| Against the Clock | |
 Kong and Destroy!* |
Complete the Kong Bananza: City Smash challenge in the Canyon Layer with 40 seconds or more left on the clock while the event is active. |
 Skate and Attack!* |
Complete the Antickoid ×5 challenge in the Freezer Layer with 18 seconds or more left on the clock while the event is active. |
 Dig and Freeze!* |
Complete the Quick-Service Ice Treats challenge in the Landfill Layer with 60 seconds or more left on the clock while the event is active. |
 Miracle Shots!* |
Complete the Buzzoid ×3 challenge in the Forbidden Layer with 20 seconds or more left on the clock while the event is active. |
 Thorny Surfing!* |
Complete the Thorny Hill Speed Surf challenge in the Hilltop Layer with 25 seconds or more left on the clock while the event is active. |
| Developer Challenges | |
 Demolition Challenge* |
Complete the Freestyle Bananzas: City Smash challenge in the Feast Layer with 40 seconds or more left on the clock while the event is active. |
 Rambi Rumble Challenge* |
Complete a Rambi Rumble Rowdy Race in 55 seconds or less while the event is active. |
 Bonus Stage Challenge* |
Complete a Bonus Stage with +6,000 gold or more while the event is active. |
 Boss Rush Challenge* |
Complete a Boss Rush with 0 skills unlocked while the event is active. |
 Rehearsal Challenge* The Final Rehearsal |
Complete the Final Rehearsal with 0 skills unlocked while the event is active. |
Gallery[edit]
Japanese logo
Horizontal logo
Japanese horizontal logo
The notice that appears when starting Donkey Kong Bananza
The notice that appears when starting Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Classics on Nintendo Switch 2
The notice that appears when starting Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Classics on Nintendo Switch 2
The notice that appears when starting Game Boy - Nintendo Classics on Nintendo Switch 2
Screen that appears when failing one of the Nintendo Classics DK Challenges
All Challenges Cleared card for the Nintendo Classics challenges
All Challenges Cleared card for the Donkey Kong Bananza challenges
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | DKチャレンジ Dī Kē Charenji |
DK Challenge | [2] | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | DK Challenge | - | [3] | |
| Dutch | DK Challenge | - | [4] | |
| French (European) | DK Challenge | - | [5] | |
| German | DK Challenge | - | [6] | |
| Italian | DK Challenge | - | [7] | |
| Korean | DK Challenge | - | [8] | |
| Portuguese (European) | DK Challenge | - | [9] | |
| Spanish (European) | DK Challenge | - | [10] |
References[edit]
- ^ Nintendo of America (June 9, 2026). Nintendo Switch Online DK Challenge Event – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026. YouTube. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
- ^ Nintendo Direct 2026.6.9. Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Japanese). Retrieved June 9, 2026 from nintendo.com (Japan). (Archived June 9, 2026, 15:34:05 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ Nintendo台灣官方頻道 (June 9, 2026). Nintendo Direct 2026.6.9 (17:50). YouTube (Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved June 9, 2026.
- ^ "Voor Nintendo Switch Online op de Nintendo Switch 2… komt er een tijdelijk DK Challenge-event." ("A temporary DK Challenge event is coming to Nintendo Switch Online on the Nintendo Switch 2.") – Nintendo Nederland (subtitles) (June 9, 2026). Nintendo Direct – 09-06-2026 (18:52). YouTube (Dutch). Retrieved June 9, 2026.
- ^ « Nintendo Switch Online sur Nintendo Switch 2 s'apprête à accueillir… l'événement temporaire DK Challenge ! » – Nintendo France (subtitles) (June 9, 2026). Nintendo Direct – 09/06/2026 (47:52). YouTube (French). Retrieved June 9, 2026.
- ^ „Bei Nintendo Switch Online auf Nintendo Switch 2 startet demnächst des zeitlich begrenzte DK Challenge-Event!“ – Nintendo DE (subtitles) (June 9, 2026). Nintendo Direct – 09.06.2026 (48:17). YouTube (German). Retrieved June 9, 2026.
- ^ «Con Nintendo Switch Online, su Nintendo Switch 2 arriva… l'evento a tempo limitato DK Challenge!» – NintendoItalia (subtitles) (June 9, 2026). Nintendo Direct – 09/06/2026 (48:37). YouTube (Italian). Retrieved June 9, 2026.
- ^ "Nintendo Switch Online에 Nintendo Switch 2 전용 이벤트 「DK Challenge」가 기간 한정으로 등장!" – 한국닌텐도 공식 채널 (closed subtitles provided by uploader) (June 9, 2026). Nintendo Direct 2026.6.9 (18:47). YouTube (Korean). Retrieved June 9, 2026.
- ^ «Através do Nintendo Switch Online, prepara-se para chegar à Nintendo Switch 2… o evento de tempo limitado DK Challenge!» – Nintendo Portugal (subtitles) (June 9, 2026). Nintendo Direct – 09/06/2026 (47:42). YouTube (European Portuguese). Retrieved June 9, 2026.
- ^ «A través de Nintendo Switch Online, pronto llegará a Nintendo Switch 2… ¡el DK Challenge, un evento de duración limitada!» – Nintendo España (subtitles) (June 9, 2026). Nintendo Direct – 09-06-2026 (47:02). YouTube (European Spanish). Retrieved June 9, 2026.
