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[1] | ||||||||||||||
| 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) |
| ||||||||||||||
| Mode(s) | Single player | ||||||||||||||
| Format | Nintendo Switch 2:  Game Card Digital download | ||||||||||||||
- Everyone 10+
- Seven years and older
- All ages
- Parental guidance
- Six years and older
- General audience
- Twelve years and olderDonkey 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.[1]
The game was covered during the Nintendo Treehouse: Live event on April 3 and 4, 2025.[6][7]
Story
Donkey Kong explores the Underground World to recover Golden Bananas known as Banandium Gems[6] that VoidCo stole from Ingot Isle.[2]
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".[8] 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[6]
- VoidCo
- Cranky Kong[9]
- Prospector Monkeys[1]
- Eyed, shapeshifting rock or gem-like creatures that come in multiple colors[1]
- An ostrich-like bird in a shirt[1]
- A giant rocky catfish[1]
- Buzzoids[6]
- Crockoids[6]
- Peekaboopoids[6]
- Salvager Monkeys[6]
- A large rolling boulder-like creature[1]
- Rambi[10]
- A rocky blue eel that eats DK to "Teeleport" him.[11]
- A young female human resembling Pauline wearing a rock bracelet, shown on alternate key art in place of the Odd Rock[12]
Items
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
- DKB Golden Bananas.png
References to other games
- Donkey Kong: A sign with "Arcade 81" appears, referencing this game's release in 1981.[6] In addition, Cranky Kong indirectly refers to Mario when remarking that rivals in his day had charisma, even when wearing overalls.[13]
- Donkey Kong Country: A collectible's appearance is based on Gnawty's artwork.[1] There is a gameplay segment which resembles Jungle Hijinx.[1]
- Donkey Kong 64: When Donkey Kong breaks a Golden Banana, a voice clip saying "Ooh, banana" plays, much like in this entry.[1] Cranky Kong calls Donkey Kong the "leader of the bunch", a line from the DK Rap.[13]
- Super Mario Odyssey: Crates with "NDC" and "New Donk City" written on them appear in the opening area.[6]
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[4] Donkī Kongu Bananza |
Donkey Kong Bananza | |
| Chinese (traditional) | 咚奇剛 蕉力全開[14] Dōngqí Gāng Jiāo Lì Quánkāi |
Donkey Kong Banana Bonanza | |
| Korean | 동키콩 바난자[15] Dongki Kong Bananja |
Donkey Kong Bananza |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Nintendo of America (April 2, 2025). Donkey Kong Bananza – Nintendo Direct | Nintendo Switch 2. YouTube (American English). Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ^ a b April 2, 2025. Donkey Kong Bananza for Nintendo Switch 2 - Nintendo Official Site. Nintendo of America (American English). Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ^ Official British website
- ^ a b ドンキーコング バナンザ | Nintendo Switch 2 | 任天堂. nintendo.com (Japanese). Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ^ Australian announcement trailer
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Nintendo of America (April 3, 2025). Nintendo Treehouse: Live | Nintendo Switch 2 Day 1. YouTube (American English). Retrieved April 3, 2025.
- ^ Nintendo of America (April 4, 2025). Nintendo Treehouse: Live | Nintendo Switch 2 Day 2. YouTube (American English). Retrieved April 4, 2025.
- ^ Nintendo of America (April 3, 2025). Donkey Kong Bananza – Gameplay Video – Nintendo Treehouse: Live | Nintendo Switch 2. YouTube (American English). Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ osirisuki029 (Apr 2, 2025). Post. X (Japanese). Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ^ Eurogamer (April 3, 2025). Donkey Kong Bananza Hands-On Preview: Is It Good?. YouTube (American English). Retrieved April 3, 2025.
- ^ Nintendo of America (April 4, 2025). Donkey Kong Bananza – Exploration Gameplay – Nintendo Treehouse: Live | Nintendo Switch 2. YouTube (American English). Retrieved April 3, 2025.
- ^ Nintendo of Korea (Korean). Retrieved April 5, 2025. (Archived April 4, 2025, 19:07:28 UTC via Wayback Machine.) View in desktop mode.
- ^ a b hibbysloth.art (April 3, 2025). Post. Bluesky (English). Retrieved April 5, 2025.
- ^ 咚奇剛 蕉力全開 | Nintendo Switch 2 | 任天堂. nintendo.com (Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ^ 동키콩 바난자 | Nintendo Switch 2 | 닌텐도. nintendo.com (Korean). Retrieved April 2, 2025.