Donkey Kong Bananza
Destructible 3D platforming chaos as Donkey Kong smashes through underground layers.
17 Jul 2025 · Paid
About Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza is the 3D action platformer from the Mario Odyssey team, letting DK punch through destructible terrain in search of Banandium gems. Pauline joins as a singing companion, with transformation Bananzas changing traversal entirely.
- • Fully destructible voxel-style terrain
- • Bananza transformations
- • Pauline companion vocals
- • Underground layered worlds
- • Creative physics-driven destruction
Storyline
Donkey Kong travels to Ingot Isle to search for Banandium Gems amidst a gold rush. A mining corporation, VoidCo., steals the gems to power its ship. VoidCo.'s president, Void Kong, seeks to travel to the planetary core to find the Banandium Root, a magical object that grants the wishes of its wielder, and obtain riches. Donkey Kong is swept underground, where he rescues Odd Rock. They discover a vast Hollow Earth-like region inhabited by animal societies and their ancient elders. A Kong elder grants Donkey Kong transformative powers and restores Odd Rock to its true self, the teenage girl Pauline. She explains that Void kidnapped her, believing her singing voice could awaken the root. The elder advises Donkey Kong and Pauline to continue to the core to find the root. Donkey Kong and Pauline discover more underground layers, battle VoidCo.'s minions, and meet other animal tribe elders, who grant Donkey Kong new transformations. Pauline dreams of becoming a famous singer and gains more confidence to sing as she and Donkey Kong progress. Void's subordinates grow disillusioned with VoidCo. and quit, choosing to help Donkey Kong instead. Donkey Kong and Pauline battle Void at the core, where Pauline awakens an object that Void thinks is the root. She instead frees King K. Rool, who became trapped with his Kremling Krew while searching for the root. K. Rool dispatches Void and resumes his search; he wishes to turn the world into rotten banana mush to eat. Donkey Kong and Pauline defeat him in a battle at the core and claim the root. Donkey Kong wishes for a large supply of bananas, while Pauline wishes to return home. The root brings them to New Donk City, Pauline's hometown, on a tower of bananas. K. Rool pursues them, claims the root, and floods the city with toxic mush. Donkey Kong and Pauline defeat him again, restoring New Donk City, and reluctantly part ways. Donkey Kong dives underground to continue adventuring while Pauline begins street performing. Three months later, Donkey Kong and Pauline reunite. She asks for his help to prepare for a show at New Donk City Hall, believing that the elders can help her write a new song. After completing a challenge in the…
Gameplay
Donkey Kong Bananza is a 3D platformer and adventure game that emphasizes destruction and open-world exploration. Journalists have compared it to Super Mario Odyssey (2017), with some describing it as a successor. As the gorilla Donkey Kong, the player collects the Banandium Gems, golden banana-shaped diamonds, while exploring sandbox-like levels in an underground world. Each underground layer has a unique theme, including ice, lava, and tropical biomes. Donkey Kong can roll, punch, slap the terrain, pick up and throw objects, and climb most surfaces. The player learns five animal-themed power-up transformations from non-player character (NPC) elders: a gorilla transformation that increases Donkey Kong's strength; a zebra transformation that increases his speed; an ostrich transformation that allows him to glide and drop egg bombs; an elephant transformation that allows him to inhale and spit terrain; and a snake transformation that increases his jump height. The player can use and swap between transformations at any time, though their duration is limited by an energy meter. The player completes missions, solves puzzles, and fights enemies to collect Banandium Gems, which are also found by exploring or progressing through the story. Banandium Gems are used to upgrade Donkey Kong's abilities from a skill tree. There are reportedly up to 1,000 Banandium Gems obtainable, 777 of which are tracked as unique collectibles. Collecting them is optional, and it is possible to complete the game without obtaining any. While exploring, the player discovers secluded areas where they must complete challenges including platforming, solving puzzles, defeating enemies within a time limit, and mining for gold. They are rewarded Banandium Gems or gold upon completion. Some areas contain side-scrolling sections, referencing the Donkey Kong Country games, and minecarts. The player can receive advice from, assist, and obtain Banandium Gems from NPCs, including Donkey Kong characters such as Cranky Kong, Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, and Rambi. When Bananza starts, Donkey Kong befriends Odd Rock, an anthropomorphic purple stone who directs him towards objectives. As the game progresses, Odd…
- Developer
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Release
- 17 Jul 2025
- Price
- Paid
- Modes
- single-player
