Donkey Kong Bananza is indeed a brand-new 3D platformer heading exclusively to the Nintendo Switch 2, set to launch on July 17, 2025. Announced during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct on April 2, 2025, it’s the first 3D Donkey Kong game since Donkey Kong 64 hit the Nintendo 64 in 1999, marking a 26-year gap for the ape’s fully 3D adventures. This isn’t a launch title—the Switch 2 drops on June 5—but it’s close behind, arriving just over a month later.
The game throws Donkey Kong into a vibrant, destructible world called Ingot Isle, where golden bananas have sparked a frenzy. The story kicks off with VoidCo snatching DK’s precious hoard, sending him smashing through an underground realm to reclaim it. Gameplay leans hard into his brute strength: you can punch, bash, and tear through nearly everything—walls, floors, rocks—opening new paths and uncovering secrets. Think Super Mario Odyssey vibes but with a Kong twist: open-zone levels, a purple rock sidekick that chats and sings, and collectibles like Golden Bananas and fossils scattered everywhere. There’s even a mix of 2D side-scrolling sections and mine cart rides nodding to the Donkey Kong Country roots.
Visually, it’s a stunner, flexing the Switch 2’s muscle with 4K docked output and lush, detailed environments. DK’s got a fresh redesign—think expressive, movie-inspired flair—and the game runs silky smooth, with destructible terrain that reacts dynamically. It’s priced at $69.99 digital or $79.99 physical, a step up from typical Nintendo fare, but early hands-on impressions suggest the scope might justify it. Between this and Mario Kart World, the Switch 2’s early lineup is looking bananas—in the best way.