Donkey Kong Bananza Hands-On: Pure Primal Mayhem on Nintendo Switch 2
If you're going to fly us all the way to Paris to test Nintendo’s latest console, you'd better let us get our hands on more than one game. And while fifty consoles running Mario Kart World could’ve easily carried the whole event, the surprise reveal of a brand-new 3D Donkey Kong game? That gave the whole showcase an explosive extra punch.
Let’s get this out of the way: Donkey Kong Bananza isn’t trying to reinvent the 3D platformer genre. What it is doing, however, is letting the big ape smash, bash, and obliterate every rock, wall, or surface in his path — and that alone makes it feel groundbreaking.
After Mario Kart World was unveiled, the internet was already buzzing about Mario’s rougher, more primal rival. But after playing through Bananza’s first world, we finally understand the slightly deranged look in DK’s eyes: he’s seen things. And now, so have we.
Say Goodbye to the Gentle Giant
Remember the polite, approachable Donkey Kong from spin-offs and cameos? Forget him. Bananza’s Kong is done with society. He’s gone full beast mode. No more manners. No more adapting. Everything. Must. Go.
And honestly? We’re here for it.
Bananza throws you into the deep end. The camera whips around wildly, boulders fly past your face, and while the controls are intuitive, they don’t exactly offer a sense of control. One second you're clinging to a ceiling, the next you're crashing through the floor. It’s pure, untamed animal chaos — and all that classic tight Donkey Kong platforming? It takes a backseat, at least at first.
BOOYAH!
Thankfully, the game lets you destroy everything. Even if you find yourself stuck in some upside-down death split, a few well-placed “BOOYAS” will punch your way out. And after hoarding a handful of giant bananas and shiny gold coins, you start syncing with your inner beast. Thirty minutes and several rock-smashes later, you finally break into the first true open world: cliffs, trees, streams, enemies, and a wide open sky.
And then it hits you: all of this can be broken too.
Hidden Treasures, Primal Style
With a mighty leap, we spring away from the Breath of the Wild-esque vista and press on toward what seems to be the level’s endpoint — but then we spot it. A fossil, hidden high up in a cliff wall. Secret? Oh, absolutely. Our Donkey-senses tingle.
While Donkey Kong games are built on slick platforming, it's the hidden collectibles — bananas, puzzle pieces, balloons, and now fossils — that make them so addicting. Just like in the polarizing classic Donkey Kong 64, discovery is half the fun. One well-aimed rock toss later, and the fossil breaks free. It’s a small win, but it feels incredible — especially knowing that this entire world is smashable. What else is out there, waiting to be unearthed?
Controlled Chaos
As we go deeper, the secrets grow harder to find, the destruction gets wilder, and the rhythm of the game truly takes hold. Not everything can be broken — but everything should be. That primal instinct takes over, and soon we’re gliding through levels on flying boulders, fully embracing the beast within.
After nearly two hours of gameplay, it starts to click. The controls become second nature. The madness becomes manageable. The chaos becomes… controlled chaos.
Sadly, the venue was too loud to really absorb the soundtrack — so we can’t yet say if it reaches the legendary heights of David Wise’s past work. But we sure hope his legacy is honored.
Final Thoughts
What begins as a whirlwind of destruction eventually becomes an instinctive dance with the chaos. Whether you’re surfing across a canyon on a chunk of rock, bashing fossils out of cliff walls, or paving your own way with primal fists, one thing is clear: everything must go. But hidden within all that raw, wild energy is a kind of magic. After just two hours, it doesn’t feel like we’re playing as Donkey Kong anymore.
We are Donkey Kong.
And we can’t wait to play more.
Donkey Kong Bananza launches July 17 exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.