- Donkey Kong Bananza has received excellent reviews across the board.
- Critics have dubbed the game Donkey Kong’s most important adventure in two decades.
- This release marks the second big first-party title for the Switch 2.
The Nintendo Switch 2 did not immediately impress fans with its first-party offerings, but Mario Kart World still ended up being one of the best-rated games of 2025.
One month later, another major hit for the console is now on the horizon. Ahead of its release, Donkey Kong Bananza has also received an incredible critical reception, continuing the trend of Nintendo’s platforming dominance.
Why it matters: Donkey Kong’s return to the 3D platformer genre was met with a lot of excitement, and the positive reception means that the character could receive several future entries in this genre moving forward.
Over on Metacritic, Donkey Kong Bananza has gathered nearly 80 reviews in the last hour or so. The game currently holds an average score of 90/100 on the platform, already making it one of 2025’s best-rated releases. The following are some of the review scores:
- VGC – 4/5
- IGN – 10/10
- Gamespot – 9/10
- Dexerto – 8/10
Although the score does not quite match a release like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Donkey Kong Bananza has pulled ahead of recent AAA offerings like Death Stranding 2 and Mario Kart World.
Critics have referred to the game as Donkey Kong’s most significant outing in the last two decades. Nintendo’s decision to rely on the Super Mario Odyssey formula has also gone over well with reviewers, earning the platformer praise for its chaotic yet straightforward nature.
The game boasts a similarly satisfying movement system as other Nintendo platforms, and the destruction, in particular, has garnered praise from multiple critics. However, the game is not without its flaws.
Multiple reviewers have discussed performance-related issues in the review build. Others have also pointed to the game often doing too little with its best ideas.
When combined, these flaws hold Donkey Kong Bananza back from matching the peak of Nintendo’s flagship Mario platformers. Still, as a whole package, the game appears to be worth buying for fans of Nintendo’s first-party titles.
It should also be noted that Donkey Kong Bananza is not priced at $80, unlike Mario Kart World. This may make it more appealing for some fans than the only other big first-party title currently available on the Nintendo Switch 2.
What do you think about Donkey Kong Bananza’s reception? Do you intend to buy the game? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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