Nintendo surprised fans with a dedicated “Donkey Kong Bananza Direct” presentation on June 18, 2025, finally lifting the lid on the brand-new 3D platforming action-adventure title, Donkey Kong Bananza. This highly anticipated entry promises a fresh breath of life for the series, arriving exclusively on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 system on July 17, 2025, priced at $69.99.
The Direct showcased extensive gameplay and revealed the surprising story and mechanics of this ambitious new adventure.
Delving Underground: A Story of Bananas, Rocks, and Villains
The saga begins on Ingot Isle with the discovery of gleaming “golden bananas,” known as Banandium Gems. Donkey Kong, naturally, is on the scene. However, a sudden, mysterious storm conjured by the villainous organization, The Void Company (VoidCo), sends DK plummeting deep into the planet’s interior – a realm known as the Underground World of Odd Rock.
Here, DK encounters a peculiar figure, Odd Rock, who is revealed to be none other than Pauline, the talented singer previously transformed into rock by VoidCo’s machinations. Together, this unlikely duo forms a pact: journey to the fabled Planet Core, which legend says grants one’s heart’s desire. Donkey Kong seeks an endless supply of bananas, while Pauline yearns to return to the surface. Their quest becomes a race against VoidCo, led by the nefarious Void Kong, who also seeks the Core for sinister purposes and was responsible for the initial chaos.
Smashing, Surfing, and Singing: Gameplay & Abilities
Donkey Kong Bananza leans heavily into environmental interaction and destruction, reportedly leveraging the power of the Switch 2. Players control Donkey Kong as he smashes, crashes, and jumps his way through the vast underground.
Key abilities for Donkey Kong include:
Dive Punch: Drill into the earth to uncover secrets or create paths.
Hand Slap: Unearth hidden items and solve environmental puzzles.
Roll: Navigate obstacles and gain momentum.
Turf Surf: Tear chunks of terrain from the ground and ride them, or even throw them as projectiles.
These moves can be combined for greater effect, encouraging creative traversal and combat. Notably, the environmental destruction DK causes is said to be a permanent part of the map, showcasing the game’s dynamic world.
Pauline’s Power: Transformations & Co-Op
Pauline is far from a simple sidekick; she’s a central character whose unique singing ability directly impacts gameplay. By collecting Bananergy (fueled by collected gold), Pauline can trigger temporary Bananza Transformations for Donkey Kong, granting him powerful new forms and abilities:
Kong Bananza: Bestows incredible super strength, allowing DK to break through even the toughest terrain.
Zebra Bananza: Grants enhanced speed and a useful dash ability.
Ostrich Bananza: Allows Donkey Kong to fly for a limited time and drop Egg Bombs.
The game fully supports both solo play as Donkey Kong and local cooperative play, where a second player controls Pauline. Pauline’s vocal blasts can be controlled using the Joy-Con 2’s mouse functionality in co-op. Nintendo also confirmed support for GameShare, allowing local co-op even if only one player owns the game, and GameChat for inviting online friends via voice or video.
Collectibles, Progression, and Customization
The Underground World is brimming with items to discover. Banandium Gems are the primary collectible, found buried or in plain sight. Collecting them grants Skill Points that increase Donkey Kong’s power and unlock new abilities via a skill tree system, adding RPG progression elements. Gems can also be earned through various challenges like timed battles, side-scrolling sections, and obstacle courses.
Other valuable finds include:
Banandium Chips: Exchangeable for Banandium Gems at a Chip Exchange.
Banandium Gold: Traded for useful items at a Stuff Shop.
Fossils: Discovered through excavation and traded at Style Shops for cosmetic fashions for DK and Pauline (many offering beneficial stats) and different fur colors for Donkey Kong. Character customization looks to be a significant feature.
Navigating the Depths & Familiar Faces
Exploring the vast layers of the underground is made easier with Eelevators, described as subterranean eels providing quick travel between areas. Players can also find Getaways, comfy beds offering a chance to rest and restore energy, complete with customizable music options.
Beyond Donkey Kong and Pauline, players will encounter returning characters like Cranky Kong and his loyal companion Rambi. The Underground World is also home to wise, musically-themed Giant Elders and various members of the antagonistic VoidCo, including prominent figures like Grumpy Kong and Poppy Kong.
Creative Modes & Amiibo Support
Donkey Kong Bananza includes creative modes for players to express themselves. Photo Mode allows players to capture in-game moments with adjustable camera angles and settings. DK Artist mode utilizes the Switch 2’s Joy-Con 2 mouse controls, letting players carve stone designs with customizable lighting and banana effects.
The game will also support amiibo figures. A new Donkey Kong and Pauline amiibo set will release alongside the game on July 17th, unlocking Pauline’s Diva Dress early and providing explosive KONG tiles. Scanning other Donkey Kong series amiibo yields gold KONG tiles, while any other amiibo provides a giant sphere of terrain material, useful for excavation.
The “Donkey Kong Bananza Direct” revealed a game packed with depth, innovation, and classic Donkey Kong charm mixed with exciting new mechanics and partners. Fans eager for a major 3D adventure on the Nintendo Switch 2 have July 17, 2025, circled on their calendars.
