Donkey Kong Bananza: Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Title Review
GlyphIQ
Friends, sometimes you stumble upon something so unexpected that you just have to share it immediately. Donkey Kong Bananza is exactly that kind of find. Nintendo took everyone’s favorite ape, gave him the technology to destroy absolutely everything, and created a game that rewrites the rules of 3D platformers. Today we’re diving deep into why this might be the most important Nintendo Switch 2 launch title.
The TL;DR Version
Donkey Kong Bananza isn’t just another platformer. It’s the first fully 3D Donkey Kong game from Nintendo’s internal team since 1981. Released July 17, 2025 exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2, it uses technology that forces you to rethink what’s possible in video games.
The core concept: What if absolutely everything in the game could be destroyed? Not just specific objects, not just special walls - everything. Every rock, every platform, every surface.
The Dream Team Behind the Chaos
The project is led by Kenta Motokura, director of Super Mario Odyssey, alongside the team that created Nintendo’s best 3D adventures. Yoshiaki Koizumi challenged the team to create a game that would be “another big innovation” for the Donkey Kong series.
The result? A game that combines 3D Mario development expertise with Donkey Kong’s unique characteristics. As Motokura explains: “We thought that by creating something new, leveraging our experience developing 3D Mario games, we’d have the opportunity to create two separate branches – 2D Donkey Kong and 3D Donkey Kong – just as we did with Mario games”.
Voxel Magic: How It Actually Works
The Technology That Changes Everything
Bananza’s biggest innovation is voxel technology. If you don’t know what voxels are, think of them as 3D pixels - tiny cubes that make up everything in the game world. Unlike traditional 3D games that use polygons (flat triangular surfaces), voxel games are built from these small cubic blocks.
Why this matters: When everything is made of voxels, everything can be destroyed in realistic ways. Punch a wall and it crumbles authentically. Smash through a floor and debris falls naturally. The destruction isn’t scripted - it’s physics-based.
The “Chain of Destruction” Philosophy
The concept of “chain of destruction” became one of the key gameplay elements the team focused on. One punch doesn’t just break a single block - it can trigger avalanches, collapse structures, and create entirely new paths through levels.
Example: You’re facing a tall wall. Instead of finding a scripted way around it, you can:
- Punch through it directly
- Cause it to collapse sideways, creating a bridge
- Trigger a chain reaction that opens multiple new routes
- Use the debris as stepping stones to higher areas
Bananza Transformations: Power-Ups Reinvented
Beyond Traditional Power-Ups
Forget mushrooms and fire flowers. Donkey Kong can transform anywhere by harnessing the power of Bananza transformation. Collect enough gold through destruction, and DK can morph into different animal forms, each with unique destructive capabilities.
The system works like this:
- Smash terrain and collect gold to fill the “Bananergy” gauge
- Transform into various animal forms anywhere, anytime
- Each form has specialized destruction abilities
- Chain transformations together for massive environmental changes
This isn’t just a power-up system - it’s a tool for creative problem-solving. Different transformations are effective against different materials and obstacles, adding tactical depth to the chaos.
Character Design: Making DK Feel Fresh Again
The Great Redesign
The team completely revamped Donkey Kong’s basic character design, returning to Miyamoto’s original creation as the foundation. But this wasn’t just a visual update - it was a philosophical one.
Key changes:
- Thicker, richer fur that makes him look wilder and more powerful
- Britches and suspenders added for better visual clarity from behind
- Expanded facial expressions that showcase his personality
- Larger physical presence that emphasizes his strength over Mario’s agility
As Watanabe explains: “We strove for a design that would get to the core of what makes Donkey Kong who he is, bringing out his unique characteristics and appeal”.
The Character Philosophy
The team interviewed original Donkey Kong artists to preserve Miyamoto’s vision while modernizing it. Miyamoto himself emphasized Donkey Kong’s signature moves like Hand Slaps and his massive arms as defining characteristics.
The result is a DK who feels both familiar and fresh - powerful enough to destroy environments, but charming enough to be genuinely likeable.
Technical Deep Dive: The Good, Bad, and Impressive
What Works Brilliantly
Voxel Processing: The game handles massive destruction sequences smoothly. Watching entire structures collapse in real-time physics is genuinely impressive.
Transformation System: The seamless switching between DK’s different forms without loading screens shows impressive technical optimization.
Environmental Interaction: Every surface responds to DK’s actions in believable ways. The tactile feedback of destruction is satisfying in ways traditional games can’t match.
The Technical Compromises
Pop-in Issues: Objects sometimes appear suddenly as you move through levels - a common issue with voxel engines processing massive amounts of data.
Shadow Quality: The lighting system feels dated compared to other modern games, likely a performance trade-off for the destruction tech.
Frame Rate: While generally stable, complex destruction sequences can cause brief stutters on Switch 2.
Why These Compromises Matter (And Don’t)
The technical team prioritized gameplay satisfaction over visual perfection. As programming director Wataru Tanaka noted, they focused on “processing performance and utilization of system functions for Nintendo Switch 2” to make the destruction feel responsive rather than pretty.
The verdict: These aren’t deal-breakers. The core experience is so unique that minor technical issues fade into the background.
Gameplay That Actually Matters
Sandbox Exploration Done Right
Unlike linear platformers, Bananza offers open-ended level design where your destruction choices create unique paths. There’s no “correct” way to traverse levels - only creative solutions.
Example scenarios:
- Need to reach a high platform? Destroy the building next to it and use the rubble
- Facing a maze? Smash through the walls to create shortcuts
- Want to explore underground? Pound through the floor anywhere
The Risk-Reward Balance
Destruction isn’t consequence-free. Certain areas require careful planning - destroy the wrong support beam and you might cut off access to secret areas. This adds strategic thinking to what could have been mindless smashing.
Co-op Possibilities
While primarily single-player, the game includes young Pauline as a companion character. Her smaller size allows access to areas DK can’t reach, creating interesting cooperative puzzle solutions.
Why This Matters for Gaming
Setting New Standards
Bananza proves that established franchises can still innovate dramatically. It’s not just “Donkey Kong but in 3D” - it’s “3D platformers but with complete environmental freedom.”
The Nintendo Switch 2 Showcase
This game demonstrates the new console’s capabilities better than any tech demo could. The seamless destruction physics showcase raw processing power while maintaining Nintendo’s signature gameplay polish.
Influence on Future Games
If Bananza succeeds, expect other developers to experiment with voxel destruction systems. We might be seeing the beginning of a new sub-genre: “destruction platformers.”
The Bottom Line
Who should play this:
- Fans of 3D Mario games looking for something fresh
- Anyone who enjoys creative problem-solving in games
- Players who find satisfaction in environmental destruction
- Donkey Kong fans ready for something completely different
Who might want to wait:
- Players who prefer linear, story-driven experiences
- Those sensitive to technical imperfections
- Gamers who need cutting-edge visuals over innovative gameplay
My take: Donkey Kong Bananza is the kind of bold experiment that makes gaming exciting. Yes, it has technical rough edges. Yes, it’s not for everyone. But it’s the most genuinely innovative platformer I’ve played in years.
Nintendo took a beloved character, gave him world-breaking powers, and created something that feels both nostalgic and revolutionary. In a world of safe sequels and annual franchises, Bananza dares to ask: “What if we just let players destroy everything?”
The answer, it turns out, is pure gaming joy.
Final verdict: This is why we need companies willing to take risks. Donkey Kong Bananza isn’t perfect, but it’s important - and that matters more.
What do you think? Are you ready to smash through Nintendo’s most destructible world yet? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
Found this dive interesting? There’s more where this came from. No apologies for the deep dives - that’s what we do here.