Donkey Kong Bananza: A Complete Guide and Tips for a Perfect Start on Switch 2

This is my first Donkey Kong game, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from Donkey Kong Bananza . But it turned out to be amazing, and now I’d say it’s the main reason I bought the Switch 2. It’s essentially a significantly beefed-up version of Super Mario Odyssey —both in scope and in the main character’s abilities. The mix of platforming, puzzles, and collectible hunting feels instantly familiar.

However, DK’s destructive abilities add a whole new layer to the gameplay experience. While Super Mario Odyssey required mastery of Mario’s jumps and Cappy’s abilities, DK can simply smash his way through almost any section of the game’s many sublayers. And that’s not always a good idea! More than once, I completely lost my bearings, smashing the main path beyond recognition—my meticulous digging for fossils, gold, and other items detracted from simply enjoying the adventure.

However, distractions from collectibles are inevitable, so at least make sure you’re hunting for the valuable Donkey Kong Bananzas . These edible mineral collectibles, also known as Banandium Gems, are vital to Donkey Kong’s journey. Many are hidden in challenge levels like Rooftop Road and Nostalgia Land. If you want to see the game’s true ending (which I’ll cover below), you need to collect as many bananas as possible. But their more immediate benefit is that they grant DK skill points. Every five bananas collected grants one point, which can be spent or accumulated to unlock one of many skills. Therefore, it’s often worth detouring from the main path to collect a few bananas and level up your DK, even if you don’t aim to collect them all (there are almost 800 of them).

Technically , Donkey Kong Bananza is playable on the Switch 1, but only in online co-op, where you’ll be stuck playing as Pauline, perched on the player’s shoulder.

The problem I encountered was that some of these abilities were fairly useless for much of the game, wasting skill points. After resetting the points, I was able to test all the abilities to see which ones were the best. Of course, in addition to skill points, you’ll also unlock Donkey Kong’s Epic Transformations—temporary animal forms that grant unique abilities, from incredible punching power to a lightning-fast sprint that allows you to traverse certain dangerous terrain. Each Banana has its own set of abilities.

So, abilities, Bananzas, and even outfits for DK and Pauline, combined with environmental hazards and specific terrain types, form a multitude of subtle systems to keep in mind. Therefore, I recommend checking out my general Donkey Kong Bananza tips to understand what’s truly important during the game—it will make your progress much smoother. I can’t emphasize enough how helpful it is to unlock Escapes and purchase Red Balloons! And there’s no shame in turning on Assist Mode, which you can do at any time. Persistent objective markers will keep you from getting lost, and DK’s improved health will make the monkey much more resilient.

How long does it take to get through?

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If you’re wondering how long it takes to complete Donkey Kong Bananza , the answer depends entirely on how hard you hunt for collectibles.

As you progress deeper into the sublayers, you’ll encounter several unusual ones that behave differently from the standard, mostly linear ones. The fork in the road is the best example, as it offers you a choice: continue into the Freezer or Forest sublayer. Ultimately, it’s a relatively insignificant choice, but knowing what awaits in each sublayer can be helpful. Later, you’ll reach the relaxing Resort sublayer , where you’ll find a Collecton , which allows you to scan amiibo figures to unlock corresponding in-game unlocks. But frankly, most of them aren’t all that impressive.

By breaking through the remaining layers, you’ll eventually reach the conclusion of DK and Pauline’s epic journey to the planet’s core. However, that’s not quite the end, as if you want to see the true ending of the game, you’ll need to complete a whole post-game quest . Be warned: it requires collecting a lot of bananas, so it’s quite a commitment if you haven’t been diligently searching for them before.