Donkey Kong's Triumphant Return: A Technological Marvel that Redefines the Series

Donkey Kong, one of the earliest and most iconic video game characters, has remained relevant for the bulk of the past 40 years. However, none of the major Donkey Kong games since the 1980s have been made by Nintendo's internal Japanese studios, leaving the character as a bit of a B-tier entity next to Mario and company.

Now, Nintendo has thrown its absolute best at the franchise, and the result is Donkey Kong Bananza, a game that not only contends for the best in the series but also gives other contemporary games a run for their money in terms of sheer fun, constant innovation, and technological achievement.

Created by the team behind Super Mario Odyssey, Bananza combines elements of Minecraft-like permanent terrain alteration with Mario-level control and acrobatics, an evolved take on 3D platformer collectables, and plenty of inspiration from past Donkey Kong games. It sets a new tone and visual design for the series, feeling current while staying true to the arcade original.

With Bananza, Nintendo is sending a clear message that it is not slowing down in the Nintendo Switch 2 era, solidifying its place among the best game-makers and delivering an experience that is both delightful and utterly inimitable.