Donkey Kong fans only have to wait one more month to play the first 3D adventure in the iconic franchise since 1999’s Donkey Kong 64. Well, and you also need a Nintendo Switch 2. Donkey Kong Bananza launches exclusively on Switch 2 on July 17. Out of all of the Nintendo exclusives shown off for Switch 2 so far, Donkey Kong Bananza has arguably looked the best from a technical standpoint. Preorders are available now at multiple major retailers, including Amazon. It’s one of numerous Switch 2 games Amazon is now carrying after more than a year of not selling Nintendo games or hardware.
Though Nintendo has priced some Switch 2 games at $80, including the console’s marquee launch game, Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong’s first original game in more than a decade is $70.
$70 | Releases July 17
Like other first-party Nintendo Switch 2 games, the full Donkey Kong Bananza experience is on the game card. Many third-party Switch 2 physical releases include Game-Key Cards, which look the same visually, but require at least part of the game file to be downloaded to your console. Donkey Kong Bananza’s file size is 10GB. Outside of any patches, you won’t need to download any of those gigabytes.
Donkey Kong Bananza physical edition preorders are available at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and GameStop.
Bananza’s reveal trailer gave fans a glimpse at the upcoming game’s fast-paced traversal system as well as Donkey Kong’s immense strength. We knew DK was strong, but his fists can actually break terrain into chunks of rock, create tunnels, and hoist boulders over his head before hurling them at enemies. Destruction is the central mechanic here. The game’s levels look like wide-open playgrounds for Donkey Kong to swing, roll, run, and bash his way through. Though it takes place underground, Bananza will have at least a handful of themed locales, including forested areas, water and ice environments, canyons, and mines.
Nintendo is hosting a Donkey Kong Bananza Direct livestream on June 18 to provide fans with a more in-depth look at DK’s new adventure. The game’s plot revolves around a group of evildoers dubbed VoidCo. After VoidCo steals golden bananas from DK and his pals, Donkey Kong teams up with an “Odd Rock,” who helps turn his fists into super-powered wrecking balls.
If you’re looking forward to Bananza and haven’t played the enhanced editions of Tropical Freeze and DKC Returns on Switch, you can save big on both of the stellar side-scrollers for a limited time. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, which released earlier this year, is on sale for $40 at Woot and $45 at Amazon. Tropical Freeze, meanwhile, is $42 at Woot and $45 at Walmart.
As mentioned, Donkey Kong Bananza wasn’t available to preorder at Amazon until after the Switch 2 console launched. Here’s a list of the other new and upcoming Nintendo games that are finally up for grabs at Amazon, including Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV and Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World. The Switch 2 Edition of Mario Party Jamboree releases one week after Donkey Kong Bananza, while Kirby and the Forgotten Land arrives on August 28.
Nintendo Switch 2 Games at Amazon
All five Lego Super Mario sets featuring Donkey Kong characters are in stock at Amazon, which is notable considering several of them were retired late last year. Most notably, Donkey Kong’s Tree House is in stock for retail price ($60). The 555-piece set had been sold out for most of the year. Donkey Kong’s Tree House is one of two Lego sets that comes with a buildable DK figure.
The other Lego Mario set that includes a Donkey Kong figure is the 387-piece DK Jumbo set. Part of the Lego Mario Kart launch lineup from earlier this year, DK Jumbo is up for grabs for $29.49 (was $35).
All of the Donkey Kong Lego sets interact with the Lego Super Mario Adventures starter sets.
