Donkey Kong Bananza Smashes Reviews and Eyes Game of the Year Crown on Switch 2
Donkey Kong Bananza, the new exclusive platformer for Nintendo Switch 2, is making waves with its stellar reviews and strong Game of the Year (GOTY) potential. Early scores show it as one of the best games of 2025, putting Donkey Kong back in the spotlight after a long hiatus from in-house development by Nintendo Japan.
- Donkey Kong Bananza’s high review scores on OpenCritic and Metacritic
- Comparison to Super Mario Odyssey and its development background
- Potential for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025
- Changing perceptions around platformers and family-friendly games
- Nintendo’s renewed focus on Donkey Kong as a key franchise
Strong Early Reviews Boost Bananza’s Profile
Since the review embargo lifted, Donkey Kong Bananza has earned impressive ratings: 91 on OpenCritic and 90 on Metacritic. IGN’s Logan Plant gave it a perfect 10/10, calling it “a truly groundbreaking 3D platformer.” Meanwhile, Eurogamer’s Alex Donaldson offered a solid four-star review, noting that while it might not reach the heights of Super Mario Odyssey, it still delivers plenty of fun.
Interestingly, Bananza is the first Donkey Kong game developed in-house by Nintendo Japan in two decades, crafted by the same team behind Super Mario Odyssey. This marks a significant shift for the franchise, highlighting Nintendo’s fresh commitment to Donkey Kong, which also includes plans for a new movie.
Game of the Year Contender?
With its critical acclaim, Donkey Kong Bananza joins the ranks of top 2025 titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Split Fiction, Blue Prince, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. This puts it in the running for the coveted Game of the Year award at The Game Awards in December.
The awards jury, made up of international media outlets, tends to favor games with strong story elements and cinematic qualities. This has sometimes been a hurdle for family-friendly platformers like Bananza. However, last year’s GOTY win for Astro Bot, a similarly styled Nintendo platformer, suggests the path is now clearer for Donkey Kong’s return to the spotlight.
A New Era for Donkey Kong
Besides the gameplay, the story behind Bananza’s development adds to its appeal. Unlike many big-budget titles, Bananza represents Nintendo’s renewed in-house focus on one of gaming’s earliest and most beloved characters. Even if it doesn’t secure a Game of the Year nomination, it’s already a milestone: delivering the first must-play critical hit for Switch 2, something Mario Kart World couldn’t quite achieve.
Check out the gameplay trailer here:
