Donkey Kong Bananza has officially landed on Nintendo Switch 2, and the reviews are in: it’s a smash hit. After more than 25 years without a 3D Donkey Kong adventure, Nintendo has delivered a game that’s not only visually stunning but also mechanically inventive, earning it a spot among the highest-rated titles of the year.
Review roundup: critical acclaim across the board
With over 80 professional reviews counted, Bananza currently holds a Metacritic score of 90, tying it with Death Stranding 2 and placing it just behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (93) and Blue Prince (92). Here’s a snapshot of the scores:
| Outlet | Score |
|---|---|
| IGN | 10 |
| COGconnected | 10 |
| Inverse | 10 |
| Siliconera | 10 |
| Console Creatures | 10 |
| Digitec | 10 |
| GFinity | 10 |
| Nintenduo | 9.7 |
| MeriStation | 9.6 |
| Areajugones | 9.5 |
| Vandal | 9.3 |
| HobbyConsolas | 9.3 |
| GameSpot | 8 |
| Eurogamer | 8 |
Critics praise its destructible environments, fluid controls, and creative transformations like Bananza Kong, Bananza Ostrich, and Bananza Zebra. The game’s underground setting and dynamic terrain offer a fresh twist on classic platforming, with exploration and replayability at the core.
Metacritic’s top 10 games of 2025 (so far)
Donkey Kong Bananza now sits among the year’s elite:
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – 93
- Blue Prince – 92
- Split Fiction – 91
- Donkey Kong Bananza – 90
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – 90
- Despelote – 89
- The Talos Principle: Reawakened – 89
- Monster Hunter Wilds – 88
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 – 88
- Monster Train 2 – 88
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