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Are There Games Like Donkey Kong Bananza?
The shorter answer is no, there is no game out there that mixes all the mechanics present in DK Bananza in a single package.
So, the goal I have for this post is to break down these mechanics and see which games fit them best.
All games mentioned are available on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, and if there are significant upgrades on Switch 2, I’ll let you know.
With this said let’s start with the most satisfying mechanic:
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1. Destructible Environments
Admit it, every time you enter a new layer you can’t help yourself but immediatly start punching in every direction searching for fossil and banana maps right? Or is it that just me?
There is something inherently fun in being able to smash through everything you see, changing and shaping the surrounding terrain. And every time I’m engaging with the game in this way there are two titles that always pop up in my mind:
Minecraft
After you punch some trees, craft a workbench, and punch some more trees again, you’ll finally be able to craft yourself a pickaxe and a shovel. Once you do, you’ll most likely do the same as you do in Donkey Kong Bananza and try to dig down and reach the very depths of the earth… until your tools need an upgrade.
Although these games are nothing alike, the urge to explore what lies beneath and uncover rare items ties them together.
In Minecraft, you’re mining rare minerals to upgrade your tools and building. In Donkey Kong Bananza, you’re smashing through layers of earth to collect Banandium Gems and Fossils.
One game thrives on creativity and freedom, the other on action and mindless punching, but both capture that same addictive loop: dig deeper, find a shiny thing, and keep digging deeper.
And given that it runs so much better on Switch 2 you might want to pick it up. It’s less blurry, the loading times are faster, and it has seen some other improvements as well!
And there’s another game that captures this addictive loop but features an actual story to follow through and great platforming.
SteamWorld Dig 1 & 2
I’m including both SteamWorld Dig 1 and 2 in this section, since everything I’m going to say applies to both. The core loop here is just like Minecraft and Donkey Kong Bananza.
Start digging, find rare items to upgrade your character, and keep digging.
The main difference from Minecraft is that in both games there’s a story to justify all your digging. In Steam World Dig 1 you play as Rusty, a robot that inherited a mine from his uncle in the town of Tumbleton. Without much knowledge of the mine, he keeps digging and uncovering things that maybe should be left untouched.
In SteamWorld Dig 2, Rusty has gone missing, and it’s Dorothy’s job to find him while also trying to uncover the reason behind these mysterious earthquakes that are threatening the planet.
Digging in these games is not just a fun and very addictive mechanic; it’s also your main way of progressing through the story and unraveling all the secrets they offer.
Both are fantastic Metroidvanias with great platforming in the mix and are the first titles I would recommend for someone who enjoys punching the ground in DK Bananza!
2. 3D Platformer Collect-a-Thon
Donkey Kong Bananza is a Collect-a-Thon 3D Platformer, just like Donkey Kong 64 was all the way back in 1999, staying faithful to its first 3D appearence.
This would be a great title to recommend if the game was available on Switch Online. Luckily, there are other games you can try out:
Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooie is a 3D platformer with large open levels, quirky characters, tons of collectibles, and light puzzle solving. And I played it for the first time recently, despite owning an N64 for 25 years. I am not sure why, but as a kid I only got 2 games for that system, which I replayed to death. They are Pokémon Snap and Super Mario Party 2 (the best Mario Party game ever).
Although many people love Banjo-Kazooie, unfortunately these 3D platformers didn’t all age perfectly, and I can’t stand the camera. And if you’re one of those individuals that keep complaining about the DK Bananza camera, then this game isn’t for you either.
But what if there was a modern game 3D platformer out there made my ex-Rare developers?
Yooka-Laylee
I played Yooka-Laylee years ago when it was released, and I remember having fun, despite feeling lost in the levels occasionally when collecting Quills.
For this post I decided to give the Switch version a try, and it runs and looks great on Switch 2, despite the obvious outdated textures.
The dialog, story, and characters are as silly as I remember; the levels are big with a lot to discover and collect. And Yooka and Laylee control very well. Although the combat could be a bit more responsive, since I don’t feel like I’m actually hitting my enemies.
You don’t have access to all of their movesets right away, requiring Quills to unlock new moves.
You can clearly tell this wasn’t developed by a major studio, though, and hopefully the remastered version will bring more polish to the experience.
Other Great 3D Platformers
However, Yooka-Laylee isn’t the only modern 3D platformer on the Nintendo Switch.
Browsing the Eshop you can find games like:
- Crash Bandicoot N’sane Trilogy
- Crash Bandicoot 4
- Spyro’s Trilogy
- A Hat in Time
- Bowser’s Fury
- And even Super Mario All-Stars 3D Collection
Super Mario Odyssey
However, if there’s a 3D platformer I can fully recommend, it’s Super Mario Odyssey.
When Mario Odyssey came out I couldn’t care less. I had tried Mario games in the past, and they didn’t impress me in the slightest. You see, I was a massive fan of a certain blue hedgehog, and when I got my Switch, I was more interested in getting my hands on Sonic Forces.
I didn’t regret my decision back then, because when you don’t have much money, you have to make choices based on what you know you’ll enjoy right? You don’t have the luxury to spend money just to experiment with a game from a franchise you might not like.
But in the summer of 2018, I finally got my hands on Mario Odyssey by trading it for a copy of Crash Bandicoot N’Sane Trilogy, the trade of the century some might say.
As I sat there playing it I just couldn’t believe how much fun I’ve been denying myself.
The way Mario controls is a dream. His main kit doesn’t change throughout the entire game, and it’s super fun discovering new ways to utilize it.
As your skill improves, you’ll be able to do crazy jump tricks perfect to blitz through levels and even reach Moons that seemed impossible to get.
On top of this you have Cappy, a sentient hat that you can throw to possess your enemies and utilize their abilities.
All this, combined with a great level design that rewards exploration, results in a 3D platformer that is perfect, in my opinion.
I collected every single Moon available and beat this game 100% in roughly 60 hours. Then I proceeded to spend a ridiculous amount of time playing Luigi’s Balloon World…
And to top it all off, Mario Odyssey was in fact developed by the same team responsible for Donkey Kong Bananza. And that’s the main reason why you should play Mario Odyssey.
Also, if you play it on Nintendo Switch 2 you can take advantage of the free update it got which improves its visual quality!
3. 2D Bonus Stages
In Donkey Bananza you’ll find many bonus stages, and eventually you’ll come across these 2D stages that will take you right back to the Donkey Kong Country games.
Playing these might get you in the mood for some 2D Donkey Kong action, and luckily for you the Nintendo Switch is home to a lot of these.
If you search on Switch Online SNES games you’ll find all 3 Donkey Country games available, and all of them are a must-play, in my opinion.
No one was doing 2D platformers like these back in the SNES era, with great graphics, amazing level design, perfect control over your character, and a banger OST in every stage.
If you’re willing to spend some money, Donkey Kong Country Returns and Tropical Freeze are also available on Switch. Personally, I never played them, but, from what I’ve gathered, the consensus is that they are terrific games tied to a terrible price.
However, to all of these great DK games, I want to present an alternative, for that 2D Platformer Fix, outside the franchise.
Kaze and the Wild Masks
I knew of a game that paid not just an homage to 2D platformers of the 90s but took direct inspiration from the DK Country games, and thanks to this list I finally played Kaze and the Wild Masks.
Kaze and the Wild Masks is a 2D platformer that doesn’t just pay tribute to 90s platformers, it feels like a spiritual successor to the Donkey Kong Country series.
With its gorgeous pixel art, tight and responsive controls, and incredibly satisfying movement, it captures the gameplay that makes the Country series so good.
Bouncing off enemies, jumping from trampolines, and chaining together perfect jumps through levels feels ecstatic! Especially when you hit that flow where every jump, stomp, and slide lines up just right. You can clearly tell the levels were designed with speedrunning in mind.
It’s not a long game, but if you take your time to explore and grab all the collectibles hidden in each level, you can expect around 8-10 hours of gameplay. Which is perfect for an indie title from a small studio.
Amazing as it is, if there’s one thing that I would like to see improved, it’s the enemy bounce sound effect, which lacks the satisfying impact I was expecting, coming from the DK Series.
Still, Kaze and the Wild Masks is a wonderful alternative, and one the best 2D platformers on the Nintendo Switch, which means I need to update the list I made a few months ago.
So, Are There Games Like Donkey Kong Bananza or Not?
There aren’t. But I can assure you that all the games listed in this post will quench your thirst. And hopefully I’ve managed to introduce you to new games you never knew existed!
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Furthermore, if everything goes well, I’ll be seeing you again next time with brand-new content.
Thanks for reading!
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