How Nintendo turned a gorilla into a demolition expert in Donkey Kong Bananza

Countries & Cities · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Donkey Kong Bananza, the 2025 platformer for the Nintendo Switch 2, reimagines the iconic gorilla as a master of destruction. By utilizing advanced voxel technology, players can smash, dig, and reshape entire underground environments to uncover secrets, marking a bold, physics-driven departure from the franchise's traditional, linear platforming roots.

Developed by Nintendo EPD, Donkey Kong Bananza represents the first internally developed Donkey Kong title since 2004. The project, led by Kenta Motokura, Kazuya Takahashi, and Wataru Tanaka, sought to innovate by emphasizing Donkey Kong's raw strength. Unlike the upward-climbing objectives of the Super Mario series, Bananza guides players downward into a vast, Hollow Earth-inspired underground world. This setting is entirely constructed from voxels, a technology that allows for unprecedented environmental manipulation. Players can rip terrain from walls, stack soft earth to create new paths, or dig through layers to bypass obstacles, all while managing a limited energy meter for various animal-themed transformations.

The game’s narrative centers on a gold rush in the subterranean Ingot Isle, where Donkey Kong and a teenage Pauline search for the Banandium Root. The inclusion of Pauline, who uses her singing voice to activate transformations and remove seals, adds a unique layer to the gameplay. While the game features a skill tree and optional collectibles like Banandium Gems, it remains accessible to newcomers. The team balanced this by including side-scrolling sections that pay homage to the classic Donkey Kong Country series, effectively bridging the gap between 2D nostalgia and 3D exploration.

Technical constraints initially hampered development on the original Switch, leading the team to shift production to the Switch 2. This hardware transition was critical, enabling the game to maintain a stable 60 frames per second despite the complexity of destructible environments. The team also refined the sensory experience of destruction, using Foley techniques—including recording staff chewing various foods—to ensure that every punch and smash felt satisfying. By blending Miyamoto’s original vision with a modern, adventurous aesthetic, Bananza has established itself as a significant, critically acclaimed entry in the Donkey Kong franchise, selling over 4.52 million copies by late 2025.

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