Donkey Kong Bananza is a Switch 2 delight, but here what I wish I'd known before I got started

Donkey Kong punching through rocks in Donkey Kong Bananza — (Image credit: Nintendo)

As my first Donkey Kong game, I wasn't sure what to expect with Donkey Kong Bananza, but it's a doozy, and I'd argue that – currently – it's the main reason to own a Switch 2. As a substantially beefed-up Super Mario Odyssey, both in terms of the scale of the game and the strength of its protagonist, the blend of platforming, puzzle-solving, and collectible-hunting feels instantly familiar.

But DK's destructive capabilities add a whole new layer to how you tackle these things. Where Super Mario Odyssey requires you to master the titular plumber's platforming proficiency and Cappy capabilities, DK can simply smash his way through almost any part of the many Donkey Kong Bananza sublayers, and doing so isn't always a good idea! I got myself completely turned around more times than I care to admit by smashing the main path until it was unrecognizable – my thorough excavations for fossils, gold, and more getting in the way of just enjoying the adventure.

Donkey Kong Bananza Bananas DK about to punch a bunch of three Banandium Gems — (Image credit: Nintendo)

However, getting distracted by collectibles is inevitable, so at least make sure you're hunting down valuable Donkey Kong Bananza bananas. Also known as Banandium Gems, these edible mineral collectibles are vital to Donkey Kong's journey, with many hidden in challenge levels such as Hanging on Roof Road and Nostalgia Country. If you want the game's true ending, which I've covered further down, you'll want to collect as many bananas as you can, but their more immediate benefit is that they grant DK skill points. Every five bananas you collect provides one point that can be spent or saved to unlock one of many skills, so it's often worth deviating from the main path to nab a few 'nanas and power up DK, even if you're not bothered about collecting every single one (there are almost 800 after all).

Is DK Bananza on Switch 1?

Donkey Kong Bananza DK looking angry ready to beat his chest to create a music beat — (Image credit: Nintendo)

You technically can play Donkey Kong Bananza on Switch 1 but only through online co-op and you're stuck as a shoulder-mounted Pauline.

The problem I found is that a few of these skills are a bit useless across most of Donkey Kong Bananza, resulting in wasted skill points. Once I reset my skill points, I was then able to test all the skills to see what the best Donkey Kong Bananza skills were, all of which are laid out in the linked guide.

Of course, as well as skill points, you'll also be unlocking the eponymous Donkey Kong Bananza transformations – temporary animal forms that provide unique abilities, from immense punching strength to rapid sprinting that lets you cross certain treacherous terrain types. Each Bananza has its own set of skills too, and I've also covered which of those are best in the skills guide linked above.

Donkey Kong Bananza Kong Bananza — (Image credit: Nintendo)

So, with skills, Bananzas, and even outfits for DK and Pauline all mixing with environmental hazards and special terrain types, there are so many small systems that you need to bear in mind. Because of that, it's a good idea to look at my general Donkey Kong Bananza tips to see what really matters when you're playing, helping you have a much smoother time – I cannot stress how useful it is to unlock Getaways and buy Red Balloons! And there's also no shame in turning on the Donkey Kong Bananza Assist Mode, which you can do at any time. With constant objective markers, you'll rarely get lost and several improvements to DK's health means he's a much more durable ape.

How long to beat?

Donkey Kong Bananza DK screaming as the purple rock comes to life — (Image credit: Nintendo)

If you're wondering how long it takes to complete Donkey Kong Bananza, the answer is going to depend entirely on how much collectible hunting you do.

As you venture down the sublayers, you'll come across a few novel ones that don't quite behave like the standard, mostly linear ones. The Divide is the best example as it presents you with the Donkey Kong Bananza Divide choice, letting you choose whether to head to the Freezer or Forest layer next. It's ultimately a relatively inconsequential choice, but knowing what's in store at each layer can be helpful. Later, you'll reach the relaxing Resort Layer where you can find the Collectone that allows you to scan amiibo figures for Donkey Kong Bananza amiibo unlocks. But, I'll be honest, most of them aren't very exciting.

Plunge through the rest of the layers and you'll eventually reach the end of DK and Pauline's epic journey down to the core of the planet. Except it's not really the end as there's a whole Donkey Kong Bananza post game quest to complete if you want the truest of endings for the game. Be warned that this requires you to collect a lot of bananas, so it's quite a commitment if you haven't already been searching thoroughly, but I can lead you through the whole process with my guide to round of DK's adventure.