Donkey Kong Bananza Debuts at #1 in Charts Amid Critical Praise

Donkey Kong's latest adventure is off to a smashing start – both in sales and in reviews. In its debut week, Donkey Kong Bananza launched straight in at No.1 on the UK sales charts, making it the top-selling game in one of Europe's biggest gaming markets. According to UK industry reporter Christopher Dring, Bananza's launch sales were three times larger than the debut of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (the previous DK title on Switch).

That's an impressive increase, showing that the hype for a new 3D Donkey Kong platformer has translated into real commercial success. It's even more notable considering the Nintendo Switch 2 itself is still relatively new – Tropical Freeze's comparison point was on a system with an established install base, whereas Bananza is leading the charge on Switch 2.

Strong Sales Performance

In fact, Bananza's opening also outperformed recent Switch 2 launch titles, proving DK still has plenty of star power. It's not all bananas and roses, though: Bananza's sales, while excellent for Donkey Kong, were roughly half of what Super Mario Odyssey achieved at launch. Super Mario Odyssey was a phenomenon on the original Switch, and it benefited from a much larger audience at the time.

Bananza's slightly more modest start (compared to Mario) likely reflects the smaller current install base of the Switch 2, as well as Donkey Kong being a beloved but slightly more niche franchise than Mario. Still, landing at #1 with such a strong multiplier over DK's last outing is a big win for Nintendo. The hope is that Bananza will have "long tail" sales that continue to grow as more people pick up a Switch 2.

Critical Acclaim Across the Board

Speaking of critical reception: at the time of its launch, Donkey Kong Bananza is enjoying rave reviews across the board. It currently holds a 90/100 average on Metacritic, indicating widespread acclaim from critics. For context, that score positions Bananza as one of the best-reviewed games of 2025 so far. Many reviewers are celebrating Bananza as a triumphant return to 3D platforming for DK – his first true 3D adventure in decades – and some are even saying it was worth the long wait.

Nintendo Life's own 9/10 review called it "an almighty re-introduction to the world of 3D platforming for DK" and heralded Bananza as "arguably the Switch 2's first absolute must-play." In other words, if you own a Switch 2, this is the killer app you've been waiting for.

Perfect Scores and High Praise

Major gaming outlets are similarly enthusiastic. IGN awarded Donkey Kong Bananza a rare perfect 10/10, praising it as "a truly groundbreaking 3D platformer" and Nintendo's first Switch 2 masterpiece. The IGN review highlighted how bold and successful it was for Nintendo to build the Switch 2's flagship platformer around Donkey Kong instead of Mario, noting that DK's unique moveset and the game's ambitious destructible world combine to create an experience that "never runs out of smart ideas."

Likewise, Siliconera gave Bananza a 10/10, calling it "a constant series of pleasant surprises" and emphasizing that it "shows exactly what the Switch 2 can handle." (That last point is a nod to Bananza's impressive technical feats – the game keeps a steady performance even as you're blowing up half the level, demonstrating the Switch 2's power).

Measured but Positive Reviews

Other outlets have been only slightly more tempered in their excitement. VideoGamesChronicle (VGC) rated it 4/5, complimenting Bananza's heart and entertainment value but commenting that it "falls short of Odyssey's genius" (Odyssey being the high bar of modern platformers). In their view, Bananza is still a "top-tier platformer" and "DK's most memorable adventure in a while," even if it doesn't quite dethrone Mario's masterpiece.

GameSpot came in with a 9/10, lauding the game's fresh take on DK's strengths – "the focus on destructibility captures what makes DK different" – and its unexpected emotional depth in the DK-Pauline pairing. GameSpot's review did point out a few rough edges, like some camera issues and minor performance hiccups, but ultimately concluded that Bananza is an excellent game and a worthy addition to Nintendo's lineup.

Over at Eurogamer, the verdict was similarly positive with a 4/5 stars: they called Bananza "one of DK's best" outings, even if it "occasionally gets a bit lost" amidst all the chaos of its destruction mechanics.

What Critics Love Most

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from all these reviews is that Bananza successfully delivers on its ambitious premise. Turning a beloved side-scrolling series into a full 3D sandbox was a risky move, but it paid off. Critics universally praise the fully destructible environments and how they encourage creativity and exploration. The partnership with Pauline is another highlight – her presence adds both gameplay variety and a charming story dynamic.

And while a few critics noted that the game doesn't totally escape some classic platformer pitfalls (like occasionally repetitive combat or a camera that needs manual adjustment in tight spaces), those issues seem minor in the face of how much fun Bananza is overall. Eurogamer summed it up well: even with some quibbles, Bananza earns a "hearty recommendation" and stands as the new high bar for Donkey Kong adventures outside the 2D Country series.

Looking Forward

From a broader perspective, Donkey Kong Bananza's strong launch and reception bode well for the Switch 2. With The Legend of Zelda: TOTK2 and now Bananza, Nintendo's new console is building a library of hits. Fans who might have been on the fence about the Switch 2 are seeing Bananza as a compelling reason to jump in.

The combination of chart-topping sales and critical acclaim suggests that DK's latest outing could have the momentum to be a Game of the Year contender and a long-term success. Some optimistic fans and journalists are already speculating: could Donkey Kong Bananza mark the true revival of DK as a front-line Nintendo franchise, on par with Mario and Zelda?

It's too early to tell, but for now, Donkey Kong is undeniably back in the spotlight – and he's smashing expectations in every sense of the word.