Donkey Kong Bananza is the first 3D Donkey Kong game in over 25 years

To finish off the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct with a big mic drop, Donkey Kong Bananza was revealed, a brand-new 3D platforming action adventure, coming exclusively to the new console.

While speculation continued to grow about a new 3D Mario game announcement as a potential launch title, it’s pretty bloody cool to see everybody’s favourite ape get a 3D platformer, the first for him since Donkey Kong 64 way back in 1999.

In Donkey Kong Bananza, you’ll be able to crash through the environment in some unique ways. The official game description states that you can “explore a vast underground world—by smashing your way through it!” It notes that you can “Bash, throw, and climb through just about anything”, which is shown off in the gameplay trailer, as DK pummels enemies, smashes into the ground, and rips off parts of the terrain to be used as a weapon.

While Donkey Kong has had other platforming adventures in recent years, including Donkey Kong Country Returns and Tropical Freeze, those titles focused on the 2D-HD side-scrolling style of platforming made famous by Donkey Kong Country back on the old SNES. Donkey Kong 64, released in 1999 for the Nintendo 64, was developed by Rare, a team many considered to be masters of their 3D platforming craft after also making Banjo-Kazooie. To see DK return to an adventure of this style is awesome, to say the least.

While it might not be a launch title, it’s coming pretty close around 6 weeks later, giving us a steady cadence of Switch 2 titles to look forward to.

Donkey Kong Bananza will launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17.