Nintendo’s upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza promises to be one of the most heartwarming and high-energy Switch 2 releases. With lush environments, slapstick platforming, and a kinetic energy that both honors and reinvents the legacy of Donkey Kong games, this jungle romp is packed with classic charm and modern polish. Nintendo is positioning Donkey Kong Bananza to be a standout title, and the recent Bananza Direct presentation solidified the excitement surrounding it by revealing more details about the game.
One notable reveal from the recent Bananza Direct confirmed Donkey Kong’s sidekick to be a young Pauline. More than just a charming design choice, the duo of Donkey Kong and young Pauline brings a surprisingly emotional loop full circle, one that connects Donkey Kong to Wreck-It Ralph.
Donkey Kong Bananza Confirms Return of 2 Fan Favorite Characters
The upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza will feature at least two fan favorite characters from the franchise's past besides Donkey Kong himself.
Donkey Kong, Meet Disney—Again
When Wreck-It Ralph hit theaters in 2012, it was immediately recognized as a nostalgic homage to the golden age of arcade gaming. Ralph, the misunderstood "bad guy" of a fictional game, was a clear stand-in for Donkey Kong, a misunderstood figure who looms over a construction site and flings destruction down on the good guy. That good guy, Fix-It Felix, mirrored Mario’s original role in the 1981 Donkey Kong arcade game.
The twist in Wreck-It Ralph was the story’s emotional depth and clever subversion. Ralph wasn’t the villain—he was just written that way. His arc of personal growth, redemption, and unexpected friendship with Vanellope von Schweetz painted a fresh picture of what video game protagonists could be. It was, in many ways, a reclamation of empathy for the classic arcade boss.
More than a decade later, Donkey Kong Bananza is doing something similar, but from Nintendo’s side of the screen. With a new take on Pauline and a gentler, more charismatic Kong, Nintendo appears ready to explore its own revision of the relationship that defined early gaming.
Pauline and Donkey Kong: From Damsel in Distress to Dynamic Duo
In the original Donkey Kong arcade game, Pauline was a stereotypical damsel in distress: an early entry into the long video game tradition of female characters waiting at the end of a level for heroes to arrive. She had no dialogue, no agency, and no real role beyond being the objective. In the years since, Pauline has undergone one of the most satisfying glow-ups in Nintendo history. Super Mario Odyssey reintroduced her as the stylish, commanding mayor of New Donk City and a jazz-singing powerhouse who felt right at home in a modern metropolis.
Bananza, however, offers something different: a glimpse into her past. This younger Pauline is a co-op partner who contributes to her own rescue. She’s not a figure to be saved, but a friend to team up with. Whether she’s using her voice to help navigate a level or solving puzzles alongside Donkey Kong, Pauline's role in the upcoming game is one of active partnership. It’s not just a rebranding—it’s a reclamation. And it’s a dynamic that recalls the heart of Wreck-It Ralph’s charm: two very different characters learning to trust, grow, and fight side by side. The young Pauline of Bananza might not have inspired Vanellope, but she embodies that same blend of independence and heart.
A Sweet Twist of Nostalgia
The brilliance of this setup lies in how it nods to the past without being shackled by it. Players who’ve grown up with Donkey Kong may remember Pauline as little more than a footnote. But Bananza treats her with the reverence and depth of a main character, something she’s more than earned after decades in the shadows. Her youthful redesign and expanded role point to Nintendo’s growing interest in fleshing out the personalities and timelines of its once-static characters. This nostalgia is exactly what Wreck-It-Ralph thrived on.
At the same time, Donkey Kong’s evolution continues just like Ralph’s. Once framed as a villain, he’s gradually grown into a lovable, goofy, and even sympathetic character. The Kong of Bananza seems more expressive than ever in a new art style, and the bond he shares with Pauline only highlights how much he’s grown from barrel-chucking rage to banana-munching hero. Together, the two signal a tonal shift toward character-driven storytelling that still maintains the series’ trademark wackiness.
Donkey Kong Bananza is the Best of Both Worlds From the Nintendo Switch Era
At the start of the Nintendo Switch 2 era of games, Donkey Kong Bananza might take inspiration from some surprising past successes.
Bananza's Emotional Payoff Goes Beyond Bananas
Pauline and Donkey Kong’s new relationship arc isn’t just a gimmick. It’s part of a larger trend within Nintendo of revisiting its IPs with more emotional depth. Whether it’s Luigi’s nervous heroism in the Luigi’s Mansion series, Bowser’s dad energy in Bowser’s Fury, or Donkey Kong’s unlikely tenderness, Nintendo seems interested in letting its characters be more than mascots. They can have interiority, complexity, and even growth. And in the case of Bananza, that growth feels especially poignant. Donkey Kong and Pauline have come a long way since the early '80s. They’ve shed the limitations of their original roles, villain and victim, and have become something else entirely. Something better.
The Full-Circle Moment Fans Didn’t Know They Needed
There’s something poetic in the way Donkey Kong Bananza brings a narrative arc to completion. Decades ago, Donkey Kong and Pauline helped launch an entire genre. Their story was one of conflict. But now, as they climb together instead of apart, the game feels like an emotional response to its own history. And through that lens, Bananza quietly ties back to Wreck-It Ralph, a film that once reimagined Donkey Kong’s world with empathy and humor. Now, Nintendo is doing the same, giving players the chance to experience their own version of Ralph and Vanellope in a Switch-exclusive title. Only this time, the characters aren’t proxies. They’re the originals, fully realized at last.
Donkey Kong Bananza
- Released
- July 17, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
WHERE TO PLAY
The big guy is back! Donkey Kong swings onto the Nintendo Switch 2 system with a brand-new action adventure.
Help Donkey Kong make his way through the depths of the Underground World. The deeper he goes, the more amazing places he finds! There's no shortage of things DK can pulverize with his powerful punches. Break on through this truly destructive adventure.
Behold the golden bananas! The mysterious group, known
as VoidCo, has its eyes on this
prized bunch. But no one messes with DK's favourite food!
Golden bananas? The whole island was buzzing about the discovery of this tasty treasure. But then, distaster struck! During the chaos, VoidCo stole every breathtaking bunch of bananas. Now Donkey Kong must venture deep underground to get them back!
