Summary
- Donkey Kong Bananza's gameplay is a departure from past titles, focusing on platforming in the Underground World.
- Wario's character traits and gameplay mechanics would make him a more fitting protagonist than Donkey Kong.
- The community believes that a Wario Land revival could have been a better choice for the Switch 2, given Wario's popularity and gaming legacy.
The recent Nintendo Direct for the Switch 2 revealed Donkey Kong Bananza, a 3D platformer that calls back to Donkey Kong's adventure on the Nintendo 64. After a series of spin-offs and Rare-developed 2D platformers, Donkey Kong Bananza gives the reins back to Nintendo, but some fans feel like it may be too much of a departure from the series’ past.
As well as Donkey Kong’s controversial redesign, the gameplay style is completely different from past games in the series. Players will still be platforming their way through familiar locations, but the main focus of this title is to dig through the depths of the Underground World. With all of these changes, some fans believe that the gameplay shown has more in common with Super Mario Odyssey than Donkey Kong. Considering this, there may be another character in the Mario series that could fit this concept better.
Related Link
Some fans think that another classic character could appear in Donkey Kong Bananza following a clue in a recent promotional video clip.
Why Wario Should’ve Been Donkey Kong Bananza’s Star
Nintendo’s Notorious Gold Digger
Donkey Kong Bananza sees the titular ape trying to add golden bananas to his horde, but searching for gold and treasure has always been a hallmark of Wario’s gameplay. Despite being rarely seen outside the WarioWare series and Mario’s party and sporting spin-offs, Wario’s greed is a core part of his personality that can never truly be satisfied. Even the recent WarioWare: Move It alluded to Wario’s treasure-hunting tendencies by having him attempt to steal ancient gold while on vacation. The wealth of gold seen in Donkey Kong Bananza’s Ingot Isle would undoubtedly have been a very tempting spot for Wario to visit.
While some fans are interested in this portrayal of Donkey Kong, there is some conflict in the community. In particular, there is ongoing controversy about Donkey Kong’s new design, but his characterization has also changed somewhat to fit this game. In previous games, he would often be seen lazing around his tree house unless the DK Isles or his prized banana horde were threatened. This isn’t the case in Donkey Kong Bananza, as Donkey Kong actively goes on an expedition to mine for Banandium. While not completely unrealistic, this would seem more in line with Wario, a character known for going to great lengths for gold.
Nothing Can Stop Wario's Treasure-Hunting Habits
The aggressive gameplay of tearing up the terrain is nothing new for Wario. Wario Land: Shake It was centered around destruction, slamming, breaking, and shaking aspects of the environment to secure as much loot as possible. Donkey Kong Bananza's fully destructible environment seems like an evolution of these mechanics, and Wario seems like the perfect match. If Wario knew there was something of value nearby, not even the ground beneath him would be an obstacle.
Wario’s strength is what has always set the Wario Land games apart from the Super Mario series, taking emphasis away from jumping to focus on high speeds, high damage, and high scores. Switching Donkey Kong Bananza’s protagonist to Wario may have been the Wario Land revival the series deserves. Though Donkey Kong’s strength does come into play in his past games, especially for beating up bosses, it’s never been as integral to his identity as it is with Wario. Donkey Kong can feel free to lie back knowing his bananas are safe, but Wario will put himself in danger just for a small trinket. He would be more than willing to mine for Banandium with his bare hands, as long as he knew what it's worth.
Even the new combat systems carry the same energy as Wario. Some fans have drawn comparisons between Donkey Kong Bananza and Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat because of his fighting capabilities in both, but the way enemies are engaged with could be more reminiscent of GameCube's Wario World. In this game, players are able to interact with the environment to take down waves of enemies, as well as grab enemies as tools for combat. This fits in well with what has been seen in Donkey Kong Bananza, making the switch to Wario as the protagonist seem that much more fitting.
Donkey Kong Bananza's Super Mario Odyssey Prequel Theory Explained
As Nintendo gears up for the Switch 2, theories have emerged that Donkey Kong Bananza may be a tie-in to Super Mario Odyssey.
Wario Would Be More Fitting Now Than Ever
Donkey Kong may have been Nintendo's choice over Wario because of his popularity. In 2025, the Nintendo Switch united the entire Donkey Kong Country series on one platform, making the mainline story playable from start to finish. The same cannot be said for Wario, though. He is still a much-beloved character by many fans, but aside from the WarioWare series, Nintendo has been unwilling to put him in the spotlight.
However, now could be the perfect time for a Wario resurgence. The Wario Land series has had a niche following for decades, with many asserting that Wario Land 4 was the series’ peak. Nintendo has tried to tide fans over by adding Wario Land 4 to Nintendo Switch Online, but the community may not truly be appeased without a follow-up. As much as Donkey Kong remains popular with Nintendo fans, it may be time to show Wario some love.
Even though the last Wario Land game was released in 2008, the series' influence is still felt in the modern gaming landscape. Antonblast and Pizza Tower share DNA with Wario, and their recent successes indicate that players still yearn for this frenetic gameplay. Some fans of these titles have given the Wario Land games a try for the first time thanks to these games continuing its legacy. Nintendo could have capitalized on this by delivering a true follow-up to the series, bringing the character back to his treasure-hunting roots.
Donkey Kong Bananza seems like a promising new take for the series, but it may feel like a divisive title. There is a chance this division could have been avoided with Mario’s garlic-loving rival at the center instead. The community is clamoring for a new Wario Land with Super Mario Odyssey’s quality, and this may have been Nintendo’s best chance to revive the series for the Switch 2. Nintendo’s acknowledgment of Wario Land 3 and 4 on Nintendo Switch Online could hint that Wario’s future is promising, but the company may have missed out on its golden opportunity.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 91 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- July 17, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
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!
