Summary
Announced during the June 18 Nintendo Direct showcase,Donkey Kong Country Returns HDwill be coming to Nintendo Switch on July 13, 2025. Retro Studios revived theDonkey Kong Countryseries withReturnsin 2010, but as exciting as this may be, it wasn’t quite the announcement fans were expecting. The community has been waiting for years for Nintendo to produce an originalDonkey Kongtitle for the Switch, as it remains the only Nintendo home console without one. Regardless, the remastered Wii game has plenty to offer as a re-release, including enhanced graphics and extra levels.
The first-ever spin-off game tied to the popularSuper Mariocharacter wasDonkey Kong, a 1981 arcade game originally released on the Atari 2600 before eventually branching out to the NES, Nintendo 64, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and the since-defunct Wii Virtual Console catalog.Donkey Kong Jr.was released in 1982 as a direct sequel, followed byDonkey Kong 3.In 2010, Nintendo released one of its most acclaimed spin-off games,Donkey Kong Country Returnsfor the Wii. Four years later, it was succeeded by a sequel titledDonkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. After becoming such a huge hit with fans all those years ago, theDonkey Kong Countryseries even hasan expansion coming to Super Nintendo Worldat Universal Studios.
As part of the June Nintendo Direct, an HD version of the game calledDonkey Kong Country Returns HDwas revealed to be coming to the Nintendo Switch in 2025. Not only has it undergone some major enhancements, but it will also include all bonus levels from the Nintendo 3DS port,Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, for a total of 80 levels overall.Donkey Kong Country Returnsis undoubtedly one ofthe best Donkey Kong games, chronicling the adventures of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong as they traverse Donkey Kong Island to steal back their banana stash from the Tiki Tak Tribe. As in the original, players will be able to enjoy the game solo or in co-op mode, choosing to play as either Donkey or Diddy Kong.
Donkey Kong Country Returns Offers Local Co-Op To Play As Both Donkey And Diddy Kong
Following Microsoft’s acquisition of Rare, the game’s original developer, theDonkey Kongseries became less prominent over time, often overshadowed bythe belovedSuper Mariofranchise.Donkey Kong Country Returnswas kept under wraps throughout its development, but fans had their suspicions even before the title was announced at Nintendo’s E3 conference in June 2010. The project had been a labor of love from the very beginning, claimed designer Tom Ivey inan interview, explaining that the crew had to work overnight during the game’s final stages, while producer Kensuke Tanabe had to take some time off due to severe back pain.
All the hardships seem to have paid off, asDonkey Kong Country Returns HDis scheduled for release in January 2025. From manic mine carts to high-flying rocket barrels and even an eager rhinoceros mount, there are plenty of transportation methods to help track down the Tiki Tak Tribe. Players should get ready topass the controller to a friend for local co-opand utilize the powers of Donkey and Diddy Kong against the hypnotized wildlife and the tribe’s mischievous hordes.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Take off with a barrel-blasting adventure!Help DK and Diddy Kong recover their precious banana hoard from the villainous Tiki Tak Tribe in this visually enhanced version of the Wii™ game. Stomp enemies, blast through barrels, and ride rockets, minecarts, and even Rambi the Rhino in 80 levels across nine worlds, including the additional levels from the Nintendo 3DS™ version. You can even join up with a buddy for two-player local co-op!
Stomp, blast, and roll across Donkey Kong IslandPlatform your way across DK Island’s vibrant and obstacle-filled levels. You’ll be stomping and rolling through environments ranging from jungle to volcano.Swing into action as Donkey KongSome levels will have you swinging on vines, blasting through barrels, or riding things like mine carts, rockets, and Rambi the Rhino.Deal with obstacles and enemies the DK wayExecute moves like Ground Pound, Roll, Blow, and Grab and Cling.Work together to find those bananas!Team up with a friend and take on the Tiki Tak Tribe together as DK and Diddy in two-player local co-op. Pelt foes with Diddy’s Peanut Popgun and hover using his Barrel Jet. If you’re playing solo, break open a DK barrel to find Diddy Kong—he’ll take damage instead of DK!Two ways to playPlay the game as it was first designed for the Wii system or reduce the difficulty for extra hearts and other goodies to make your journey a little easier.
