Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush is a beautiful and nostalgic piece of DLC, but one with fun that is short-lived and offers little depth to the 10/10 masterpiece that is the base game. Only the biggest of Bananza fans will find their money’s worth in this inessential experience.
Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush2025
Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush
2025 Nintendo69Worthwhile
Playtime
ModerateIt typically takes about 12 hours to finish the game.
Playable on
Game modes
- 2 players
- 2 players
Details
- Launch
- September 12, 2025
- Developer
- Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 8
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Themes
Overview
Sightsee across this modern take on Donkey Kong’s home, packed with nostalgic views like DK’s Treehouse, Gangplank Galleon, and other iconic locations. Take in-game photos with familiar friends Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, Cranky Kong, and Rambi, and Squawks, and decorate DK Island with DLC-exclusive character statues that you can obtain with Banandium Chips. You might even find some hidden bonus stages among the mine cart tracks and jungle ruins!
Screenshots
Reception
Press69
Worthwhile- Metacritic67from 22 reviews
- OpenCritic73from 11 reviews
DK Island may be lacking in substance but is filled with nostalgic bliss. I also found myself quickly addicted to the Emerald Rush mode and had a blast learning and strategizing along the way. While there are a few minor issues I still think it's a solid addition to the base Bananza game and I highly recommend it to people that are in love with the...
Rougelite attempts are divisive by nature, but if you are the kind of player who enjoys this absolutely fine, then you will have a blast here. It also showcases the best parts of Donkey Kong Bananza in small pick-up-and-play chunks. The itching feeling that the location should have been included in the base game rarely goes away, however, especially...
Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush is another step forward for Nintendo in the world of DLCs, but it stumbles, perhaps, due to its "inexperience" in the field
Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island + Emerald Rush is a DLC expansion that revisits familiar DK settings while introducing a more intense, roguelike-style “Emerald Rush” mode. The island exploration feels nostalgic but doesn’t always offer deep surprises, whereas the timed Emerald challenges bring tension, replay value, and strategic upgrade choices. The...