Donkey Kong Bananza

Donkey Kong Bananza won Best Family Game at The Game Awards 2025, a rare prize for a Nintendo release that the jury also shortlisted for Game of the Year. Built by much of the Super Mario Odyssey team, it lets players smash through fully destructible terrain as the gorilla and his new companion Pauline, who sings to unlock transformations. It was the first 3D Donkey Kong platformer in over a quarter century and became the fastest-selling Switch 2 exclusive of 2025, praised for making destruction itself the core mechanic rather than an obstacle to it.

Developer

Nintendo EPD

Nationality

Japan

Released

July 17, 2025

Platform

Nintendo Switch 2

Best Family Game

The Game Awards 2025

Series first

First 3D Donkey Kong platformer since 1999