Donkey Kong Bananza Has Been Under Development Since 2017

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As the anticipated launch of “Donkey Kong Bananza” approaches, its producers Kenta Motokura and director Kazuya Takahashi have disclosed that the game has been under development for a span of eight years. In an exclusive conversation with La Vanguardia (as reported by The Gamer), they shared that they initiated work on this project immediately following the completion of “Super Mario Odyssey” in 2017.

Motukura mentioned, “I’m sorry for any vagueness, but what I can share is that we began working on it following the completion of Super Mario Odyssey in 2017.” For clarification, Super Mario Odyssey was one of the initial games released for the Switch console. This implies that the team behind Donkey Kong Bananza has been involved in two distinct projects, both of which were developed during their respective consoles’ launch years.

The pair additionally discussed some distinct aspects between Super Mario Odyssey and Donkey Kong Bananza. Motokura pointed out that one significant distinction lies in how players engage with the game’s surroundings. In contrast to Mario, who interacts with the world using Cappy, Donkey Kong Bananza utilizes voxel technology to enable Donkey Kong to modify the environment around him.

Takahashi pointed out that the structure of levels between the two games, Super Mario Odyssey and Donkey Kong Bananza, differs significantly. The game developers aimed to make each level in Super Mario Odyssey unique and enjoyable individually. On the other hand, a key focus for Donkey Kong Bananza was on the “destructive element” and the continuous action it creates. For instance, destroying various objects can set off chain reactions that uncover hidden rooms.

In a different role, it felt fitting to distinguish playability too,” said Motokura. “The team spent considerable time discussing and brainstorming unique aspects of Donkey Kong that would set him apart in the game.

During the same conversation, Takahashi reminisced about his past with the Donkey Kong series and shared that he went back to the original games to prepare for his role as director of Donkey Kong Bananza. He mentioned, “I have some really great memories of playing Donkey Kong Jr. and then Donkey Kong Country.” Upon discovering he’d be working on Donkey Kong Bananza, he revisited all the games in the franchise.

Takahashi mentioned Donkey Kong Country, a significant addition to the series due to its innovative visuals that combined 3D graphics with classic 2D side-scrolling gameplay at the time. The game was also known for introducing mechanics now iconic to the Donkey Kong series, such as minecarts and barrel cannons.

As a dedicated fan, I’d like to share some insights about Donkey Kong Country that Takahashi mentioned. This game introduced innovative mechanics such as barrel cannons and minecarts, which truly captivated me. Revisiting these elements was my aim, but I also wanted to infuse a destructive feel into the gameplay experience. This desire led me to blend nostalgic memories with fresh ideas, creating something unique and exciting for fellow fans to enjoy.

I’m pumped! Mark your calendars, fellow gamers, because I’ll be diving into the jungle once again with Donkey Kong Bananza, exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2 starting July 17th. Curious about its roots? Take a peek at how this game was initially conceptualized for the original Switch, before it got an upgrade to run smoothly on the Switch 2.

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2025-07-14 17:41