Nintendo has surprised fans with Bananza, a brand-new DLC for Donkey Kong that turns the classic platformer into a full-fledged roguelike. Available immediately on the Nintendo eShop, Bananza remixes the familiar barrel-blasting formula with procedurally generated stages, permadeath, and persistent upgrades—giving veterans a fresh challenge and newcomers an approachable entry point.
DLC Out Now: Price, Platforms, and How to Install
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED
- Availability: Live today worldwide (regional eShop refresh times may vary)
- Price: Check your local eShop for regional pricing; some territories offer a limited-time launch discount
- Requirements: Base game ownership, latest software update, stable Wi-Fi, and free storage space
How to Install:
- Update your console: System Settings > System > System Update.
- Visit the eShop, search “Donkey Kong Bananza,” and open the DLC page.
- Purchase and download the add-on.
- Restart the game if the new mode doesn’t appear right away.
What Bananza Changes: Procedural Stages and Persistent Progression
Bananza transforms each run into a new jungle expedition:
- Procedural Generation: Shuffled stage chunks, hazards, and bonus rooms for endless variety.
- Dynamic Objectives: Mid-run twists like escort missions or timed survival segments.
- Run-Specific Relics: Temporary power-ups create unique synergies every attempt.
- Permadeath: One slip ends the run, but…
- Persistent Upgrades: Earned resources unlock new starting kits, relic pools, and difficulty modifiers to push further next time.
Expert Early-Run Tips
Character Choice:
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- Donkey Kong – Balanced power and knockback for tight spaces.
- Diddy – Mobility king; perfect for hazard-heavy levels.
- Dixie – Hover and airtime control for vertical arenas.
- Funky – Banana multipliers and discounts for economic snowballing.
- Banana Management: Keep a 60–80 reserve for healing or rerolls. Spend on survivability first, scaling second.
- Synergy Examples: Freeze-on-hit + shatter for elite control; crit chance + on-crit damage for exponential scaling.
Performance and Value Check
Testing shows solid performance:
- Docked: Consistent frame pacing even in hectic barrel and enemy clusters.
- Handheld: Clean visuals, responsive controls, and quick reloads (3.5–5 hours battery life).
- Load Times: Fast restarts keep failed runs from stalling momentum.
Should You Jump In?
Buy Now If… you enjoy roguelikes, leaderboard chasing, and dynamic difficulty.
Wait If… you prefer story-driven content, want a sale, or plan to gauge post-launch balance tweaks.
Bananza represents one of Donkey Kong’s boldest experiments, reshaping the jungle’s rhythm into a high-stakes, run-based adventure. For players eager to test their reflexes and strategy in a familiar yet unpredictable world, this DLC is a worthwhile swing through uncharted vines.
