Donkey Kong Bananza has 17 named Layers in its base game. That count includes Ingot Isle, the starting area. Smaller sublayers are part of those environments and are not additional named Layers.
All 17 base-game Layers, in order
- Ingot Isle
- Lagoon Layer
- Hilltop Layer
- Canyon Layer
- The Divide
- Freezer Layer
- Forest Layer
- The Junction
- Resort Layer
- Tempest Layer
- Landfill Layer
- Racing Layer
- Radiance Layer
- Groove Layer
- Feast Layer
- Forbidden Layer
- Planet Core
Nintendo Life’s guide counts these 17 areas, starting with Ingot Isle and ending with Planet Core. Its sublayer labels run from SL10 to SL1600; those identifiers describe sublayers, not extra named Layers. (Nintendo Life’s Layers and sublayers guide)
What counts as a Layer?
Nintendo describes the Underground World as a series of distinct environments. Powerful enemies guard routes between them, and defeating those enemies opens giant sinkholes to lower Layers. The named Layers are therefore the major environments—not every numbered sublayer within them. (Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Bananza overview)
In a developer interview, art director Daisuke Watanabe said the team wanted each Layer to have its own “unique world and flavour.” That description fits the named-area count rather than treating each sublayer as a separate world. (Nintendo’s developer interview)
#1 Best Overall
- Explore a vast underground world—by smashing your way through it!
- A brand-new 3D platforming action adventure starring Donkey Kong and Pauline
- Bash through just about anything in groundbreaking exploration! Crash through walls and carve tunnels—the more you smash, the more areas open up to you
- Pair up with Pauline to use Bananza Transformations: smash through obstacles with the raw strength of Kong form, gallop with incredible speed as a Zebra, and more
- Team up with a friend in two-player co-op as Donkey Kong and Pauline! Blast foes and terrain alike with Pauline’s voice as you explore together
Does the DLC add another Layer?
Yes. Nintendo Support identifies DK Island & Emerald Rush as DLC and says that, after completing the game, players can visit DK Island “as its own Layer.” It is a post-completion DLC area, separate from the 17 named Layers in the base-game list. (Nintendo Support: DK Island & Emerald Rush)
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Explore a vast underground world—by smashing your way through it!
- A brand-new 3D platforming action adventure starring Donkey Kong and Pauline
Rank #4
- Donkey Kong, diddy Kong, dixie Kong and cranky Kong return for the franchise's debut on the Nintendo Switch system!
- This title includes all the fun and challenge of the original game, plus a brand-new mode that lets new and novice
- Players Enjoy this critically acclaimed adventure as Groovy surfing simian funky Kong.
- Funky Kong can double jump, hover, perform Infinite rolls and even perform Infinite underwater corkscrews.
- Thanks to his sturdy surfboard, even spikes can't slow him down.
Rank #3
![Donkey Kong Bananza Standard - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Xv8olm5RL._SL160_.jpg)
- Uncover a wide variety of environments, like forest, canyon, and lagoon, as you delve underground
- Reshape the world as you tear through it, with the help of…an Odd Rock?
Rank #2
- Embark on a brand-new Donkey Kong adventure exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2.
- Explore the Underground World with dynamic environments and hidden secrets.
- Battle VoidCo and its minions using DK’s signature strength and powerful punches.
- Team up with a mysterious new companion with unique gameplay abilities.
- Recover the Golden Bananas across thrilling, action-packed levels.
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