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No. Donkey Kong Bananza is a new Donkey Kong adventure, not an official sequel to Super Mario Odyssey. The comparison makes sense as a way to describe a new 3D Nintendo platformer, but Nintendo calls Bananza “an all-new 3D platforming game” and presents Donkey Kong and Pauline—not Mario—as its stars. Nintendo’s announcement does not identify it as an Odyssey sequel.
Why the Odyssey comparison comes up
Super Mario Odyssey is a 3D platforming adventure for Nintendo Switch. Nintendo’s official game site identifies it as a Mario game; Donkey Kong Bananza is a separate game built around Donkey Kong and Pauline. Both titles invite a comparison as major 3D platforming adventures, but that resemblance does not establish a shared story, sequel relationship, or identical level design.
Nintendo’s description of Bananza instead emphasizes its own central idea: Donkey Kong smashes through the environment to open more areas to explore. Pauline’s singing can enhance his destructive power and trigger temporary transformations. The focus, then, is not Mario continuing the events of Odyssey, but exploration shaped by Donkey Kong’s ability to break through the world. Nintendo’s product page describes the smash-to-explore premise.
What kind of game is Donkey Kong Bananza?
Nintendo describes Bananza as an all-new 3D platforming adventure set in a vast underground world. The environment is more than scenery: smashing through it opens access to additional areas. That gives the game an exploratory premise, but Nintendo’s official descriptions do not establish that it uses Odyssey’s level structure, controls, or progression system.
#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
Its cast and abilities also distinguish it from an Odyssey follow-up. Donkey Kong is the playable star, while Pauline’s singing supports his destructive abilities and temporary transformations. The official material supports describing Bananza as a 3D platformer with destructible surroundings; it does not support calling it an open-world sequel to Mario’s game.
Where and when can you play it?
Donkey Kong Bananza is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive. Nintendo UK and Nintendo’s investor material give its release date as July 17, 2025. Nintendo UK’s game page lists the platform and release date.
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.
Nintendo’s US store lists a physical edition of the game and a separate digital expansion, DK Island & Emerald Rush. The expansion is not the physical edition of the base game. Retail price, stock, bundles, and the expansion’s current availability can change, so check the store listing for current details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Sequel or spiritual successor?
The accurate answer is that Bananza is neither an officially announced Super Mario Odyssey sequel nor a continuation starring Mario. “Spiritual successor” can work as informal shorthand for a new 3D Nintendo platformer that may interest Odyssey fans, but Nintendo has not used that label in the cited announcement or product listing. The safest comparison is about genre and broad appeal—not a claim that the games share a franchise, structure, or direct creative lineage.
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?
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
