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The Radiance Layer contains 76 Banandium Gems across five sub-levels, SL1200 through SL1204. You’ll find them by exploring and uncovering hidden terrain, completing challenge and battle ruins, and taking part in other activities. Nine gems in the guide’s list are post-credits rewards, so the full total is not available during the main story.
How the Radiance Layer gems are organized
Nintendo Life’s Radiance Layer guide divides its 76 gems among SL1200–SL1204 and numbers the entries within that route. The examples below show how the search works; for every numbered entry and map pin, use the complete Radiance Layer location guide.
Not every gem is visible in the environment. Nintendo notes that Banandium Gems can be buried in walls or ground, while challenge ruins can award them for completion. Collecting gems grants Skill Points, which can improve health or power and unlock skills. See Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Bananza page for the official overview of these mechanics.
Early locations in SL1200
- Beneath the White-Sand Landing: Dig below the Shedlight Cave checkpoint.
- Alighted in the Radiance Layer: Find this one at the layer’s arrival point.
- Deep Down in Shedlight Cave: Past a Void Co. lock, dig under the concrete below a pillar at the end of the path.
Ability and activity examples in SL1201
- Shifty Smash: A Thorny Situation: Earned as a challenge reward.
- A Light Snack: Restore sunlight, then take the Light Door down.
- Revealed by the Light: Use Glow Stone on a stand.
- Sitting on a Snake’s Head: Use Snake Bananza and a Charge Jump to reach it.
- Bathing in the Essence of the Sun: Use Elephant Bananza to clear lava.
Challenge courses can award a gem at the midpoint and another for completing the course, so continue past the first reward when possible.
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What to expect in SL1202–SL1204
The remaining sub-levels mix exploration, ability puzzles, battles, challenge courses, and character or shop activities. In SL1202, examples include a gem reached by diving into the sub-level, a battle reward, and a route that uses Snake Bananza to swing along overhead railings. Later entries include terrain puzzles, Growtone rewards for feeding Gold, Cranky Kong interactions, battles, and more challenge-course rewards. Use the full linked guide for each individual route rather than assuming an ability or route from one gem applies to another.
Post-credits gems 21–29
Nine entries in the guide, numbered 21–29, are post-credits Banandium Gems. To start the Bananza Rehearsal that leads to these objectives, the guide says to finish the main story, begin post-credits content, collect at least 600 Banandium Gems, and visit the Snake Elder. The course includes climbing successive “Scale” walls and completing optional challenges. The 600-gem threshold is a guide-reported requirement, not a statistic published on Nintendo’s official page.
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Finding gems you may have missed
When a gem does not appear on the obvious route, search breakable walls and ground, inspect side paths, and revisit challenge or battle ruins. Other recurring sources listed in Nintendo Life’s general guide include Shifty Smash, Cranky Kong, Chip Exchange, Quiztone, Fragmentone, Seekertone, Smashintone, Growtone, and—after the credits—Glamtone. Its Banandium Gem Maps guide says a map identifies a random gem on the current layer. The guide reports that maps can be bought at a Stuff Shop for 1,000 Gold, with the price increasing by 100 for each purchase on that layer, or found in Treasure Chests.
Quick Recap
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- 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
- 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.
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- Recover the Golden Bananas across thrilling, action-packed levels.
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- WARNING: If you have epilepsy or have had seizures or other unusual reactions to flashing lights or patterns, consult a doctor before playing video games. All users should read the Health and Safety Information available in the system settings before using this software. A Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) is required for Save Data Cloud backup. Nintendo.
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