Donkey Kong Bananza reviews appeared on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, one day before the game launched on Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17, 2025. Reporting from the period places the first review on July 16, but the publicly available sources do not establish the exact hour or timezone of any formal embargo.
When the reviews appeared
Nintendo Life reported that Famitsu had already published its first review of Donkey Kong Bananza on July 16, 2025, and that its own review went live later the same day (Nintendo Life). Nintendo’s Spanish-language roundup of media opinions is also dated July 16, 2025, which independently places review coverage on that day (Nintendo).
Key dates at a glance
| Item | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Game announced as coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17 | June 18, 2025 | Nintendo announcement |
| First review reported (Famitsu) | July 16, 2025 | Nintendo Life |
| Nintendo review roundup | July 16, 2025 | Nintendo (Spain) |
| Release date | July 17, 2025 | Nintendo UK product page |
What is and is not established about the embargo
The date is well supported. The embargo hour is not. Readers should separate three claims:
- Established: reviews were public on July 16, 2025, one day before launch.
- Established: the release date was July 17, 2025, and the game was announced as exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2.
- Not established: the exact time at which Nintendo’s review embargo lifted, and the timezone it was set in.
A TechRadar review listing shows a July 16 timestamp of 12:00 UTC (TechRadar). That is one outlet’s page timestamp, not a copy of Nintendo’s embargo terms, so it should not be presented as the official lift time. Publication times on individual sites also depend on when each outlet pressed publish and in which region it was operating.
#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
Launch-week review context
Famitsu’s four reviewers scored the game 9, 10, 9, and 10, for a total of 38 out of 40, as reported by Nintendo Life on July 16, 2025 (Nintendo Life). These are Famitsu’s scores at that time and reflect a single outlet’s review panel, not an aggregate across the press.
Nintendo describes the game as a 3D platforming adventure starring Donkey Kong and Pauline, with solo and local co-op play (Nintendo).
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 Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush Standard - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51qtRWiIToL._SL160_.jpg)
- Full version of game required to use DLC. Sold separately.
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.
How to check a review date yourself
- Open the outlet’s review page and look for the published timestamp, which usually appears under the headline or in the article metadata.
- Compare it with the date shown on the publisher’s own roundup or news post, such as Nintendo’s roundup linked above.
- Treat a single outlet’s timestamp as that outlet’s publication time only. Do not treat it as a publisher-wide embargo rule.
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