Donkey Kong Bananza will put a smile on your face | hands-on gameplay

There’s something joyful about the smash and jump movement of Donkey Kong, and that’s why Donkey Kong Bananza is likely to be a big hit on the Switch 2.

The game is a 3D platforming action adventure that will be available exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo announced yesterday that the Switch 2 will debut on June 5 for $450, with games that can cost as much as $80.

I had a chance to play Donkey Kong Bananza hands-on with the Switch 2 at Nintendo’s reveal event in New York yesterday. Donkey Kong Bananza was the final game in the line-up of Switch 2 machines. And it was a good way to end because the 15-minute demo had me learning how to smash in different directions — up, down, sideways and while jumping into ground-pound actions.

In the game, you play Donkey Kong as he makes his way through an underground world. He constantly finds gold mines and big bananas. By smashing them with his fists, he sends them flying and collects treasures. The sounds of pulverized stone and glass is great, and monkeys pass along humorous messages as he stops and figures out where he has to go next. There’s nothing cerebral about this game. It’s just pure mayhem, a game that is fun because you’re constantly smashing things.

The game debuts on July 17 for $70.

Disclosure: Nintendo paid my way to New York.