Donkey Kong Country Returns HD review

• Available on Nintendo Switch
• Released on 16 January 2025
• Developed and published by Nintendo

If there’s one thing that always feels right, it’s diving back into some Donkey Kong Country. And now, Donkey Kong Country Returns is back once again, this time with a shiny HD upgrade for the Nintendo Switch. Sure, it’s not quite the dream SNES remaster we’re all secretly hoping for, but there’s still plenty to enjoy here. That is, if you’re ready to deal with a bit of old-school clunk.

This isn’t the first time the game’s been dusted off. Originally released on the Wii, then later reworked for the 3DS, this new HD version is definitely the best-looking yet. The environments are bold, colorful, and full of personality. It pops beautifully on the Switch, making each side-scrolling level feel vibrant and lively.

Never played it before? Expect all the series staples: barrel-blasting, minecart mayhem, and lots of banana collecting. There’s plenty of nostalgic charm here, echoing back to the SNES days with some fun twists. But it’s not all smooth swinging.

The controls are where things start to wobble. Donkey Kong’s movement feels a bit floaty, which makes precision platforming trickier than it should be. Whether you’re bouncing on enemy heads or timing a minecart jump, it takes a while to get used to how DK handles. Until you do, expect some frustrating slip-ups.

To be fair, this isn’t unusual for 2D platformers, but the imprecise feel can make certain moments more difficult than they need to be. It’s a bit of a shame, considering how joyful everything else is: the levels are packed with energy, the visuals are bright and beautiful, and the design is clearly full of heart.

Once the controls click, though, there’s a lot of fun to be had. The game boasts 80 levels in total, including a handful originally made for the 3DS version that have also been remastered here. There’s plenty of replay value, too. Completionists will enjoy hunting for puzzle pieces, collecting the K-O-N-G letters, and uncovering hidden secrets. It’s a game that rewards exploration and encourages multiple runs.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD might not reinvent the banana wheel, but it’s a solid, cheerful platformer that fans of the series will still love. The controls could be tighter, sure, but there’s enough charm and challenge here to make it a welcome addition to the Switch’s platforming lineup.