When Donkey Kong Bananza first launched, its energetic platforming and creative mechanics instantly cemented it as one of Nintendo’s best new-era titles. With the release of its DK Island and Emerald Rush DLC, the developers clearly wanted to offer both a heartfelt nod to the past and something fresh for players who can’t get enough of the DK’s brawny adventures.

The results are mixed, but ultimately rewarding, especially for anyone who wants another excuse to keep rolling, pounding, and surfing through the jungle.

Welcome back to DK Island

DK Island is precisely the kind of post-game content we were hoping for after finishing Bananza’s main campaign. And, at first glance, DK Island delivers. Its jungles and sun-soaked beaches feel like they are lifted straight from the SNES classics with an HD facelift.

You can take your time and explore things around the island like the wreckage of King K. Rool’s Gangplank Galleon, climbing the giant stone DK face embedded into the cliffs, and riding through minecart tunnels filled with easter eggs that all strike that perfect nostalgic chord.

Credit: Nintendo

Regrettably, this trip down memory lane is short-lived.  Once the sightseeing ends, it becomes clear there isn’t much to do here. The island has no Banandium Gems to collect, and the handful of challenge rooms are recycled from the main game. For the price point, it feels disappointing, especially when games like Super Mario Odyssey’s Mushroom Kingdom gave players fresh moons and secrets to uncover.

Still, what DK Island lacks in substance, it almost makes up for in atmosphere. It’s a lovingly crafted backdrop that shines brightest when paired with the DLC’s real star: Emerald Rush.

Emerald Rush: The Banana Roguelike We Didn’t Know We Needed

Emerald Rush is where the DLC truly swings into action. Nintendo has taken a bold leap by infusing Donkey Kong’s world with roguelike elements. For a game that doesn’t seem to fit the roguelike category, it works surprisingly well.

The premise is simple: DK gets roped into working for the villainous Void Kong and his company, Void Co., tasked with mining newly discovered emeralds. Each Emerald Rush run plays out as a series of rounds where you must smash, surf, and roll your way through destructible environments to meet your emerald quota before the timer runs out.

Credit: Nintendo

You start every run with no skills earned from the main campaign. As you progress, you earn Banana Chips and complete missions from Void Kong that might ask you to defeat certain enemies, surf a set distance, or even high-five Cranky Kong. These contracts reward you with new upgrades, letting you rebuild DK’s power set on the fly.

The roguelike design fits DK’s fast, physical playstyle perfectly. Each run is a chaotic mix of destruction and discovery, forcing quick decision-making as you choose between three potential upgrades to increase emerald yields, boost damage from a specific Bananza form, or enhance treasure-finding abilities. It’s an addictive gameplay loop that highlights everything great about Bananza’s core mechanics.

Rewarding the Faithful

What makes Emerald Rush so compelling is how it transforms familiar environments into strategic battlegrounds. As the difficulty ramps up, emeralds and objectives scatter farther apart, and each new mission feels like a mini-puzzle wrapped in mayhem.

The tension of barely scraping through a round, watching your emerald quota drain as enemies close in, is exhilarating. And the persistent progression system via the Void Co. employee keeps you coming back for more. Levelling up unlocks new perks, costumes, and tougher difficulty tiers, giving you more reasons to keep coming back.

Credit: Nintendo

It’s all in the design that gives long-time players a reason to come back. Even if DK Island feels like a missed opportunity, Emerald Rush can justify the DLC’s price tag for fans of this genre.

Final Thoughts

DK Island and Emerald Rush are a must-have for fans of the Retro series and those who love rogue-like challenges. DK Island offers the nostalgia trip we have been craving for so long, but lacks any meaningful gameplay elements to make it truly memorable. Emerald Rush, on the other hand, is a bold move that breathes new life into Donkey Kong Bananza, combining satisfying movement and tactile destruction with roguelike madness.

It’s not the perfect expansion, but it ensures Donkey Kong, as both a character and franchise, remains at the forefront of Nintendo’s platforming legacy. After all, few things are as satisfying as watching the big ape smash his way through chaos—and now, he finally has infinite reasons to keep doing it.


THREE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)

Highlights: Nostalgia overload; Rogue-like gameplay will please fans of this genre
Lowlights: Lack of content; No banana gems to find
Developer: Nintendo EPD
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2
Available: Now

Review conducted on Nintendo Switch 2 with a code provided by the publisher.

Featured header image also provided by the publisher.