Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

 Switch
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 99 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: Help Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong recover their precious banana hoard from the villainous Tiki Tak Tribe in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for Nintendo Switch! Stomp enemies, blast through barrels, and ride rockets and mine carts (and even Rambi the rhino) in 80 levels across nine worlds. PlayHelp Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong recover their precious banana hoard from the villainous Tiki Tak Tribe in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for Nintendo Switch! Stomp enemies, blast through barrels, and ride rockets and mine carts (and even Rambi the rhino) in 80 levels across nine worlds. Play the game as it was first designed for Wii, or reduce the difficulty for extra hearts and other goodies to make your journey a little easier. This barrel-blasting adventure is visually enhanced in HD for Nintendo Switch and includes the extra levels from the Nintendo 3DS version! Team up with a friend and take on the whole game as Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. Pass a Joy-Con controller to a buddy and take on the Tiki Tak Tribe as DK and Diddy in two-player local play. Pelt foes with Diddy’s Peanut Popgun and hover using his Barrel Jet, and slam bad guys into submission with DK’s Ground Pound – or just Barrel Roll right through them. Work together to reclaim those bananas by the bunch. [Nintendo]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 75 out of 99
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 99
  3. Negative: 0 out of 99
  1. Vgames
    Jan 27, 2025
    90
    Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a great experience both for those who have played and want more and for those playing for the first time. It looks, feels, and sounds great but it's hard not to feel like it could have benefitted from a few more months in the oven to fix the loading times and the bosses that hardly challenges the player
  2. MGG
    Jan 14, 2025
    85
    Seeing Donkey Kong return is always a great pleasure, even when it's just the return of a 15-year-old title. Donkey Kong Country Returns was a great title in 2010, and it's still a great title in 2025: its unique gameplay sets it apart from the competition, its art direction hasn't aged a bit, and its content, though identical to the 3DS version, should quench your thirst for platforming in the new year.
  3. SECTOR.sk
    Jan 14, 2025
    80
    Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a great game to play. It always has been and always will be. What's more, you can enjoy it with a friend in local co-op, which adds to the fun. The problem is that this remaster feels too basic. Nintendo has got a little lazy compared to the remasters at the start of the Switch generation, which brought a wagonload of new content.
  4. GAMINGbible
    Jan 14, 2025
    80
    Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a sweet little upgrade, and it pairs nicely with Donkey Kong Returns: Tropical Freeze also on the Nintendo Switch. For those who’ve never played the game before it’s well-worth picking up, and for those who have I think it’s a good enough remaster to return to, especially if it’s been a while. Hopefully this means we’ll be getting more Donkey Kong Country games in the future, and I’d love to see other Donkey Kong games like Donkey Konga make a comeback as well.
  5. Critical Hits
    Apr 8, 2025
    80
    Despite Donkey Kong Country Returns HD being flawless in every aspect and a standout example of how to make a platformer, the remaster adds few reasons for returning players to buy it again.
  6. Checkpoint Gaming
    Jan 14, 2025
    75
    Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a great title to rescue from the Wii's library, allowing a new generation of gamers to enjoy this masterful platformer. It didn't need a total overhaul, so it makes sense that it's just an HD rerelease rather than a total remake, but the problem is that it's priced the same as a brand-new 2025 title, which doesn't seem fair no matter how HD it is. If you don't mind the cost, you'll have yet another amazing game on Switch, but if you don't want to drop the full price on a 14-year-old game, I wouldn't blame you.
  7. VGC
    Jan 14, 2025
    60
    With improved presentation and controls, Donkey Kong Returns is the definitive version of a classic platformer. Though it lacks the variety and bold ideas of its sequel, and offers little new content, it's a worthwhile experience for those who missed it the first time around.

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Awards & Rankings

35
#35 Best Switch Game of 2025