Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

 Switch
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 767 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 648 out of 767
  2. Mixed: 70 out of 767
  3. Negative: 49 out of 767
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  1. Footballpires
    May 5, 2018
    10
    I had forgotten how much I love this game. Everything is so solid that this is one of the best platformers out there to date. The controls are very intuitive and responsive, visuals are awe inspiring, and the musical score is fantastic. It's also a very challenging game packed with worthy collectables, and now it's also accessible for younger or more casual audiences with the addition ofI had forgotten how much I love this game. Everything is so solid that this is one of the best platformers out there to date. The controls are very intuitive and responsive, visuals are awe inspiring, and the musical score is fantastic. It's also a very challenging game packed with worthy collectables, and now it's also accessible for younger or more casual audiences with the addition of Funky Kong, an overpowered ape.… Expand
  2. FreedomFighters
    Jul 23, 2018
    10
    You know, "Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze" was another game I didn't give enough love to when it was first released on the Wii U. I definitely bought and enjoyed it, but I didn't get to far in it, and a bunch of other games ended up taking my time from me. With the recent Switch release, I definitely wanted to give it another chance and see if it was as good as the reviews made itYou know, "Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze" was another game I didn't give enough love to when it was first released on the Wii U. I definitely bought and enjoyed it, but I didn't get to far in it, and a bunch of other games ended up taking my time from me. With the recent Switch release, I definitely wanted to give it another chance and see if it was as good as the reviews made it out to be. And, sure enough, the game is excellent!
    "Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze" is an incredible 2.5D platformer. Great challenge, excellent platforming sections, plenty of gameplay variety, gorgeous visuals, the list goes on and on. The game really does have everything going for it, and while there's been much discussion on the game's difficulty, I can appreciate a game like this, where the difficulty doesn't feel like "fake difficulty." This isn't a case where the difficulty of the game is curved because of unfair/broken game design, it's a game that actually provides a very real, honest-to-God challenge, and it's all the better for it. The Switch version's added "Funky Mode" also helps ease that just a little bit, without taking too much away from it.
    The big question turns to this, of course: seeing as this is a port for the Switch, is it worth grabbing if you already own it for the Wii U? Well, I have the Wii U and Switch versions and I don't regret grabbing this one, but it depends on whether "Funky Mode" actually sounds enticing to you. If you own the Wii U version and want to experience it again (without getting your ass whooped quite as hard), this comes highly recommended. If you own the Wii U version and don't care for a slightly easier experience, stick with that one. If you haven't played the game at all...well, do yourself a favor! "Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze" is an excellent platformer and you won't regret spending your time with it!
    Final rating: 10 out of 10 "Fantastic"    … Expand
  3. VideoGameLover
    May 4, 2018
    10
    A truly magical, wonder, amazing 2D platformer. Rewarding, challenging, amazing. And for the love of christ TURN off the Funky Kong mode and play it the way it's meant to be played. Dont underestimate your 7 year old. They are better than you think and will get great playing the real deal, not a mode with training wheels.
  4. bad_sid
    May 6, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. An excellent platformer. Completely worth your money. I missed nintendo on the previous console, I'm playing now. And who else will remember what high-budget platformers are or have been for the last 2 3 years… Expand
  5. faelreklaw
    Apr 26, 2020
    10
    the only thing i will say is tha Retro studios took Metroid and brought 10 out of 10 game and revolutionary the franchise and the metroidvania genre. They did exactly the same with DK now give them F ZeRO. Jus t give them F zero right now, who knows what they will do. Cant believe it...
  6. krulemuk
    May 5, 2018
    10
    This game is a masterpiece and the best 2D platformer ever made. On Switch with improved graphics and shorter loading times.
  7. nando_u
    May 15, 2018
    10
    Is the best game of 2D platformer, is magic the design levesl, enemyes... The colors are amazing!
  8. Sanctify
    May 5, 2018
    10
    Honestly the best 2D platformer ever made, now even better on the Switch. If you even remotely care about platform games, get this one ASAP.
  9. Skitzofreniq
    Jul 15, 2018
    10
    I grew up playing the first Donkey Kong Country on the SNES, so I might be a bit biased because of all the nostalgia attacks. I also loved Donkey Kong Country Returns for the original Wii, but I love Tropical Freeze maybe a bit more than that one. If you're a completionist and want to find every secret like I do than this game will challenge you. I've only played up until world 3 and bothI grew up playing the first Donkey Kong Country on the SNES, so I might be a bit biased because of all the nostalgia attacks. I also loved Donkey Kong Country Returns for the original Wii, but I love Tropical Freeze maybe a bit more than that one. If you're a completionist and want to find every secret like I do than this game will challenge you. I've only played up until world 3 and both bossfights I had were really challenging (but not frustrating at all) If I have to nitpick I would say that I would've loved a sprint button since the originals on SNES had them if I'm not mistaken. Sometimes I try to make a jump but because DK feels so heavy to control if you don't roll before a jump or walk a little bit before your jump, you'll fall straight to your death.
    All in all a beautiful game that captures the classic games to a T    … Expand
  10. abvilla
    May 19, 2018
    10
    Diversión por donde se le mire, un grandioso juego del que pasaras horas y horas de entretención y retos sin igual.
  11. blawren4
    May 4, 2018
    10
    This is a great game. Excellent platformer with tight controls. Tough but fair.
  12. uncharted4
    Dec 17, 2020
    10
    wow, this game is best platformer ever i playing.. hope there is sequel game for Donkey Kong Country in future years
  13. MaxSparrow
    May 6, 2018
    10
    Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze' es sin duda alguna uno de los plataformas más difíciles y desafiantes que están actualmente en el mercado, todos los niveles son muy dinámicos y cualquier mínimo fallo se penaliza con la muerte, así que si te gustan los retos tienes juego para horas y horas.

    Retro Studios sublime. Banda sonora acompaña perfectamente a Donkey Kong y sus compañeros a    Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze' es sin duda alguna uno de los plataformas más difíciles y desafiantes que están actualmente en el mercado, todos los niveles son muy dinámicos y cualquier mínimo fallo se penaliza con la muerte, así que si te gustan los retos tienes juego para horas y horas.

    Retro Studios sublime. Banda sonora acompaña perfectamente a Donkey Kong y sus compañeros a lo largo de toda su aventura.

    Todos sus apartados tecnicos son brillantes, pocos juegos en la industria tienen el mimo que nintendo pone a sus sagas, juega de tu a tu a colosos de la industria, y es muy superior en mil aspectos ya que el titulo es pura diversión y una jugabilidad casi incomparable.    … Expand
  14. cat99sky
    May 4, 2018
    10
    Genius level design, impressive music, and epic boss fights.
    One of the best platformers. Good job, Retro!
  15. btedge
    May 7, 2018
    10
    When this game was announced to be coming to the Nintendo Switch, I was originally put off from the questionable $60 price tag (especially considering it launched at $50 on Wii U in 2014), but I've heard great things about it so I decided to give it a shot. And boy am I glad I did. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is a grade-A 2D platformer. The graphics are incredibly colorful andWhen this game was announced to be coming to the Nintendo Switch, I was originally put off from the questionable $60 price tag (especially considering it launched at $50 on Wii U in 2014), but I've heard great things about it so I decided to give it a shot. And boy am I glad I did. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is a grade-A 2D platformer. The graphics are incredibly colorful and detailed, the frame rate is a rock-solid 60 FPS, the controls are tight and responsive, and the difficulty and secrets make it very rewarding and replayable. If you have it on Wii U already, I'd be hard pressed to recommend this version, but if you don't, then this game is a MUST own for all Switch owners!… Expand
  16. dyinginbeauty
    May 27, 2018
    10
    Excellent platformer that is fun, challenging, good looking, and never feels unfair.
    I suppose one can argue that it is expensive, given that it is in fact a few years old... I probably wouldn't buy it if I had already played it on the wii, but as a new player all I can say is that its great.
  17. Corrin_Flakes
    May 4, 2018
    10
    Literally the best 2D Platformer I've ever played, Mega Man X? Super Mario Bros. 3? Sorry about that, but they don't have quite the amount of "organic level design" DKCTF has, if you've seen Mark Brown and Turbo Button's level analysis videos on this game, you'd know this game juggles level mechanics seamlessly. Also I didn't even touch on David Wise's excellent score, if you haven'tLiterally the best 2D Platformer I've ever played, Mega Man X? Super Mario Bros. 3? Sorry about that, but they don't have quite the amount of "organic level design" DKCTF has, if you've seen Mark Brown and Turbo Button's level analysis videos on this game, you'd know this game juggles level mechanics seamlessly. Also I didn't even touch on David Wise's excellent score, if you haven't played the game or heard the soundtrack yet, just listen to 'Seashore War' and 'Wing Ding' for a taste of what its like. Overall, highly recommend getting if you have a Switch (or Wii U).… Expand
  18. Kosama
    May 19, 2018
    10
    Uno joya maestra donde el único pero por el cual le pondría un 9.5 es la música como que muchas no me gustaron.
  19. Deckard2
    May 25, 2018
    10
    Fast, frenetic, infuriatingly challenging and a joy to play. Donkey Kong was the first game I played on the SNES and retro have captured the magic I remember from so long ago exquisitely. This game is challenging and will test the most hardened platforming veterans but the addition of funky mode is welcome for those with younger players who also want to experience the magic without themFast, frenetic, infuriatingly challenging and a joy to play. Donkey Kong was the first game I played on the SNES and retro have captured the magic I remember from so long ago exquisitely. This game is challenging and will test the most hardened platforming veterans but the addition of funky mode is welcome for those with younger players who also want to experience the magic without them putting their fist through the switch.

    The music plays all the classic tropes from previous DK games with some new additions and the sound design is awesome.

    10 out of 10 might seem excessive but I still keep returning to this game trying to beat the near impossible hard mode.

    For a bit more of that sweet Nintendo magic, look no further.    … Expand
  20. sonicpulsar
    May 4, 2018
    10
    One of the best plaformers ever made, now better than ever. Very diverse, magical and creative levels. Stunning graphics and animations. It's a must buy for any Switcher! Get it!
  21. Jax360
    Dec 7, 2018
    10
    one of the best 2D platformer.

    Presentation. 9/10
    Graphics TV. 10/10
    Graphics Handheld. 9.5/10
    Music. 10/10
    Controls. 10/10
    Fun-factor. 10/10
    Score. 7.8/10
  22. LiTeRaLyShAkInG
    May 5, 2018
    10
    Tropical Freeze may be the best 2D platform game ever made. It's definitely the best 2D platformer since the 16-bit era. It's better than all of the New Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Country, and Little Big Planet games. And those are generally considered among the best. I'd even rank it above the recent Sonic Mania. Though it's debatable as to whether it surpasses Super Mario World.Tropical Freeze may be the best 2D platform game ever made. It's definitely the best 2D platformer since the 16-bit era. It's better than all of the New Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Country, and Little Big Planet games. And those are generally considered among the best. I'd even rank it above the recent Sonic Mania. Though it's debatable as to whether it surpasses Super Mario World.

    The level design is brilliant and running in 1080p/60fps(with zero frame rate drops), the game is gorgeous. The jump from 720p to 1080p makes it look like a modern game instead of a Wii U game. Kirby would be better looking, but it's ruined by the 868p/30fps. One odd thing is that it doesn't run in 720p in portable mode. Breath of the Wild ran in 900p in docked mode and still managed 720p in portable mode. So docked mode is definitely the better way to play it. Nonetheless, it does look good in docked mode. I haven't touched on the bosses yet, the boss battles are very long with lots of stages. Frankly, this game has some of the most well designed boss battles I've seen.

    The game adds Funky Kong mode. Funky Kong is basically an overpowered character, with a unique moveset that allows him to zoom through levels and do crazy stunts. This actually makes him really fun to play. I did play with Funky Kong first so I would have a reason to replay the game. This is easy mode done properly. Instead of just giving you more HP, they give you a unique character. I'm guessing the significantly higher critic score is because they liked the easier difficulty, seeing as we all know critics suck at playing games. Since Tropical Freeze is already a very tough platformer, Funky Kong mode is still not "easy". It remains tougher than New Super Mario Bros. People who play a lot of platform games or like difficult games will definitely want to skip Funky Kong mode, though. Also, the increased HP of Funky Kong makes boss battles too easy. You can Switch to Donkey Kong during Funky Kong mode, but you'll have 3 HP with Donkey Kong, and 6 HP with one of his 3 allies.

    Tropical Freeze may not be worth getting if you played the Wii U version. But seeing as less than 2 million people got the Wii U version, and the Switch has sold over 18 million units, there are at least 16 million Switch owners who have not played this game. Get this game if you haven't played it before. Even if you don't like hard platform games, the addition of Funky Kong mode provides a some challenge without getting frustrating.    … Expand
  23. Zumnes
    May 5, 2018
    10
    best platform game in years, its hard but also rewarding, ihope everyone buys it
  24. Rustaman
    Jul 7, 2020
    10
    This is the best platformer that will please you with interesting gameplay, beautiful graphics, interesting levels with a lot of secrets. Tropical Freeze proved to be very convenient to play in portable mode, exploring the environment, opening secret areas and collecting all the items, which with its uncluttered levels makes the game optimal for public transport and travel. Definitely 10 points!
  25. jikflet
    Jun 22, 2018
    10
    The second best donkey kong game after DKC2 for the SNES. if you never played it on the WiiU, its about time to play it on the switch. is incredibly hard, challenging and with one of the best level designs I've seen. Beautiful music. This game is simple fantastic.
  26. mcsw712
    Aug 18, 2018
    10
    Best Platformer ever made so far. It's a little too easy at first, but the game is extremely challenging later on. Definitely an advanced platformer. It gets a 10 for being the best Donkey Kong game ever made.
  27. UnionJack0714
    May 4, 2018
    10
    Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze is the best Country game ever. It is truly a magical and creative journey full of clever ideas and brilliant design. Each level is different from another, always and continuously pumping out new themes and ideas that function well with the players control. As well as this, the levels are accompanied by delightful visuals and killer music. Difficulty range is noDonkey Kong Tropical Freeze is the best Country game ever. It is truly a magical and creative journey full of clever ideas and brilliant design. Each level is different from another, always and continuously pumping out new themes and ideas that function well with the players control. As well as this, the levels are accompanied by delightful visuals and killer music. Difficulty range is no longer an issue, as less experienced players can have fun playing the more forgiven funky mode. Those who want that hardcore challenge still can play on normal and hard difficulties, and boy does it get hard. The boss fights are a personal highlight, with each boss having their own unique energy and charming characteristics as well as brilliant move design. Simple put, even if you had this on Wii U, its worth buying again. It is truly a masterful 2d platforming experience that in my opinion even puts Mario's 2d games to shame... but only just. 10/10… Expand
  28. GoodCat
    May 19, 2018
    10
    Este juego me recuerda esas viejas épocas en que salía del colegio y llegaba a mi casa a jugar el Donkey Kong Country 2 en mi SNES y es una verdadera alegría poder disfrutar del Tropical Freeze en mi Nintendo Switch hoy día, los gráficos están muy bien logrados tanto en modo TV como en modo portátil diversión en estado puro, no busques historia ya que no es compleja pero su jugabilidad yEste juego me recuerda esas viejas épocas en que salía del colegio y llegaba a mi casa a jugar el Donkey Kong Country 2 en mi SNES y es una verdadera alegría poder disfrutar del Tropical Freeze en mi Nintendo Switch hoy día, los gráficos están muy bien logrados tanto en modo TV como en modo portátil diversión en estado puro, no busques historia ya que no es compleja pero su jugabilidad y diseño de escenarios nos hace notar la dedicación y el cariño con el que fue echo este videojuego, pero no creas que es un juego fácil su nivel de dificultad es muy alto al igual que su nivel de frustración, contiene el modo Funky Kong el cual es un modo de juego mas fácil para los pequeños de la casa o los principiantes en los juegos de plataforma y que decir de su banda sonora una evolución de su antigua y afamada música de juego que aunque tiene tonalidades diferentes a sus antecesores mantiene ese estilo único.… Expand
  29. IndieCrit
    Jun 7, 2018
    10
    My favorite platformer on the switch. Seriously. No joke. The levels are creative and inventive, a great level of challenge, beautiful tracks and a little overpriced for a port, but still worth it. And while it does have flaws, it's a must have.
  30. Respectthecrow
    May 4, 2018
    10
    An amazing platformer, may be 60$ which is 10$ more than the original WII U version but in my opinion, worth the price. A combination of a large section of characters (Funky Kong, Donkey Kong, Cranky Kong, Diddy Kong, and Dixie Kong) and creative levels makes this one of the greatest 2D platformers ever made and definitely worth the purchase.
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Awards & Rankings

27
#27 Best Switch Game of 2018
10
#10 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018
10
#10 Most Shared Switch Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 76 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 70 out of 76
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 76
  3. Negative: 0 out of 76
  1. Pocket Tactics
    Jan 27, 2025
    70
    Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze continues the tough-as-nails platforming with new power-ups to help navigate the nastiest obstacles, as we’re treated to the best soundtrack in the series. However, the inconsistent difficulty makes for a less refined game and the bosses are dragged out to the point where fighting them becomes a chore.
    Read full review
  2. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Sep 5, 2018
    95
    If you enjoy the thrill of Kongquest – er, conquest – over a worthy challenge, this game should satisfy. [Issue #34 – July/August 2018, p. 74]
  3. CD-Action
    Aug 2, 2018
    90
    Retro’s creativity is infinite and I simply cannot imagine any platforming fan overlooking this gem. [07/2018, p.77]
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