Want to swing into 2025 with a fun new adventure? You’ll have a barrel of laughs playing Donkey Kong Country Returns HD — out in January on Nintendo Switch. This visually enhanced remake of the 2010 platformer lets you stomp, blast, and roll through all 80 levels from the original Wii game. Plus, the extra stages from the 3DS version give you the best of both worlds.
Play on your own or team up with a pal in two-player local co-op to take down the troublesome Tiki Tak Tribe. They’ve stolen Donkey and Diddy Kong’s precious stash of bananas, so you must guide the duo across DK Island and get them back before they’re eaten!
Let’s find out more about the latest game in the long-running Nintendo series. From its release date and price to its wild cast of characters.
What is Donkey Kong Country Returns HD's release date?
You’ll get to start tearing through those jungle stages on 16 January 2025. That’s a few weeks away, so why not sharpen up your platforming skills on Mario vs. Donkey Kong in the meantime?
How much will Donkey Kong Country Returns HD cost?
No monkey business here! For £49.99, you’ll be granted full access to DK Island and dozens of epic levels.
Can I pre-order Donkey Kong Country Returns HD?
You can pre-order your copy of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD from Currys right now, so you can defeat the Tiki Tak Tribe first. You’ll also get 20% off the marked price if you enter code DONKEY20 at checkout.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD platforms
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is exclusive to Nintendo Switch, so you won't be able to play it on other gaming consoles. Unless you’ve got a copy of the original Wii or 3DS game up in your loft somewhere…
PlayStation or Xbox player? Get your platforming kicks on Funko Fusion (PS5/ Xbox Series X|S) or Astro Bot (PS5) instead. The latter just won ‘Game of the Year’ at the 2024 Game Awards.
How to play Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a big and vibrant side-scroller that’s a real throwback to classic Nintendo titles. Playing as DK and his best bud Diddy Kong, you’ll travel through 80 levels across nine different worlds on Donkey Kong Island. Thick jungle, ancient ruins, a fiery volcano, and more exotic locations are waiting to be explored.
But the entire place has been overrun by the evil Tiki Tak Tribe. And not only have they robbed your banana hoard — they’ve hypnotised the island’s residents to carry out their dirty work too!
This dastardly bunch have also set up countless traps to stop you getting your snacks back. That means you’ll have to swing your way over obstacles, charge through enemies, and ride on mine carts that are totally off the rails. Plus, each world ends with a challenging boss battle that’ll put you to the test.
But don’t go bounding through those levels too fast. You’ll need to keep an eye out for puzzle pieces that can unlock some in-game goodies. Use DK’s strength to pound the ground around interesting spots, or blow on flora to reveal those precious pieces. And if you hunt down all the K-O-N-G letters in each world, you’ll open a secret temple level where a valuable Rare Orb can be found. Ooh…
How many hours of gameplay will Donkey Kong Country Returns HD have?
No news from Nintendo on this just yet. But seeing as it’s a remake, we checked out the completion stats for the original game on HowLongToBeat. They claim it takes around 11 and a half hours. But when you throw in those extra levels from the 3DS version, you could be looking at around 12-13 hours in total.
Who are the main characters in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD?
You'll encounter plenty of interesting creatures as you make your way across DK island. Here’s everyone you’ll get to meet:
Donkey Kong: The strongest Kong who has no trouble jumping around and swiping enemies out of the way. He might wear a fancy tie, but DK doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty crashing through barrels, branches, and boxes.
Diddy Kong: Foes often underestimate the smaller Kong, but he’s pretty formidable with his special abilities! Pull the trigger on his trusty peanut popgun to keep enemies at bay. Or fire up his Rocket Barrel jet pack to blast Donkey Kong into the air and reach new heights.
Cranky Kong: This wise guy runs a shop you’ll need to visit on the reg. You won’t be able to fight off those banana-nabbing baddies empty-handed, so make sure to stock up on life balloons and invincibility potions before every big adventure.
Rambi: Donkey Kong can smash through most obstacles in his way, but he can’t tackle everything. That’s why you’ll need to hitch a ride on this rampaging rhino to charge through boulders blocking your path.
Tiki Tak Tribe: This mask-wearing lot have snatched DK and Diddy Kong’s stockpile of bananas and turned the innocent jungle folk into dangerous beasts with their hypnotic powers.
Squawks: When heading into the unknown, a lookout can be a godsend. And these colourful birds will spring into action whenever you’re near a valuable puzzle piece. Just make sure you save up some coins to buy a flock at Cranky Kong’s shop.
Professor Chops: This clever pig uses his snout to sniff out clues that’ll help you in each level. He’ll give you a heads up when you’ve reached the halfway point too, so you can save your progress when it’s time for a banana break.
What are the different Donkey Kong Country Returns HD game mode options?
This caper’s all about the main story. But there are two difficulty levels you can pick between before embarking on your island expedition:
Modern Mode: A more forgiving difficulty mode that’ll set you off with three hearts. You’ll also get a wider variety of items to buy from Cranky Kong’s shop. Plus, the ability to carry up to nine items so you can swing through stages more smoothly.
Original Mode: If you fancy a tougher challenge, select this mode for less hearts and less items. Just like the OG game!
Will Donkey Kong Country Returns HD have a multiplayer mode?
You can go ape playing this game by yourself. But you’ll have even more fun by passing one of your Joy-Con controllers over to a friend or family member. That way, they can lend a hand as Diddy Kong in two-player local co-op. And unlike the Wii and 3DS versions of the game, you can make use of your Switch’s motion controls for ground pounds and rolls.
Any more questions?
If you want to keep up with all the latest console games heading into 2025, just bookmark our upcoming games page. It’s the best place to see all the hottest new releases. And don’t forget about our gaming news section right here on TechTalk too.
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