Donkey Kong Bananza: Super Mario Odyssey Team Behind New Nintendo Switch 2 Title

In a surprising reveal,Nintendo has confirmed that the development team behind the critically acclaimed Super Mario Odyssey is also responsible for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive,*Donkey Kong Bananza*. The game, slated for release on July 17, 2025, promises a fresh 3D action-adventure experience starring Donkey Kong and a new partner, Pauline [1].

Donkey Kong Bananza: A new Adventure Awaits

Set in a vast underground world, *Donkey Kong Bananza* tasks players with finding the legendary “Golden Banana.” The gameplay will feature donkey Kong’s ability to manipulate the terrain and Pauline’s unique power to transform into various animals through her singing, unlocking new abilities and gameplay mechanics.

Did You Know? Pauline first appeared in the “Donkey Kong” arcade game in 1981,predating Princess Peach.

the Team behind the Game

Nintendo revealed to Eurogamer that the same development team that created *Super Mario Odyssey* is at the helm of *Donkey Kong Bananza*. *Super Mario Odyssey*, launched in 2017, was developed by the 8th production team of Nintendo’s Planning and Production Department. This team has also worked on titles such as “Forward! Captain Chinobio,” “Super Mario 3D World + Fury World,” and even contributed to “Dongqigang Jungle rhythm.”

Characters and story

Players will encounter a 13-year-old version of Pauline, portrayed as a singing enthusiast who was brought to the underground world and turned to stone. This plot point appears to strengthen the connection to previous games in the series.

The game’s antagonists, known as the “Boyd Company,”