Prepare to grab those bananas once more—Donkey Kong and Diddy are coming back to town, and their fans couldn’t be more delighted. With Donkey Kong Country Returns HD getting riled up on the Nintendo Switch, gamers have a chance to play again with one of the most beloved platformers of the last decade. However, this reissue is not just a visual overhaul—it’s a tribute to how Retro Studios, the developers that originally brought Metroid Prime to you, managed to breathe new life into a classic franchise and make their mark in the Nintendo royal family.
When Retro first got attention for the work on the Metroid Prime trilogy, they were already known as the geniuses of dark, atmospheric first-person adventures. Therefore, the news that they were going to do a reboot of Donkey Kong Country came as a shock to everyone. According to the story of Kensuke Tanabe, a long-time Nintendo producer, it was all a big accident. With several key people quitting Retro, the company was in a dilemma about what to do next. At that time, Shigeru Miyamoto showed interest in a Donkey Kong reboot, and Tanabe convinced everyone that Retro was the best team for the job. That single thought was like a spark that set off the events that finally led to Donkey Kong Country Returns—a game that would not only pay tribute to the SNES classics but also take the series into uncharted territories.
The point of their work was right there, challenging them straight away. As the developers Kynan Pearson, Mike Wikan, and Tom Ivey admitted later, the changes within the studio that led to the firing of the staff they had to replace created both a void and an opportunity for fresh ideas and a new vision. Most of the new members were die-hard fans of the original trilogy, and the strong passion that they had was reflected in their work. Pearson explains how the love for the series stimulated their innovation and that they could not be more excited if they were working alongside developers from Nintendo’s Kyoto office. Their joint effort helped overcome the doubts of those who wondered if Retro was capable of doing something so different from Metroid.
When Donkey Kong Country Returns was announced at E3 2010, it caused a massive splash. It managed to recapture the series’ characteristic platforming accuracy and creative level design, as well as offering a more colorful look and fresh gameplay mechanics. The positive critical and commercial success of the game quickly silenced the doubters. As Tanabe would later remark, Retro’s innate understanding of why Donkey Kong Country was great helped it succeed.
And now, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is bringing that magic jungle to a whole new generation. Scheduled to ship on January 16, 2025, the HD remaster contains all 80 levels from the first Wii release, in addition to the extra content introduced for the 3DS. Whether you’re tackling mine carts solo or teaming up in local co-op, the Switch version is designed to preserve everything that made the original great, now with enhanced visuals and smoother performance to match today’s expectations.
Of course, no Donkey Kong game is complete without some memorable villains, and Retro didn’t hold back. In Donkey Kong Country Returns, the player had battled the hypnotic Tiki Tak Tribe, but Tropical Freeze did the real groundwork in terms of shaking things up with the inclusion of the Snowmads under the leadership of the portly, horn-blowing Lord Fredrik. His icy invasion and Viking-inspired design lent the game a certain flavor, and although his boss battle didn’t quite avoid comparisons to King K. Rool, he at least introduced some new life into the series. From frozen battlefields to called-in frost dragons, the Snowmads contributed to making Tropical Freeze different, even if Fredrik himself was a bit of a mixed bag for longtime fans.
However, it’s easy to see that Retro Studios contributed reverence and risk-taking in equal measure. They were not hesitant to mess with the formula if it involved upsetting villain lineups or experimenting with level mechanics. That willingness to try new things, coupled with a clear affection for the source material, allowed the series to grow without losing its foundations.
In the center of Donkey Kong Country’s resurgence is a profound respect for the past—coupled with an aggressive push to take it further. Retro Studios didn’t simply reissue a platformer—they revitalized a franchise. With Donkey Kong Country Returns HD coming to the Switch very shortly, both old school and newcomers alike can enjoy the charm, difficulty, and imagination that make this franchise so endearing. Whether you’re ready to roll through jungles again or pick up a barrel for the first time, Kong country is calling—and it’s more vibrant than ever.