Nintendoboasts some of the most iconic franchises in gaming, and the recent addition ofDonkey Kong Land 3to Nintendo Switch Online completes a beloved trilogy on the platform. As one of the most notable series byNintendo,Donkey Konghas helped bring the company to the top. WhileDonkey Kong Land 3coming to the Switch is exciting in its own right, this hopefully inspires Nintendo to bring a fresh full-fledgedDonkey Konggame to life.
Now thattheDonkey Kong Landtrilogy is fully available for the Switch, the franchise gets even further representation on the console. While there have been manyDonkey Konggames in the past, it has been quite a while since Nintendo developed a new mainline game in the franchise, and it feels long overdue.The Legend of ZeldaandMariocontinue to get new installments, but the lack ofDonkey Kongtitles leaves a gaping hole in the Switch roster.
The Nintendo Switch Has Yet to Give the Donkey Kong Franchise the Love it Deserves
Titular ape Donkey Kong has been featured in several Switch games, but he has yet to get his own mainline entry released for the console. March 2025 will mark eight years since the Switch dropped, and not including any originalDonkey Kongstory in such a lengthy span of time is utterly surprising. It’s recently been confirmed that Switch players will have access toeveryDonkey Kong Countrygamein the new year. While exciting, it ultimately makes the absence of a fresh game that much more noticeable.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HDis scheduled to come to the Switch on June 19, 2025.
A Long Decade of Waiting For More Donkey Kong
It’s been a full ten years since the last mainlineDonkey Konggame.Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freezepremiered in 2014 for the Wii U, and even though it has received a Switch port, a decade between releases is disappointing for Nintendo fans who have a special fondness for the tie-wearing ape and his family and friends. The longlist ofDonkey Konggamesthat have graced gamers' consoles through the years has brought a lot of joy, and many are eager for more.
There is Still Hope For More Donkey Kong in the Future
It may be disappointing for the Switch to be a Nintendo console that has failed to release an original mainlineDonkey Konggame, but that doesn’t mean the company has abandoned the franchise. The rumors and leaks surrounding the Switch 2 have been hyping up Nintendo fans for what the company has in store next, and a newDonkey Kongis hopefully on that secretive list. A recent rumor has even claimed thatthe Switch 2 has been increasing its production. This has yet to be confirmed by Nintendo, but the company has at least stated that it plans to unveil its next console before the end of March 2025. If that’s the case, then it wouldn’t exactly make sense for Nintendo to launch a freshDonkey Konggame for a console as old as the original Switch.
Other rumors have suggested the Switch 2 will be larger and have an LCD screen instead of an OLED.
Of course, this could be wishful thinking, but if Nintendo aims to bring anotherDonkey Konggame to life, looking to the future with the Switch 2 would make the most sense. Only time will tellwhat the Switch 2 holds, butDonkey Kongwill hopefully play a role in that reveal. There is already plenty of excitement about a brand-new Nintendo console, but the revival ofDonkey Kongwould only make the console release that much more intriguing. Nintendo still has a few months left before its Switch 2 reveal deadline, and the console’s first round of planned games will be on many gamers' minds once it’s announced.
