Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

Genre: Platformer

Players: 1-2 Co-Op (Local)

The Nintendo Switch 2 Difference

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Review:

Donkey Kong Country Returns, when it first released on Wii in 2010, was widely celebrated as a glorious return to form for the beloved Platformer series. When it was ported to Nintendo 3DS in 2013 under the title Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, it was celebrated again for not only bringing the console game to handheld intact (and without the divisive motion controls of the Wii version), but also adding new levels. Now in 2025, the game is being released a third time, now on Nintendo Switch with the title Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, and this time people aren’t quite so eager to celebrate.

There are multiple reasons that the anticipation for this game has been muted this time around. The rumblings of Nintendo revealing their next major hardware are at a fever pitch, so just about any Nintendo Switch game is going to have difficulty garnering attention, let alone a remastered port of a 15 year-old game. The price tag is another major factor – at $60, Nintendo’s cynicism and greed are on full display, charging the same price as a brand-new top-tier Nintendo release. Yet another factor is that the Nintendo Switch already has this game’s much-improved sequel, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (which was similarly overpriced), making this feel very much like a step backwards. Heck, this technically isn’t even the first time this game has been in HD, with a 2019 release on the NVidia Shield in China.

Also, the Nintendo 3DS port did at least add new content to the game. This re-release does far less – this version contains the extra content from the Nintendo 3DS version, optional motion controls for Joy-Con-using players who actually want that (by default the game uses standard gamepad controls), and a new “modern” mode with more health hearts and added shop inventory. That’s about it.

The graphics haven’t exactly gotten a major overhaul either, apart from the improved resolution. Those who compare this game with the original via split-screen have found some minor improvements, but also some minor changes where the original game looked better. On balance, I feel that apart from the improved resolution, the visuals look about on par with the Wii version. And that’s… honestly not that bad, since the Wii game was and remains gorgeous, with superb animation, tons of detail in the environments and characters, and a ton of personality.

The game itself remains great too. The “blow” mechanic hasn’t aged too well – it kills the pacing, and it’s obvious to see why in retrospect this gameplay mechanic wasn’t carried into Tropical Freeze. But apart from this issue, the excellent gameplay and outstanding level design are nearly without peer in the genre… well, except of course Tropical Freeze.

If you’ve never played Donkey Kong Country Returns before, please don’t let my lack of enthusiasm dissuade you – this is an absolute must-play game that is not to be missed. The problem is that by now a sizable portion of players haven’t missed it, and this triple-dip does little to justify its bloated price tag, especially when its incredible sequel has been out on Nintendo Switch for years and is even more deserving of your time and attention. As a result, even though we’re getting a great version of a truly outstanding game here, it’s hard not to feel underwhelmed.

tl;dr – Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a solid remaster of an excellent Platformer from Wii and Nintendo 3DS, but this release doesn’t add much, and overall does little to justify its $60 price tag, especially when Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is also on Nintendo Switch and an overall superior game. By comparison, this feels a bit like taking a step backwards at this point.

Grade: B

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The Nintendo Switch 2 Difference

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

Genre: Platformer

Players: 1-2 Co-Op (Local)

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Review:

Donkey Kong Country Returns already looked pretty sharp and smooth on Nintendo Switch, so what is there to even improve on Nintendo Switch 2? There’s one easy answer to this: loading times.

On Nintendo Switch, it took 15 seconds to load to the title screen, 13 to load up a game save, and 14 to get from the map screen into a level. On Nintendo Switch 2, these times were more or less halved, with the corresponding loading times now being 6, 8, and 7 seconds.

It’s not an Earth-shattering improvement, but it is an improvement, making Nintendo Switch 2 the new definitive way to play this game. It still doesn’t justify the $60 price tag, but this is nevertheless still a phenomenal Platformer that’s even better (even if just a bit) on Nintendo Switch 2.

tl;dr – Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a solid remaster of an excellent Platformer from Wii and Nintendo 3DS (improved further with better loading times on Nintendo Switch 2), but this release doesn’t add much, and overall does little to justify its $60 price tag, especially when Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is also on Nintendo Switch and an overall superior game. By comparison, this feels a bit like taking a step backwards at this point.

Grade: B

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