Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Brings Back One of the Big Ape’s Best in Early 2025

One of the best platformers on the Switch is still Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, despite it being a pretty straight port of the Wii U game. But what about the original Donkey Kong Country Returns? Some people like that game even better than Tropical Freeze, and it’s currently stranded on the Wii and 3DS. Well, bust open the banana barrels, baby, because the game is coming back!

During today’s Nintendo Direct, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD was announced. In addition to bumping up the resolution of the game’s graphics, this version of the game will also have all the content that was added to the 3DS version. Whether any all-new content has been added, remains to be seen. You can check out the first trailer for DK Country Returns HD, below.

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Still looking pretty damn good all these years later! I’ve always liked DK Country Returns a bit more than Tropical Freeze, so I’m happy to see the game getting its due. Need to know more? Here’s Nintendo’s official description of the game…

“Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong are back for some ground-pounding action in this HD version of Donkey Kong Country Returns, originally released on Wii. The villainous Tiki Tak Tribe has stolen Donkey Kong’s precious banana hoard and the Kongs are barrelling after them in pursuit. Play solo, or with a buddy in local two-player co-op, in an adventure brimming with hijinks where you can stomp obstacles, send mine carts careening, fly high on rocket barrels and even hitch a ride on Rambi the Rhino. Experience 80 a-peel-ing levels, including the additional ones from the Nintendo 3DS version, when Donkey Kong Country Returns HD swings onto Nintendo Switch.”

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD jumps and rolls onto Switch on January 16, 2025. What do you think? Eager to give this one another (or your first) try?