Nintendo’s upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza is far more than another colorful platformer starring the iconic ape. Behind its joyful chaos lies a technological marvel—and a monumental challenge. At the core of Bananza is one simple idea: destruction. But bringing that idea to life meant plunging Nintendo’s developers into the depths of voxel technology, creating what the game’s director himself described as “an absolute nightmare for the programmers.”
Here’s why Donkey Kong Bananza might be Nintendo’s most technically ambitious Donkey Kong game ever—and how the team pulled off a destructive playground that feels seamless and new.
The Origin of a Smashing Concept
Long before Bananza was a fully-fledged title, Nintendo’s developers were obsessed with a question: What if everything in a game world could be destroyed?
This idea first took shape shortly after Super Mario Odyssey launched. Nintendo’s programming team began experimenting with terrain-smashing mechanics. One whimsical prototype even involved a Goomba outfitted with giant arms inspired by Knucklotec, the boss from Odyssey. This small creature could shatter terrain, tear off pieces to wield as weapons, and carve through levels—laying the groundwork for what would become Donkey Kong’s newest adventure.
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The idea didn’t emerge randomly. The team had already tested voxel terrain in Super Mario Odyssey—like smashing cheese rocks in Luncheon Kingdom or plowing through snow. That trial-and-error experience was crucial for Bananza’s evolution into a game where virtually every environment is destructible.
From there, it was clear that Donkey Kong, with his legendary strength, was the perfect character to bring this destruction-driven gameplay to life.
Enter Voxel Technology
Central to making Bananza possible was the decision to build the entire game on voxel technology. While most players associate voxels with the blocky visuals of games like Minecraft, Nintendo used voxels in a radically different way.
What Are Voxels?
- Voxels are essentially 3D pixels—tiny cubes stacked together to create objects and environments in 3 dimensions.
- Unlike polygons (the usual building blocks in 3D games), voxels allow developers to define physical properties and materials for every tiny piece of terrain.
In Bananza, this meant the ground isn’t just a static floor—it’s composed of countless voxel “blocks,” each with unique physical traits. Sand might crumble softly, while rock splinters under Donkey Kong’s fists.
Existing smoothing technology allowed voxels to look natural rather than blocky. Nintendo pushed this further to create visuals so realistic players would be shocked to discover they’re fully destructible.
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The Programmers’ Nightmare
While voxel tech offered incredible freedom, it came at a steep cost: enormous complexity for the developers.
Creating a game where nearly every piece of terrain can be smashed, torn, or reshaped demanded custom tools and endless testing. The team couldn’t rely on off-the-shelf game engines; they had to invent new voxel modeling systems from scratch.
Director Kazuya Takahashi admitted that developing these tools “must have been an absolute nightmare for the programmers.” Even simple actions like doubling the size of a terrain chunk ballooned memory and performance needs. A single voxel expansion could multiply data eightfold because of the 3D scale.
Voxel data multiplies exponentially in 3D, leading to massive memory demands. For instance, doubling voxel size in all directions increases data eightfold. The original Switch hardware couldn’t manage this, prompting the team to transition to Switch 2, where expanded memory and power enabled the full vision of destructible worlds running at 60 fps.
Why Bananza Doesn’t Look Like Minecraft
Despite being built entirely from voxels, Donkey Kong Bananza doesn’t look like a typical voxel game. Art director Daisuke Watanabe stressed that the team wanted rich, natural visuals. Their goal was to create environments where players would say:
“Wait, you can destroy this?”
Thanks to meticulous art and programming, the terrain appears smooth and organic. Grass covers soil, rocks fracture realistically, and water seeps into freshly broken ground. The team even recorded unique sound effects—like the juicy crack of a watermelon—using Foley techniques to match the different materials being smashed.
The technology that enables voxel-based shapes to appear smooth already existed, but Nintendo pushed it to achieve visuals with a strong sense of realism, ensuring players wouldn’t spot the hidden voxel grids beneath the surface.
Every Layer Breaks New Ground
One of the game’s standout features is its concept of “Layers.” Instead of linear levels, Bananza offers environments built both horizontally and vertically. Digging down reveals underground chambers, while smashing walls might uncover hidden paths.
Designing such freedom presented a huge challenge. If players could destroy everything, how do you ensure the level doesn’t fall apart?
The solution was to embrace flexibility. For example:
- The “Hand Slap” move doesn’t just deal damage—it acts as sonar, revealing secrets buried beneath the surface.
- Players can approach objectives creatively, either smashing through walls or tunneling around obstacles.
The team designed levels so destruction naturally leads to new discoveries. Donkey Kong’s Hand Slap reveals buried secrets, creating a chain reaction of exploration. Unlike many Mario games where goals are often above, Bananza’s design pulls players downward into hidden depths.
The levels are expansive, both vertically and horizontally, and the developers carefully balanced guidance so players wouldn’t get lost while still feeling free to experiment and explore.
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This philosophy makes every Layer feel alive and reactive, offering countless ways to navigate and explore.
Why Bananza Couldn’t Exist on Switch 1
Originally, Bananza started development on the Nintendo Switch. But the sheer scope of voxel-driven destruction proved too demanding. Memory and processing limits forced the team to reconsider.
Transitioning to Switch 2 changed everything:
- The hardware allowed for far more objects on-screen.
- Explosions and debris could fly without tanking performance.
- The game now runs at 60 frames per second, delivering smooth, satisfying action.
As Takahashi put it, the Switch 2 “made the game possible.”
Things the team once abandoned, like large explosions flinging massive debris or terrain collapsing in real-time, became achievable. Designers could finally place as many objects as needed, bringing Nintendo’s wildest destruction ideas to life.
What Makes Bananza a Blast to Play
Here’s what players can look forward to in Donkey Kong Bananza:
- Total Destructibility: Terrain, structures, and objects can be shattered, dug through, or used as weapons.
- Material Properties: Sand slips and slides, rocks crack and splinter, and water seeps into broken ground, creating a reactive world.
- Hand Slap Sonar: Donkey Kong can slam the ground to reveal hidden items or paths.
- Layered Exploration: Digging and smashing open new routes, secrets, and underground areas.
- Unique Soundscape: Foley-recorded sounds ensure destruction is as satisfying to hear as it is to see.
Dynamic Materials: Each piece of terrain isn’t just cosmetic. Voxels can be assigned materials like soil, grass, sand, rock, and more—each with unique physical behaviors. Sand can stick to walls and make climbing slippery, while rock splinters under impact. Destroying surfaces often reveals different layers beneath, like soil under grass or damp earth near water.
Multiple Paths to Rewards: Players might reach a Banandium Gem (golden banana) by smashing through a wall, or by cleverly digging a hidden tunnel around obstacles. The game encourages improvisation and rewards curiosity.
Authentic Soundscapes: The developers recorded real-world sounds, known as Foley effects, for materials like sand, rocks, and even fruit. Each strike sounds subtly different, preventing repetition and adding realism. Hitting a watermelon, for instance, has a dedicated “delicious” sound effect for maximum comedic impact.
Sound variation logic was carefully programmed, introducing subtle randomness to avoid repetitive noise during repeated actions, keeping the gameplay feeling fresh and immersive.
How Bananza Became Reality
It’s been a long, complex journey from experimental Goombas with giant fists to a fully realized Donkey Kong game. But the results speak for themselves. Donkey Kong Bananza promises a thrilling blend of power, creativity, and destruction—a fresh spin on a beloved franchise.
Players can finally step into this voxel-powered playground when the game launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17, 2025.
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For Donkey Kong, smashing things has always been fun. But thanks to Bananza’s technological leap, it’s never looked—or felt—this spectacular.
Donkey Kong Bananza
- Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
- Release Date: July 17, 2025
- ESRB Rating: E10+ (Fantasy Violence)
- Mode: Single-player
