Remaster

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

16 Jan 2025

Nintendo Switch
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7.8 rating
1023 want
687 played
266 playing
46 reviews
Developer
Forever Entertainment S.A.
Publisher
Nintendo

Tags

Time to beat

Main story icon

Main story

3h 55m
Main story and extras icon

Main story + extras

19h 12m
100% completion icon

100% completion

76h 41m
Based on 8 answers
Summary

Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong are back for some ground-pounding action in this HD version of Donkey Kong Country Returns, originally released on the Wii system. 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.

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I am surprised and disappointed that they didn't add a Funky Kong mode this time. Now I actually have to get good at the game... I'm just kidding, playing Donkey Kong Country is like riding a bike to me. Those secret challenge levels in Tropical Freeze turn boys into men 😶
07 Apr 2025
If you’re looking for an extremely challenging and imaginative 2D platformer, look no further. Donkey Kong Country Returns is a classic, and with the new control scheme on the switch (that doesn’t require a shake of the Wii remote) all those challenging moments become a battle of skill and determination. By far the best worlds in this game are the beach and factory ones, they add in background effects and progression challenges that are not in any other worlds. My only complaint is that world 8 feels almost like consistent trolling by the developers. Maybe that’s just due to my skill, but it can be frustrating when something happens that you could have never predicted unless you already memorized the level. Besides that, collecting every Kong letter and reaching the end of the special world was exhilarating. I truly felt like a kid again!
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24 Apr 2025
Good ass level design
12 Apr 2025
Wow. What a game. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD stamps its place at the top of the food chain for 2D platformers. This is the pinnacle. What a beautifully, wonderfully crafted game. This was an absolute delight from start to finish. Tight, responsive controls, bombastic, foot tapping music, stunning visuals with each and every level popping, what negative things can I even say? Each level oozes with quality, from luscious jungles, to minecart madness, to rumbling rockets, each one has been masterfully designed with a level of care that goes unmatched by another other game of the genre that I have experienced. It’s so clear to see the developers poured their heart and soul into this game, there’s so much passion anywhere you look, it’s honestly breathtaking. The world themes are well varied so to ensure that your experience is kept fresh and exciting and the game is incredibly well paced. It comes at you with some spikes of difficulty towards the latter end, and by the finale of the last world I went from a comfortable 80+ lives just a couple of worlds earlier to dropping into single digits, though it’s a testament to the well designed difficulty that I did not get frustrated whatsoever and held the mental ground against it, with a “just one more try” attitude carrying me through. Every mistake made can only be accounted to human error, which is a challenging feat for a lot of videogames to achieve. It’s just an absolute gem, and i’m shocked to see that I place it above its older brother in Tropical Freeze - both of these games are classics, masterpieces of design and quality, and it’s baffling to see how this series hasn’t flourished with many more entries, as I can’t possibly be the only one that can see how damn good they are. Welcome to the #1 spot on my 2D platformer list, and my top 10 of all time, Country Returns. Well earned.
10/10
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27 Feb 2025
The newer Donkey Kong games are master classes in 2D platforming, and though the theming in this entry is a little generic, I still regard it as a near perfect game.

But, as an HD remaster, I expected a bit more effort put into it, especially considering the hefty price tag. It’s surprisingly glitchy, the load times are no better than what I experienced on the 3DS many years ago, and certain cutscenes just seem to chug. It’s still a great time, but I’d recommend picking it up second hand if you’re absolutely dead set on playing it on the Switch.
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21 Apr 2025
A great and accessible remaster to an already amazing game
24 Mar 2025
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