Surprisingly, it didn’t reveal any sales figures for Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, released on March 20th for the Switch. As for notable titles released last year, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom sold 4.09 million (up from 3.14 million in the previous quarter) while Mario and Luigi: Brothership sold 1.97 million (up from 1.4 million).

Super Mario Party Jamboree also saw a noticeable jump, selling 7.48 million units, about 1.3 million more than the previous quarter. With Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV out on July 24th, it should prove a successful release for the Switch 2 following its launch on June 5th.

According to Nintendo Life, only Modern Mode is available, making it easier to complete, and progress doesn’t transfer to the game. The latter includes Original Mode, which mirrors the original Wii U release in difficulty due to fewer hearts and a more restrictive inventory.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD launched last month, bringing the classic to Switch players for the first time. Alongside remastered visuals and JoyCon support, it features all the content and features from the Nintendo 3DS port. The latter introduced Modern Mode and added eight new levels in a brand new world.

For more details on the title, check out our review. We gave it a seven out of ten, praising the base game but criticizing the lackluster visuals and price.

All of this, plus the fact that it really was a great 2D platformer, made Returns a successful return to form for the franchise. However, the context of that original 2010 release, and for this 2025 release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, couldn’t be more substantially different. In addition to everything listed previously, this is also now the third release for this game (it also got a 2013 re-release for the 3DS). It is the most expensive this game has ever been (the Wii version cost $50, the 3DS version cost $40. This Switch release is $60). While the Switch version consolidates and touches up content from the Wii and 3DS versions, it adds no new content or modes. And, perhaps most perplexingly, in many regards, the game feels technically worse than the original standard definition 480p Wii release, missing several graphical effects and flourishes that added panache to the game’s excellent stylistic presentation.

This makes Donkey Kong Country Returns HD a curiously conflicted release, because the core product is good. It’s held up well. It isn’t great, to be clear – at this point there are several other, better 2D platformers you can pick up on the Switch alone for a whole lot cheaper. That makes this a bit hard to recommend, because very honestly, who is this release for? What was the projected audience for this? To be sure, there are probably millions of new players who never played the original release or the 3DS version (which itself is over a decade old at this point), for whom having a version of this game readily accessible is a good thing. But assessing it on those merits, this is not a great release. It’s a poor remaster and overpriced considering the relative quality.

All of which makes it tempting to pretty much write the entire release off. But that’s where we come back to Donkey Kong Country Returns HD still being legitimately good. Retro Studios nailed the movement and game feel, two absolutely paramount qualities in any platformer, and they did it so well that Returns still stands out as one of the best playing platformers even today. Donkey Kong’s heavier controls can take a while to get used to, but once players get into the rhythm of using his momentum to chain jumps, rolls, and attacks together, the game enters an almost rhythm game style.

It’s intensely satisfying to complete the perfect run of a Returns level, or to manage to grab an out of the way collectible, especially because Returns is a hard game. While this release does maintain the 3DS version’s “Modern Mode”, which is supposed to sand off the rough edges as far as the difficulty goes, said Modern Mode isn’t great. It does give you more health and expands the items you can get for yourself at the in game shop to make things easier for yourself, but the game still expects full stage memorization and twitch response from the player. At most Modern Mode buys a bit of a buffer to make a few more mistakes than usual, but as far as optional easy modes in Nintendo platformers go, Modern Mode is surprisingly withholding. Tropical Freeze’s Switch re-release added an optional easy mode too (in the form of Funky Mode), which gave players not only more health but a whole lot more moves as well.

Of course, that’s assuming you need the easy mode to get through the game in the first place. If you’re an experienced player, then as mentioned, there are few things in platformers as satisfying as pulling off a level completion in Returns. And even beyond the Modern Mode, the game gives you options to scale the difficulty to your liking. You have Diddy Kong, who acts as a “power up” for Donkey Kong in single player mode and augments his move set with his own. You have the aforementioned in game shop, that still sells a bounty of power ups to use and stack and make the game comfortable to play for yourself, even in the Normal Mode. And in the absolute worst case, the game supports co-op too (with player 2 taking control of Diddy), which can help make things easier as well.

All of which is to say, while the difficulty is rougher compared to the options provided by other modern games in the genre, including, again, its own follow-up, it’s not really a dealbreaker, even for less experienced players. The game will definitely be a challenge, and adjusting difficulty is suboptimal compared to other points of reference, but it still gets the job done.

Aspects other than the gameplay are a mixed bag too. The original Returns was a stunner, but as mentioned, there are several graphical downgrades in this release that definitely blunt the impact of how it looks a fair bit.

So, we’re left with an extremely weird release. Returns HD is undoubtedly worth playing in that it’s a good game still; but it seems to be far too overpriced for what it is, and the game having very changes made since its last re-release over a decade ago means that it doesn’t have as many modern quality of life features that can help it appal to a more expanded audience. Simultaneously, it being the third release of the game, means that enthusiasts are unlikely to bite it, especially at that price and with those shortcomings.

But if you do end up falling within whatever demographic this release does end up being for, you’re in for a good time. Whether you’re returning to this game for a replay, or coming to it for the first time, Donkey Kong Country Returns is a very good platformer, and the Switch HD release is, on pure technicality if nothing else, the best way to play it. I guess that’s good enough for now.

This game was reviewed on the Nintendo Switch.

Handled by Forever Entertainment, you should expect Donkey Kong Country Returns HD to be a fairly conservative remaster. Its changes and additions will include a remade intro, minor visual enhancements, JoyCon support, QoL improvements and new content carried over from the platformer’s 3DS version, and the like. The original remains a modern platforming classic, however, so those wishing to experience it for the first time (or re-experience it) will want to keep an eye out. 

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD launches for the Nintendo Switch on January 16. Curiously, the remaster doesn’t credit the work of the original developer, Retro Studios. Read more on that through here.

In the credits for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, the work of Forever Entertainment, which handled the remaster, has been credited. Rather than mentioning Retro Studios, however, the game says that it was “based on the work of the original development staff”.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD has been the second game to have omitted mentioning all the work done by Retro Studios. This follows 2023’s Metroid Prime Remastered, where no one from the original team was mentioned in the game’s credits. The original developers had taken issue with this, with the lead engineer Jack Matthews referring to the move as a “travesty”, and “shameful”. Matthews went on to mention others who worked on the original Metroid Prime, such as Mark HH and Steve McCrea.

Nintendo didn’t provide any comment on Retro Studios’ lack of credit. In the meantime, here’s everything you need to know about Donkey Kong Country Returns HD.

Origins

With Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze available for the Nintendo Switch, it makes sense to bring Donkey Kong Country Returns over and give it the HD treatment. However, the latter was significant for many other reasons at launch. It was the first Donkey Kong Country title after the SNES trilogy, launching 14 years later for the Nintendo Wii. Also, instead of Rare, which handled the previous entries, Metroid Prime developer Retro Studios is at the helm for the first time in the franchise.

Developed by Forever Entertainment

However, the Nintendo Switch version isn’t handled by Retro Studios but Forever Entertainment, as reported by Bankier. The studio (which published the remakes for Front Mission 1 and 2) also worked Tropical Freeze for the Switch and did a pretty good job, though we’ll get to the visual changes in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD shortly.

Gameplay

If you played the SNES titles, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD will feel familiar. As a side-scrolling platformer, players can control Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong (though only the former is playable solo). You can jump on and roll through enemies, pound on the ground to progress or reveal items, ride on mine carts, swing from vines, collect bananas and Puzzle Pieces to unlock gallery items. Animals like Rambi and Squawks also return to lend a hand.

New Mechanics to the Series

While characters in the original Donkey Kong Country trilogy could go down in one hit, Donkey Kong Country Returns features a health bar. The trade-off is you can’t switch to Diddy Kong when playing solo. However, he can jump on Donkey Kong’s back with his jetpack allowing you to make longer jumps. The other change is a new silhouette presentation for some levels, which not only looks sleek but also houses new challenges.

For example, if you line up certain background objects in Sunset Shore, it’ll rain bananas and coins. Some platforms in Foggy Fumes may also not be immediately visible, leading to some second-guessing. On top of all this, there’s a new vehicle, the Rocket Barrel, which offers its treacherous stages to navigate.

Local Play

One of the appeals of Donkey Kong Country is playing with a friend and Donkey Kong Country Returns HD supports this. A second player can control Diddy Kong, and yes, you can still hop on Donkey Kong’s back to enhance his jumps (and cut down on your own work). Once a character’s health is depleted, you can bring them back with DK Barrels scattered throughout the stages.

Super Kong

If things are too rough and you die multiple times in a level, Super Kong can be called in to save the day and complete a level (which also works with bosses). The downside is not receiving bananas, coins, balloons granting extra lives, and collectibles. You also won’t see the locations for the latter, making 100 percent completion (or even finishing the final stage) impossible. Nevertheless, for those who get stuck and want to get on with the story, it’s an option.

K-Stages

When you collect the KONG letters scattered in every level, you’ll unlock a K-Stage. These are challenging locations in each world, and completing them grants a Rare Orb. If you beat the game and have all eight Rare Orbs, you can unlock the final world and then Mirror Mode.

Extra Levels

This isn’t the first time Donkey Kong Country Returns has been ported to other platforms. Monster Games brought it to the Nintendo 3DS and added new features like New Mode and eight brand new levels, encompassed in the new Cloud world. Collecting all Rare Orbs is necessary to access the Cloud Gateway to enter this world and subsequently the last level.

Mirror Mode

After finishing the final level, there’s good news – you can do it all over again in Mirror Mode. Available only in solo play, it flips every level in the game, removes Diddy Kong, and only gives you one heart, which means one hit, and you’re dead. You also can’t use items, further increasing the difficulty.

Time Attack

If you’re the speed-running type, then Time Attack mode may be worth checking out. Available after completing a stage, your goal is to reach the end in the fastest time possible. There are Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals to earn, but you can also try for Shiny Golds, whose completion time is hidden. You don’t get anything for all the medals, making this mode completely optional, but it’s a great way to test your knowledge of the levels.

Original Mode and New Mode

Another new feature from the 3DS port, which carries over to the Nintendo Switch version, is New Mode. It’s effectively Easy mode, granting more hearts, increasing held items to nine, and offering other protective measures. You can survive two crashes from mine carts and rocket barrels with Crash Guard, while Green Balloon will save you once if you fall into the abyss. Original Mode is still available for those who want to experience the game with the original difficulty, so don’t worry.

Playtime

The main story will last 11.5 hours on average per HowLongToBeat. This jumps to 18 hours when factoring in side content, but completionists will require 31 hours on average to finish everything. However, this is for the Wii version and doesn’t account for the extra levels from the 3DS port. Regardless, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD promises a lengthy platforming experience if you’re dedicated enough.

Visually Enhanced (?)

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD sports a higher resolution than the Wii release, but there are some noticeable visual changes, which aren’t all completely positive. Certain items like Hearts and KONG letters don’t glow as brightly; the sunset in some levels is absent; and the colors in many instances aren’t the same. Your mileage may vary on how much all this matters, but if you’re a stickler for a 1:1 HD port in visuals, this isn’t it (though they still look pretty good).

JoyCon Features

Local play is entirely possible with a pair of JoyCons, with each player using one to control a character. And while the entire game is playable with buttons, the JoyCons can be shaken to smack the ground, thus unveiling hidden objectives. This carries over from the Wii version, and while unnecessary, it’s good to see it carry over to the Switch.

File Size on Nintendo Switch

While Tropical Freeze required 6.7 GB of installation space on the Switch, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is surprisingly bigger. You’ll need 8.3 GB of space instead – it’s not much, but still a noticeable leap.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

Just when it seemed like Nintendo wrapped up all its big releases ahead of its next console reveal, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD launches on January 16th for the Switch. Featuring the return of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, the classic campaign supports revamped visuals, JoyCon support, and new levels from the 3DS port. There’s even New Mode, which provides an easier on-boarding difficulty for newcomers.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins

“No more open world” is already a massive selling point for Dynasty Warriors: Origins. However, Omega Force is cooking up even more with the prequel ahead of its launch on January 17th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC. A new protagonist, tactics, and combat improvements alongside multiple weapons and famous warriors as teammates (who you can control for limited periods) are just a few notable features. If the demo is any indication, Dynasty Warriors: Origins should restore the series ‘ glory.

Tales of Graces f Remastered

It’s still remaster season for Tales fans, with Tales of Graces f the latest title to get said treatment. Unlike Symphonia, the next remaster is handled by Tose instead of Bandai Namco, ensuring 60 FPS on all platforms (except Nintendo Switch, sadly). Tales of Graces f Remastered also features quality-of-life additions like auto-save, English and Japanese audio, a destination marker for quests on the world map, and more. It launches on January 17th for PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Switch.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (PC)

The critically acclaimed sequel finally arrives on PC after remaining on PS5 for the better part of 2024. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth offers numerous improvements to Remake’s combat while heavily expanding on the mini-games, characters, exploration, and story. PC players can look forward to more extensive graphical settings, support for upscalers like DLSS, and improved lighting rendering. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth arrives for PC players on January 23rd.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (PC)

If another 100-hour RPG isn’t what you’re after on PC, then Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 may be the solution. Featuring not one but two Spider-Men, Peter Parker and Mile Morales, it offers new locations, combat abilities, and activities to go with the darker narrative and addition of the infamous Symbiote, Venom. It’s out on January 30th for PC.

Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles

Aspyr has been working overtime to bring various Star Wars classics to modern platforms, with Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles being the latest. It arrives on January 23rd for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. While the prospect of higher resolutions and better performance is tempting, fans can also look forward to playing unlocked characters from the beginning and using a new modern control scheme.

Hyper Light Breaker Early Access

Hyper Light Breaker is an open-world rogue-lite for PC that features intense boss battles, weapons and hoverboards. After facing several delays, Heart Machine is releasing Hyper Light Breaker in early access on January 14.  It will feature three player co-op along with a variety of skins and weapons.

Eternal Strands

Action adventure title Eternal Strands, which sees players relying on the elements and environments to battle massively imposing threats, launches on January 28th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Besides intriguing us with its visuals and overall combat, the premise and journey of Brynn, a Weaver on a mission of redemption, is intriguing. If that’s not enough, post-launch content developed alongside the Final Fantasy 16 development team is also in the works.

Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap

Franchises come and go, and yet somehow, Orcs Must Die! still showcases the appeal of constructing elaborate defenses and slaying hordes of Orcs. Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is the latest iteration of the series, out on January 28th for Xbox Series X/S and PC. It offers co-op for up to four players, but you can still go it alone, choosing from six new War Mages and partaking in new rogue-lite runs. Offering more extensive customization, random modifiers in each run, and more, Deathtrap retains the series’ signature chaos and charm.

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter

Odd Bug’s long-awaited sequel to its brutal 2D side-scrolling action RPG finally arrives on January 28th for PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. On top of a new violent story, players will once again engage in settlement building, slaying enemies (this time with new elemental effects), and even embarking on hunts against massive beasts for greater rewards. And yes, Doug Cockle, the voice of Geralt from The Witcher 3, returns to provide the same impeccable narration.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Long-range snipes into body parts with explosive results, carefully showcased with an X-Ray Killcam? You’ve come to the right place with Rebellion’s Sniper Elite: Resistance, a spin-off that runs parallel to Sniper Elite 5 and stars Harry Hawker of the SOE. Between sniping, sneaking, and assassinating Nazis across large maps, you’ll also take out Kill List targets and embody Resistance fighters in new Propaganda Missions. All this and more await on January 30th for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

A new Sleeper, a new Belt in the Helios System, and many of the same problems (with a few new ones thrown in for good measure). Jump Over the Age’s mix of sci-fi narrative, tabletop dice mechanics, and role-playing gives you a ship and various jobs to complete amid an ongoing conflict between corporations. Making new friends, temporary and permanent, and bringing them along to complete jobs is key, as is managing stress and your slowly deteriorating body. If you even mildly enjoyed the original’s characters and stories, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector launches on January 31st for PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana

Trying to unravel the origins of Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana can be a headache (especially since it’s a remaster of a remake). All you need to know is that it’s one of the better titles in the series, now presented with sharper visuals, a new voiceover for protagonist Adol, new character illustrations, and every iteration of the excellent soundtrack. It’s available on January 7th for PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.

Freedom Wars Remastered

The underrated dystopian action RPG first released in 2014 by Sony for the PlayStation Vita makes its long-awaited return on January 10th for PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. As a prisoner in the Panopticons, players must effectively work off their sentence, battling Abductors and competing against other cities for valuable resources. Offering 4K/60 FPS on PlayStation and PC, improved controls, visual improvements, and more to go with eight-player co-op, Freedom Wars Remastered is a long time coming.

Blade Chimera

From the team behind Touhou Luna Nights comes another immensely sleek platformer. As the amnesiac Shin, players work alongside Lux and fight against various monsters to unravel the mysteries of his life. Alongside shapeshifting and time manipulation, players will unlock new abilities and weapons in their quest. Launching on January 16th for PC and Nintendo Switch, Blade Chimera is shaping up into an excellent side-scroller.

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist

The follow-up to Ender Lilies, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist travels to the Land of Fumes and stars a new hero – Lilac, an Attuner who can control the Homunculi, each with different abilities. While there are no signs of the Rain of Death from decades prior, the world has fallen into ruin after mysterious Fumes infect the Homunculi. Survival is paramount, but Lilac must also recover her memories. While offering more excellent 2D art and animation and a new soundtrack by Mili, Ender Magnolia also provides new skills, difficulty levels, and combat changes. It exits early access on January 22nd for PC while also launching for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.

While various creatures do their bidding, the song and dance routine doesn’t work on Donkey Kong, who sets out with Diddy Kong to recover his hoard. Alongside improved, higher-resolution textures, the intro is much snappier than the original, getting players to the action faster.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD launches for Nintendo Switch on January 16th, 2025. Check out the overview trailer here, which outlines the gameplay loop and features from the Nintendo 3DS port, like Modern Mode. Compared to the difficulty of Classic Mode, it offers more Hearts and benefits like Crash Guard to prevent damage from a few Mine Cart collisions.

The premise focuses on Donkey and Diddy Kong fighting the Tiki Tak Tribe to retrieve their banana horde. Those who played the Donkey Kong Country trilogy on the Super NES will be familiar with the gameplay, with each Kong possessing unique abilities. They can also leverage vehicles and allied animals to rush through stages.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD also features Modern Mode from the 3DS port. It increases the total Hearts and ensures that collisions on the Mine Cart don’t instantly kill you, among other features. Classic Mode is still available for those who want the original intended experience. Perhaps the biggest Switch-exclusive feature is JoyCon support with motion controls and local co-op possible with the same.

Stay tuned for more details on Donkey Kong Country Returns HD in the coming weeks. It launches on January 16th, 2025, for $60.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD’s Switch eShop page has gone live, and other than confirming its file size of 9 GB, it also reveals that the game will be sold at a price of $59.99 when it launches in January, with pre-orders now available. Fans may have been hoping that as a remaster of a nearly decade-and-a-half-old game that has already seen one re-release in the past, it would be priced lower, but sadly, that’s not to be the case.

This is, frustratingly, standard practice for Nintendo, a company that notoriously refuses to release the vast majority of its remasters and remakes at less than full price. Last year’s Metroid Prime Remastered was an exception, launching for $40, but there are more than a few recent examples of other Nintendo remasters and remakes that have been sold at full price, including the likes of Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Super Mario RPG, and more.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD launches on January 16 for Nintendo Switch. Its development is being handled by Forever Entertainment.