Playable Donkey Kong Switch 2 Demo Rolls Out to U.S. Malls

A playable demo for Donkey Kong Bananza is now accessible at Switch 2 kiosks in shopping malls across the United States. Continue reading for details on this exclusive preview and where Bananza fits within the Donkey Kong series chronology.

Donkey Kong Bananza Builds Anticipation for Launch

Exclusive Demo Now Playable at Switch 2 Kiosks

Ahead of its July launch, Donkey Kong Bananza has appeared on Switch 2 demo stations in U.S. retail stores like Walmart and Target. A June 20 Reddit post by user ZiaMonic231 confirmed that these kiosks now offer a hands-on demo of the game.

The demo provides roughly 10 minutes of gameplay, allowing players to experience it with Nintendo's new Pro controller. This has led many fans to speculate that a digital demo could be quietly released on the Switch 2 eShop in the near future.

Nintendo has not confirmed any plans for an online demo, as the company rarely releases eShop demos for its major franchises like core Super Mario games or The Legend of Zelda series. Despite this, fans are hopeful they might get to play Bananza on their own consoles several weeks before the official release.

Could This Be a Prequel to Super Mario Odyssey?

Following the reveal of DK's longtime friend Pauline in the June 18 Bananza Direct, Nintendo listed her age on the game's Japanese website. This detail has sparked debate about the game's placement in the timeline relative to Super Mario Odyssey.

Pauline's profile describes her as a 13-year-old who enjoys singing, noting she "lived on the surface but was taken underground and turned to stone for unknown reasons." In Odyssey, however, she appears as an adult, serving as the mayor of New Donk City and a famous band singer.

This suggests Bananza may be a prequel to Odyssey, with its story focusing on DK's mission to return Pauline to the surface—a goal she evidently achieves. Given their history since the original arcade game, where DK often kidnaps Pauline, fans are curious to see if Bananza will explore the origins of their complex relationship.

DK Rap Composer Unaware of Song's Inclusion in Bananza

The recent DK Bananza Direct confirmed the iconic DK Rap will feature in the game. In a June 19 interview with Eurogamer, composer Grant Kirkhope revealed he was not informed about the song's inclusion. "What can I say? The worst rap track in the history of rap tracks is back again!" Kirkhope remarked.

He expressed surprise at the song's current popularity, recalling the criticism it faced when Donkey Kong 64 first launched. Kirkhope quipped, "My tombstone will read, 'Here lies Grant Kirkhope, he wrote the DK Rap and the GoldenEye pause music'... Nothing else will matter!"

It appears he will not receive credit for the song's use in Bananza. A similar situation occurred in 2023 when the DK Rap was used in The Super Mario Bros. Movie without his knowledge. Kirkhope told Eurogamer on April 29 that he contacted Nintendo after the film's release to ask why he wasn't credited.

He explained, "[Nintendo] said they decided not to credit composers for any music quoted from games they own—except for Koji Kondo. They then said vocal tracks would be credited, which should include the DK Rap. But they ultimately decided if they own it, they won't credit the composers. That was the final nail in the coffin."

Music is a core gameplay mechanic in Bananza, driving DK's transformations, so including the famous DK Rap was a logical choice. The game will also feature a music player where fans can listen to Pauline's songs and other soundtracks.

Donkey Kong Bananza launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17, 2025. For the latest updates and news on the game, be sure to read our article below!