Donkey Kong Country Returns HD review: A fine, if unessential Switch remaster

On the surface, you could be forgiven for viewing Donkey Kong Country Returns HD as something of a cynical remaster.

Originally released during the latter part of Wii’s lifecycle, and later on 3DS, the colorful platformer was a big departure for Retro Studios, the developer known for its gritty Metroid Prime games, which delivered a well-designed, modern take on Rare’s classic Donkey Kong Country series. I reviewed it back in 2010, and I liked it.

See Donkey Kong Country Returns HD in action below:

However, these days, Returns doesn’t feel particularly memorable. That’s partly because, for those old enough to have played them, the SNES series naturally occupies a huge part of public feeling around the Donkey Kong franchise. Another reason is because it was followed up by one of the all-time great sequels in Wii U’s Tropical Freeze, a fabulous game that surpassed its predecessor in almost every way.

Tropical Freeze was ported to Switch seven years ago, and is widely available for less than $30. It’s not difficult to see, then, why a $60 remaster of its predecessor could be seen as a challenging sale, especially during a period when Nintendo is clearly patching up its lineup for the impending release of Switch 2.

But to call Donkey Kong Country Returns HD cynical would be unfair to the work that’s been put into this new version. The game looks much nicer, plays better by removing the mandatory motion controls, adds extra levels introduced in the 3DS port, and introduces a welcome easier mode for those who might have been frustrated by the often hard-as-nails design of the original Wii game.

This is, with little debate, the definitive version of a classic platformer that probably deserves more retrospective plaudits than it gets. However, while Donkey Kong Country Returns is worth playing in 2025, it’s far from the standout in its genre on Switch – or even its series – especially at that full $60 price point.

Releasing nearly 15 years after Rare’s final Donkey Kong Country game, and six years after the GameCube gem Jungle Beat, Retro’s Returns did an admirable job of reimagining the franchise as an amalgamation of DK’s previous branches. It features the minecart rides, hop-and-bop platforming, and classic tunes of Rare’s games, but also the bombastic presentation, morphing environments, and kinetic drumming moves of Nintendo Tokyo’s take.

On Switch, I enjoyed rediscovering Returns more than I expected. Removing Wii’s SD visuals and awkward waggle controls makes for a solid and slick experience that feels a step closer to the excellent Tropical Freeze. Even the soundtrack – a sticking point I had with the original – feels more amicable in 2025. DK’s bizarre blowing move is still useless, and the Flappy Bird stages are just as intolerable, but otherwise, the transition to HD is a beneficial one.

The Switch port was developed by Polish studio Forever Entertainment. In 2025, Returns remains an impressive-looking game with a colorful art style that, while sometimes a jarring departure from the somber CGI of the SNES games, is made to feel more organic by the abundance of animated wildlife and the fact that the levels stretch all the way into the background. Stages constantly make use of this space by barrel-blasting you toward the horizon onto nearby pirate ships, platforms, and hidden bonus levels.

“Removing Wii’s SD visuals and awkward waggle controls makes for a solid and slick experience that feels a step closer to the excellent Tropical Freeze.”

Thankfully, platforming is also tight and fast-paced, with DK and Diddy able to hop-and-bop through stages by bouncing from enemy to enemy (which are now magical voodoo drums, rather than the crocs of the originals). There are also many creative stage ideas, such as a beachfront level which has you diving for cover from a barrage of sea waves, or a minecart battle against a squadron of moles. Unfortunately, this is interrupted by the occasional dud boss battle, and the aforementioned Flappy Bird-style levels, which have DK riding a rocket-powered barrel, often into the side of scenery. Frequently.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a game birthed during the era of Call of Duty Modern Warfare and Uncharted when linear set-piece games were king, so expect lots of scripted action, perspective-shifting, and dramatic environment transformations, which mask an otherwise simpler game. Levels always look pleasingly dynamic, with moving platforms bouncing off the waves caused by a 40ft attacking octopus. Even if they’re sometimes just set dressing, they make for a fun time.

Beyond the crisp HD visuals, the remaster incorporates the eight additional levels added in the 3DS port of the game. Another important change is the introduction of an optional ‘modern’ game mode – again similar to a feature added in the 3DS game – which gives players extra health hearts, and a larger inventory for help items.

This is a welcome addition because the original is, at times, ruthlessly challenging, even for experienced players. In its last few stages, it’s rare if at least one of the spread-apart, wafer-thin platforms doesn’t instantly crumble and collapse beneath your feet. However, the new mode isn’t enough to recommend Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for young players over something like Mario Bros. Wonder from an accessibility point of view (or most points of view, for that matter).

For those younger or inexperienced players, there’s still the Wii version’s ‘Super Guide’ feature, which allows players to summon an invincible Kong who will finish a level for you, though it’s not much fun watching the game on autopilot. There’s also a co-op option, which on the surface is welcome and makes progressing a bit easier (sometimes – instant deaths are still abundant), but like in the original, it feels like an afterthought that isn’t always compatible with the unpredictable and fast-paced design of the stages.

Overall, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a game that, despite its flaws, has aged better than I expected and made a primarily successful transition to Switch. In HD, it feels like a polished, confident platformer. However, it’s ultimately not as good as its sequel on the same platform, which has stronger levels, better ideas, more variety, and fewer sharp edges than its predecessor. Oh, and an incredible David Wise soundtrack.

For those for whom the original is fresh in the memory, there aren’t enough significant additions here to justify a replay. But for those who’ve played all the other hits the genre has to offer, and are looking for one more challenge, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a worthwhile experience and a worthy tribute to one of Nintendo’s most fondly-remembered platformer series.