Donkey Kong Bananza has only been available for a week, yet one highly dedicated player has already finished the game without collecting a single banana.
Announcing this achievement on X/Twitter, AKfamilyhome stated: "Just completed Donkey Kong Bananza with zero bananas. Surprisingly, it was a really enjoyable challenge. I'd recommend trying it as a New Game+ run after achieving 100% completion."
What makes this particularly noteworthy is that, unlike many achievement hunters and speedrunners, AKfamilyhome achieved this feat without relying on any tricky glitches or shortcuts. They simply refrained from picking up any bananas — which meant they couldn’t unlock extra permanent health upgrades or improve DK's core abilities using skill points.
"I skipped Zebra Bananza and didn't have access to the ostrich glide ability, but certain sections can still be bypassed with precise movement techniques," they explained. "The early game feels fairly straightforward, but as you progress, you need to discover creative ways to navigate around specific obstacles. By the end, you really have to focus, because almost any hit results in a one or two-hit death."
"I didn't notice any special dialogue for finishing the game without bananas, but there IS unique dialogue if you complete it without ever collecting one of the Bananzas," they hinted.
Just beat Donkey Kong Bananza with 0 bananas
— AK (@Akfamilyhome) July 27, 2025
Honestly a fun challenge I recommended doing as a NG+ run after 100% pic.twitter.com/ZM1S82gkb4
In IGN's Donkey Kong Bananza review, we described the game as "a truly groundbreaking 3D platformer, combining satisfying movement, powerful abilities, impressive destructible environments, and cleverly designed challenges into a seamless experience—making it Nintendo’s first masterpiece for the Switch 2." We gave it a perfect 10/10 score.
Donkey Kong Bananza launched last week as an exclusive title for the Nintendo Switch 2. For further insights, we’ve compiled several interviews with the development team, covering topics such as the initial concept behind the game and why releasing on the Nintendo Switch 2 was essential. You can read the full interview here.
Were you aware that speedrunners have already discovered ways to finish the game in as little as 90 minutes?
