Donkey Kong Bananza’s first DLC, DK Island & Emerald Rush, was announced and is available on Nintendo Switch 2 today for $19.99.
For those who enjoyed Donkey Kong 64, and even some who didn’t, get ready to be hit with a wave of nostalgia, as Donkey Kong Island, the hub of that game, has been brought back and rebuilt on a smaller scale in Donkey Kong Bananza.
DK Island & Emerald Rush Releases Today
In DK Island & Emerald Rush, Donkey Kong and Pauline run around the Kong’s home area, where you can interact with Diddy, Dixie, Cranky, and more familiar faces. While it seems you can go here any time, if you have finished the main game’s story, you will get access to the Emerald Rush part of the game.
After finishing the story, talk to Void Kong on DK Island, and he will hire you to Void Company to gather emeralds for him. This is a timed mode that requires you to run all around the area, grabbing enough of the green ore to fulfill your quota. During this time, all of the gold veins and other collectibles from the main game will turn into emeralds.
As you get higher into the rounds, you will be expected to grab more for Void Kong, of course. To help yourself out, you will want to grab fossils, which unlock one of three random perks. Banadium gems will also give DK a random skill to help out on the run. Unfortunately, all of these perks and skills are not permanent, and reset every time you start a new run.
While there isn’t a new story attached to DK Island & Emerald Rush, doing well enough will unlock new cosmetics for DK and Pauline and various statues to display on the island. If you want to, you’ll also be able to play Emerald Rush on other Donkey Kong Banana levels.
Are you planning on getting Donkey Kong Bananza’s DK Island & Emerald Rush DLC? It seems like it could be a fun side mode. Let us know in the comments or the Insider Gaming forum.
For other games announced at the Nintendo Direct, see our round-up.
John has been covering the game industry since 2017, covering all kinds of games and topics in that timespan. He loves his Nintendo games and enjoys achievement hunting as well.…
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