Donkey Kong and his pal Diddy are two of Nintendo’s longest-serving mascots. The duo is due to hit screens again in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, and the release date is close.
Nintendo has decided to halt production of new Donkey Kong for now games in favor of ports. Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze was released 11 years ago now—representing the most recent “new” DK game. It was ported to Switch in 2018, and Nintendo has decided to go even further back and port Donkey Kong: Country Returns to Switch as well.
I’m not sure if this is a case of the Switch being at the end of its lifecycle ahead of the Nintendo Switch 2. Regardless, it never hurts to see Donkey Kong again! The big, lumbering mammoth of a monkey is here, and Country Returns on the Switch likewise.
When is the Donkey Kong Country Returns Switch Release Date?
The Donkey Kong Country Returns release date for Nintendo Switch is January 16.
Yep, get your fingers out and start counting. The HD port of Country Returns is gearing up to grace the Switch mere days from now. I’d say it looked pretty decent back in the day on the Wii, but a 2024 Switch release is worlds apart.
It’s also getting extra levels featured in the 3DS port, along with all the original features:
- Over 80+ levels
- 9 Worlds
- Boss Battles
- Lots of collectibles
- Time Attack levels
- Local co-op
Donkey Kong Country Returns Switch Release Time
We expect Donkey Kong Country Returns on Switch to release at midnight everywhere.
If games get a special release time, it’s usually announced ahead of launch. So far, we haven’t seen anything to suggest otherwise, so a midnight launch in your region is probably likely. Different timezones get to play Country Returns HD first—something I suffer from being in the UK—and DK fans will be going bananas for release day.
All Donkey Kong Country Returns Switch Platforms
Yep, Nintendo Switch is the only platform Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is coming to.
Not too much to add here if you don’t already know. Donkey Kong is one of Nintendo’s most cherished brands and lives on its consoles. You can play Country Returns on Wii and 3Ds, but the spruced-up, all-encompassing port is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is one of several games being released in January 2025. It’s a fairly quiet month, but the biggest Nintendo games coming out in 2025 are sure to shake the foundations a bit.
Let us know if you are picking up a copy of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on Switch. Plus, what do you think, is it time for Nintendo to pull their finger out and announce a new Donkey Kong entry?
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