Why a New Donkey Kong Game Could Look Drastically Different From Returns, Tropical Freeze
The Future of Donkey Kong: A Shift in Design and Direction
The Donkey Kong franchise has been on a bit of a hiatus, leaving fans eager for new content. While Donkey Kong continues to make appearances in major Nintendo titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, his own series has been left largely dormant. The last mainline entry, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, debuted on the Wii U in 2014. Since then, there’s been a noticeable lull in new releases, with only a few remakes, remasters, and spin-offs keeping the franchise afloat.
With Nintendo’s focus elsewhere on its iconic series, such as Zelda and Mario, it remains unclear when Donkey Kong will get his next major adventure. Retro Studios, the developer behind recent Donkey Kong Country games, is currently tied up with the development of Metroid Prime 4, meaning it’s unlikely the studio will return to Donkey Kong anytime soon. Meanwhile, most of the older Donkey Kong games have already made their way to the Nintendo Switch, leaving few significant installments to port. Despite this, it's all but certain that a new Donkey Kong game will eventually come—though when it does, it could look very different from what fans are used to.
Donkey Kong’s New Look: A Shift in Design
A major change on the horizon might come in the form of Donkey Kong’s updated character design. A recent look at Mario Kart 9 (a.k.a. the next Mario Kart game for the Nintendo Switch 2) reveals a noticeable redesign for the character. Donkey Kong’s usual fierce and serious look is replaced with a more cheerful and silly appearance. His face now sports a playful, almost mischievous expression, with rounder eyes and a bulkier build, deviating from his traditional scowling look.
Interestingly, this new take on Donkey Kong has some notable similarities to the version seen in The Super Mario Bros. Movie rather than his previous video game appearances. This raises questions about how much of this redesigned look might influence future Donkey Kong titles.
A New Era for Donkey Kong?
Nintendo appears to be fully embracing this newer, more lighthearted version of Donkey Kong. Recent merchandise featuring the character showcases this updated design, moving away from the iconic version crafted by Rare and artist Kevin Bayless back in the 1990s for Donkey Kong Country. While this shift may be disappointing to long-time fans who adore the classic look, it’s becoming clear that the change is more than just a passing phase.
The Future of Donkey Kong Games: 3D and Redesigns
As rumors swirl about a new 3D Donkey Kong game for the Nintendo Switch 2, the character’s new design might be a key feature of this future release. If true, this would mark Donkey Kong’s first 3D adventure since Donkey Kong 64 in 1999. Whether these rumors come to fruition or not, it’s almost guaranteed that the redesigned Donkey Kong from Mario Kart 9 will be the face of any upcoming mainline games, signaling the start of a new era for the iconic ape.
Donkey Kong may be changing in ways fans didn’t expect, but as long as he’s swinging into new adventures, there's hope for a bright future for the franchise—one that might just look a little different than before.