The Kong is back, once again. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is set to release exclusively for Nintendo Switch on January 16, 2025. A souped-up version of the 2010 original, which came out on Wii, it’s a 2D side-scrolling platformer that offers plenty of challenge and creativity. You can preorder it now from a number of retailers (see it at Best Buy). Read on for the details.
Preorder Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
- Get it at Best Buy – $59.99
- Get it at Nintendo eShop (digital) – $59.99
- See it at GameStop – (not yet available)
The standard edition is all that's available. But it comes with the game, so that's all you really need, isn't it? And in case you're waiting for this game to appear on Amazon, you may be waiting a while. Recent Switch games haven't gone up for preorder on Amazon for whatever reason. They go up at launch instead.
What is Donkey Kong Country Returns HD?
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a new version of a game that’s already been re-released before. After initially launching on Wii in 2010, Nintendo put it out on 3DS in 2013, with eight new levels that were exclusive to the handheld version. In this new HD release, every level from the original game will appear, as will the extra 3DS levels.
As I mentioned above, this is a tough game that pulls no punches in the difficulty department. For this new release, you can play it in its original challenging form, or you can enable an easier mode from the 3DS release, which gives you extra hearts and other help along the way. Any way you slice it, you’ll be jumping over pits, swinging on vines, blasting out of barrels, collecting bananas, and a whole lot more. You can even play two-player couch co-op when you find Diddy Kong in the game.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is an excellent game, and it’s good to see it get new life on the Switch.
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Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Threads.
