For the first time since the launch of the original Famicom, Donkey Kong has been made a big part of a Nintendo console release. Donkey Kong Bananza looks to

August is here, and while Nintendo Switch 2 owners are still blitzing through Donkey Kong: Bananza, the latest Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase gave us a better look at third-party titles coming in 2025 and beyond.

Donkey Kong first appeared in the 1981 arcade game of the same name and quickly became one of Nintendo's first iconic characters. Many mascots from this era struggled to stay relevant after home consoles took over the market, but Donkey Kong is one of the few that might be more popular today than he was over forty years ago.