Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fairly straightforward port that'll fill enough time on the road to the Switch 2.The Latest Tech News, Delivered to Your Inbox

It’s called Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, and it’s basically what it says right there in the title: the original game but with cleaned-up graphics. Fundamentally, there isn’t a lot of difference. The premise,

The Switch 2's reveal is imminent, but there are still Switch games coming out --here's when DK Country Returns HD hits the eShop.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is the definitive version of a great platformer that finally brings the best of the Wii and 3DS versions into one. But the lack of new stuff makes it a hard sell as a full-priced Nintendo Switch game.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD launches January 16, 2025 for Nintendo Switch.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for the Nintendo Switch takes aspects of each of these rereleases — motion controls, bonus levels, enhanced visuals — and packages them into the ultimate experience. It’s easily the best the game has ever looked and felt,

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD takes everything that worked on Wii and 3DS and adds an HD coat of paint and multiple control schemes.

As for the frame rate, this version runs at 60fps at 1080p, which is a step up on the 3DS entry which was dropped back to 30fps. Digital Foundry sums this release up as both "good and disappointing" - while the remastering efforts have been "largely successful" the areas where it falls short apparently "feel less acceptable".

I owe Donkey Kong Country Returns HD an apology. I laughed in disbelief at its initial announcement because it’s not only the third time Nintendo has sold us a version of this 2010 Wii platformer, it’s also the third Switch re-release Donkey Kong has seen despite not getting a completely new adventure in the last decade.

The 2010 franchise revival gets a makeover and some modern conveniences, but wild difficulty spikes make it tough to recommend for anyone but the most dedicated DKC fan.