Canopy Cannons will require Donkey Kong Country Returns HD players to carefully time the use of barrels if they want all the collectibles.

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.

Nintendo's first release of 2025 is almost upon us, with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD set to swing onto Switch on 16th January.

But Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a different situation. It’s the third time players might have experienced Donkey Kong Country Returns. And while it was a great game back then and today, it’s since been eclipsed by its sequel,

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a remaster of a game that was on the Wii and then on the Nintendo 3DS. I played both versions, and also this newest version. Donkey Kong's a great game, but Nintendo should reconsider how it prices classics like this in the future as we approach Year 9 of the Switch Family's lifecycle.

John Linneman examines Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for Nintendo Switch. Does porting developer Forever Entertainment hit a new high point with Nintendo help?