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.

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

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.

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,

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

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.

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".

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,

A copy of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD was provided for review by publisher Nintendo.