Details on the rumored Donkey Kong game are scarce, but with gamers having gone eight years without a new Donkey Kong game, just about any kind of game would be a relief at this point. While Donkey Kong himself at least remains a consistent presence in Mario sports games and party games, his own franchise deserves acknowledgement too. Since Nintendo says that the Switch still has a few good years of operation left in it, hopefully that means the Donkey Kong franchise will stage a comeback in the coming years by finally coming to Switch in a big way.
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Donkey Kong’s Absence
There’s no doubt that Nintendo is aware of Donkey Kong’s important legacy. Nintendo Switch Online’s game library is filled with acclaimed Donkey Kong titles, both from the NES and SNES eras. In contrast to that, though, Nintendo hasn’t released a new installation in the series since 2014 when Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze came out. Tropical Freeze was warmly received, both in its original Wii U debut and its 2018 Switch version, so it’s not like Donkey Kong has fallen out of favor with Nintendo’s fans. Instead, it seems like Donkey Kong just hasn’t been a very high priority for Nintendo.
That certainly feels like a missed opportunity. Tropical Freeze sold very well on the Switch, so there’s definitely interest in a new Donkey Kong game exclusive to Nintendo’s current console. It’s just a matter of Nintendo deciding to deliver a new game. Thankfully, Nintendo’s recent comments on the Switch’s lifespan indicate that there’s still time for the Switch to get its own Donkey Kong title. Although the Switch is more than five years old, Nintendo says it’s in the middle of its life, rather than nearing the end. That means Donkey Kong still has ample opportunity to reclaim its former glory.
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A Possible Donkey Kong Resurgence
Nintendo didn’t reveal a Donkey Kong game in 2021 like leakers expected, but it still could be planning a new game. If the Switch does have multiple years of life ahead, then it would make sense if Nintendo wants Donkey Kong to help extend the console’s lifespan. Even though Nintendo missed Donkey Kong’s 40th anniversary last year, it could still plan a major Donkey Kong event sometime in the next few years, releasing a new Donkey Kong game while bringing a classic title like Donkey Kong 64 to NSO’s game library.
There was once a time when Donkey Kong was one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises. The original Donkey Kong games helped Mario get its start, and the Donkey Kong Country series was a champion of the SNES. Considering how important it is to the company’s history, Nintendo shouldn’t let Donkey Kong fall behind. The new Donkey Kong area in Super Nintendo World inspires some hope that Nintendo plans to celebrate the franchise in coming years, but with no game announcements at the latest Direct, it doesn’t look like fans should expect a new game anytime soon. Hopefully it won’t be much longer before Donkey Kong gets an exciting, experimental game, just like Nintendo’s other recent Switch titles.
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