Is Donkey Kong 64 Coming To Switch?

Donkey Kong 64 is a 3D platforming action-adventure game that was released back in 1999 for the Nintendo 64. This title was Nintendo’s top seller during the holiday season of that year and had sold 2.3 million copies by 2004. Now that the current gen handheld console by the publisher is Nintendo Switch, many are curious to know if Donkey Kong 64 is coming to Switch any time soon. Here’s everything there is to know.

Is Donkey Kong 64 coming to Nintendo Switch?

With a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, players can access a collection of 9 Nintendo 64 games which includes Mario Kart 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Super Mario 64, and GoldenEye 007 but Donkey Kong 64 is nowhere to be seen. This has been the case since 2021 and there have been no news of more games being added to the list.

If you do want to scratch that itch for a Donkey Kong game on the Switch, you can go for Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze which made its way to the console on May 4, 2018. Originally released on the Wii U in 2014, it’s a side-scrolling platform game where Donkey Kong and his friends travel across various islands to defeat the Snowmads (Arctic invaders) and save their home.

Source: Nintendo

Check out the trailer here:

The possible reason behind no new Donkey Kong Games or Ports

It’s worth noting that Donkey Kong’s developer is Retro Studios and after their release of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze on the Switch, they have switched gears to working on Metroid Prime Remastered (released on February 8, 2023) and Metroid Prime 4 (which is yet to be announced).

Community Responses

Source: Nintendo

The lack of releases, announcements, or any information related to Donkey Kong on Switch has been noticed by Nintendo fans. In a Reddit post titled “Why is Nintendo still ignoring Donkey Kong?” user LukeTaliyahMain says “Donkey Kong is probably one of Nintendo’s most popular franchises, and still has only one game available on the Switch, and it’s a Wii U game. Even Metroid which isn’t that popular has got a Switch exclusive. They could at least make one of those spin-offs like Kirby has or anything. Anyway, is there still any chance of a new game on Switch?”

The top upvoted comment says:

“Just comes down to not having a dedicated studio to create a DK game. Rumor is the Mario Odyssey team is making a DK game. Retro Studios didn’t make another DK game after Tropical Freeze and is now working on Metroid Prime 4.”

Here are more responses:

Source: Reddit

Donkey Kong Games List

Source: ScykohPlays on Youtube

The first Donkey Kong game was released back in 1981 (called “Donkey Kong”) – it was an arcade game as well as a game for ColecoVision, Game & Watch. It was followed by Arcade games Donkey Kong Jr. and Donkey Kong 3.

With Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy Advance coming into the picture in 1994, Donkey Kong Country was introduced. Here’s the complete timeline of DK games to date:

• 1981 – Donkey Kong – Arcade, ColecoVision, Game & Watch
• 1982 – Donkey Kong Jr. – Arcade
• 1983 – Donkey Kong 3 – Arcade
• 1994 – Donkey Kong Country – Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy Advance
• 1995 – Donkey Kong Land – Game Boy
• 1995 – Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest – Super Nintendo Entertainment System
• 1996 – Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble! – Super Nintendo Entertainment System
• 1997 – Diddy Kong Racing – Nintendo 64
• 1999 – Donkey Kong 64 – Nintendo 64
• 2005 – DK: King of Swing – Game Boy Advance
• 2010 – Donkey Kong Country Returns – Wii, Nintendo 3DS
• 2014 – Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – Wii U, Nintendo Switch

Donkey Kong is one of the best-selling video game franchises and it’s possible that Nintendo may decide to allot a team to this project for Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2. Until then, we wait.

If you’re a fan of Nintendo and want to know if Pikachu is really a mouse or another animal, be sure to check out this article that will give you the answers!