Donkey Kong Bananza's barely launched a week ago, yet one dedicated player has already conquered the game without collecting a single banana.
AKfamilyhome shared their impressive feat on X/Twitter, posting: "Just completed Donkey Kong Bananza with zero bananas. Surprisingly enjoyable challenge – best attempted as a New Game+ run after full completion."
Remarkably, unlike typical speedrunners, AKfamilyhome achieved this without exploiting glitches or shortcuts. Their self-imposed restriction meant foregoing all banana-based upgrades – including permanent health boosts and DK's ability enhancements.
"I skipped Zebra Bananza and lacked the ostrich glide, but creative movement helped bypass certain sections," they explained. "Early game flows naturally, mid-game requires clever routing, but endgame becomes brutally punishing with 1-2 hit deaths."
The player hinted at hidden rewards: "No special dialogue for banana-free completion, but there is unique content if you never unlock any Bananza abilities."
Just beat Donkey Kong Bananza with 0 bananas
— AK (@Akfamilyhome) July 27, 2025
Honestly a fun challenge I recommended doing as a NG+ run after 100%
Our IGN Donkey Kong Bananza review praised it as "a revolutionary 3D platformer with impeccable movement mechanics, dynamic abilities, interactive environments, and brilliant challenges – Nintendo's first undisputed Switch 2 masterpiece," awarding a perfect 10/10 score.
Available exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2, Bananza has already inspired extensive coverage. We've interviewed developers about the game's origins and its Switch 2 exclusivity. Explore our complete developer interview here.
Meanwhile, speedrunners have already optimized completion times down to approximately 90 minutes – another testament to the game's depth and replayability.
