Summary
Donkey Kong Country Returns HDrevitalizes the classic charm of the Donkey Kong platforming series, bringing beloved gameplay and vivid environments to modern consoles. With its challenging levels, beautiful visuals, and rewarding exploration, the game offers a nostalgic trip for both longtime fans and newcomers. But after conquering every challenge and collecting all the treasures the game has to offer, what’s next?
If you’re looking for more of the same thrilling platforming action, engaging puzzles, and colorful worlds, there are several other games that capture the same spirit and excitement that made you fall in love with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. Here are some recommendations to keep the adventure going.
9Commander Keen: Secret Of The Oracle
Commander Keen is a classic platforming series that originally debuted on DOS, following the adventures of Billy Blaze, aka Commander Keen, as he travels across the galaxy to thwart a Vorticon invasion and save Earth. The series is notable for its innovative mechanics, cleverly designed levels, challenging enemies, and a quirky sense of humor that still resonates with fans of retro games.
Commander Keen: Secret of the Oracle is included in the Commander Keen Complete Pack on Steam.
At first glance, Commander Keen and Donkey Kong Country Returns HD might seem like they share little in common beyond their platforming roots. However, fans of Donkey Kong’s intricate level design, pattern-based gameplay, and wry humor will find a lot to enjoy in Commander Keen. Both games reward precision, timing, and exploration, making them a satisfying challenge for players of all skill levels.
If you’re a fan of animal protagonists, The Purring Quest is a must-play platforming adventure. This charming side-scroller, with hints of 3D gameplay mechanics, puts you in the paws of Kimchi the cat as he embarks on a heartfelt journey across a bustling city to reunite with his beloved owner.
Much like Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, The Purring Quest combines tight platforming mechanics with an infectious sense of humor. The game is filled with witty, tongue-in-cheek moments, including clever self-referential jabs from the developers. This playful tone adds a layer of lighthearted fun to the experience, making every level feel engaging and delightfully quirky.
LittleBigPlanet is a delightful platforming adventure that invites you to not only traverse beautifully crafted levels but to unleash your creativity by designing and sharing your own. You take on the role of a Sackperson, an adorable, customizable crocheted character, on a mission to stop the nefarious Collector from hoarding the creations and citizens of LittleBigPlanet.
For fans of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, LittleBigPlanet offers a similarly rich platforming experience, blending clever level design with challenging mechanics. Its groundbreaking physics engine and stunningly realistic graphics were ahead of their time, creating a tactile and immersive experience.
While Donkey Kong focuses on polished, developer-crafted levels, LittleBigPlanet stands out by encouraging players to become creators themselves.
Hollow Knight is a stunning, hand-drawn platforming game that evokes the spirit of classic 80s and 90s platformers while carving its own identity with its challenging gameplay and atmospheric storytelling.Renowned for its difficulty, the game requires players to think critically and master their strategies.
Each enemy operates with set attack patterns, and success hinges on your ability to analyze these patterns and devise effective countermeasures.
This methodical approach mirrors the gameplay style of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, which preserves the core mechanics of the original Donkey Kong Country series. Both games demand precise timing, sharp reflexes, and keen pattern recognition to navigate intricate levels and overcome formidable bosses.
Whether you’re evading spikes in Hallownest or dodging Tiki Tak Tribe attacks, Hollow Knight and Donkey Kong Country Returns HD both deliver a rewarding challenge.
5DuckTales Remastered
Like Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, DuckTales Remastered brings a beloved classic platformer to modern consoles, offering a fresh yet familiar experience. In this reimagined version of the classic DuckTales game, you play as the adventurous Scrooge McDuck, embarking on a quest to uncover five ancient treasures. But he has to hurry: the Beagle Boys and the cunning Magica De Spell are hot on his tail!
DuckTales Remastered excels at making quality-of-life improvements, such as enhanced graphics, voice acting, and smoother controls, while staying true to the charm and mechanics of the original game. The whimsical levels are filled with quirky enemies and obstacles, providing challenges for gamers of all skill levels.
As you progress through each stage, you’ll collect treasures and other items, unlocking bonus content, just like the bananas and puzzle pieces found in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD.
Crash Bandicoot is one of the most iconic platforming franchises of the 1990s, known for its quirky storytelling, vibrant visuals, and addictive gameplay. The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy brings togetherCrash Bandicoot, Cortex Strikes Back, and Warped in a remastered collectionfor modern consoles.
The trilogy not only updates the graphics and mechanics but also retains the charm and nostalgia of the original games, ensuring both new and returning players have an engaging experience.
Crash Bandicoot and Donkey Kong Country Returns HD share a lot of common ground, from their intricate level designs and emphasis on collectibles to their lighthearted sense of humor. However, Crash Bandicoot amps up the stakes, with its protagonist going head-to-head with the evil Doctor Neo Cortex, who seeks world domination.
Meanwhile, Donkey Kong’s adventure centers around recovering his stolen bananas from the mischievous Tiki Tak Tribe.
Whether you’re timing precise jumps, smashing crates, or relishing the quirky antics of the protagonists, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy offers a fantastic follow-up for fans of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy, released in 2018, revitalizes the original three Spyro the Dragon games for a new generation of gamers: Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage, and Spyro: Year of the Dragon. With updated graphics and refined mechanics, the trilogy allows you to dive into the vibrant Dragon Kingdom, teaming up with Spyro’s dragonfly companion, Sparx, to save their world from a variety of threats.
While Donkey Kong Country Returns HD follows a more traditional, linear platforming structure, the Spyro Reignited Trilogy adopts an open-world level design. Each level encourages players to explore every nook and cranny, using Spyro’s abilities like gliding, charging, and fire-breathing to uncover hidden secrets and collect valuable treasures.
Despite these differences in design, the platforming roots of both games create a similar sense of satisfaction and challenge. Fans of Donkey Kong’s clever level design, environmental charm, and quirky humor will feel right at home in Spyro’s lush and imaginative worlds.
Kirby stands proudly alongside Mario and Donkey Kong asone of Nintendo’s most beloved icons. Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a shining gem in the franchise, offering a fresh and exciting modern take on the series.
Much like Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, this game showcases stellar 3D platforming, packed with secrets, Easter eggs, and an abundance of collectibles to keep you engaged.
The levels in Kirby and the Forgotten Land are bursting with vibrant colors, quirky characters, and imaginative settings. From sprawling landscapes to intricately designed challenges, each stage invites exploration and rewards curiosity.
Coupled with Kirby’s signature Copy Abilities and the introduction of Mouthful Mode, the game delivers an engaging experience that parallels the charm and excitement of DK’s adventures.
1Disney Castle Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (2013)
Disney breathed new life into their Sega Genesis classic Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse with a 2013 remaster, delivering much-needed quality-of-life upgrades and stunningly enhanced graphics. Despite these modernizations, the game preserved the charm and core gameplay mechanics that made it a beloved classic in the early 1990s.
In this adventure, you play as Mickey Mouse, navigating through the treacherous castle of the wicked Mizrabel to rescue Minnie Mouse. The gameplay and level design share many similarities with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD.
Both games are rooted in the platforming traditions of the early ’90s, where success hinges on precise timing, pattern recognition, and plenty of practice. While neither game boasts an overly long playtime, their abundant collectibles, hidden secrets, and captivating visuals ensure high replayability.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
WHERE TO PLAY
Help Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong recover their precious banana hoard from the villainous Tiki Tak Tribe! Stomp enemies, blast through barrels, and ride rockets and mine carts (and even Rambi the rhino) in 80 levels across nine worlds.Play the game as it was first designed for the Wii™ system, or reduce the difficulty for extra hearts and other goodies to make your journey a little easier. This barrel-blasting adventure is visually enhanced in HD for the Nintendo Switch™ system and includes the extra levels from the Nintendo 3DS™ version!Team up with a friend and take on the whole game as Donkey Kong and Diddy KongPass a Joy-Con™ controller to a buddy and take on the Tiki Tak Tribe as DK and Diddy in two-player local play. Pelt foes with Diddy’s Peanut Popgun and hover using his Barrel Jet, and slam bad guys into submission with DK’s Ground Pound—or just Barrel Roll right through them. Work together to reclaim those bananas by the bunch!
