Does Donkey Kong Make an Appearance This Summer?

With E3 once again shelved for 2022, we can assume that Nintendo will still release some type of Nintendo Direct between now and August. With big games coming this summer, the next Direct will be looking at games coming in the future. We likely will get an extended look at Breath of the Wild 2, Spatoon 3, and other titles. But one game I think Nintendo fans NEED to see is something within the Donkey Kong universe.

It’s been a while since a new Donkey Kong game has launched on console. Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze technically launched back on the Nintendo Wii U, and the Switch version was more-or-less a simple port with a few minor additions to make it more accessible for all players. It’s been too long since we had a Donkey Kong game, and I think Nintendo will rectify that with an announcement this summer.

Thing is, I’m pretty much over 2D game experiences. Although I enjoyed Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, I want to see Nintendo return to the ideas that made Donkey Kong 64 such a fantastic experience. And with new engines to use, brand new storylines to pull from, a brand new 3D Donkey Kong game could be a major hit.

What I don’t want Nintendo to do is go the route of Kirby and the Forgotten Land. While that was a nice take on the 2D experience – with linear levels in a 3D space – Nintendo needs a banger of a platforming title, much like Super Mario Odyssey was. They teased the idea with Kirby, but didn’t deliver when the final product landed (although it was still a great game). What do you want to see if Nintendo does a Direct this summer? Is it more Donkey Kong? Is it a sequel to Super Mario Odyssey? Let me know in the comments!