Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is on sale for only $40 a few months after its release on Nintendo Switch

Donkey Kong Nintendo Switch Games Are Discounted Ahead Of Bananza's Release

For Donkey Kong fans, the drought is almost over as the greatest of Apes will once again headline a brand-new game in the form of Donkey Kong Bananza. It'll be the first 3D adventure for the franchise since 1999's Donkey Kong 64. If you're looking forward to the Switch 2 exclusive and want to spend time with the DK Crew before July 17, you can save on the franchise's modern side-scrollers for Nintendo Switch.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD just released earlier this year, but it's available for $20 off at Amazon-owned retailer Woot. This deal probably won't remain in stock for very long, so check out Amazon's $42.50 deal on a region-free World Edition if Woot is sold out. Speaking of games that are sold out at Woot, the discount shop had Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze for $42 last week; as of today, you can get Tropical Freeze for $49 at Amazon. Woot also has a nice deal on Mario vs. Donkey Kong, in case you're in the mood to return to the days when DK's sole mission in life was to annoy Mario.

Take a closer look at physical editions of all three games below.

DK and Diddy returned (again) in January, this time in HD on Nintendo Switch. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a stellar side-scrolling platformer featuring nine distinct worlds and 80 levels.

DKC Returns earned a reputation as one of the most challenging Nintendo platformers when it originally released on Wii back in 2010. Longtime fans and anyone who loves tricky platformers will be pleased to know the original difficulty setting are still present. But this release also has the modified, more forgiving settings introduced in the 2013 Nintendo 3DS port. Even with the friendlier settings enabled, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD asks more of you than most modern Nintendo platformers.

You can play through the entire adventure solo or with a partner. The local co-op mode is a blast and makes the experience more approachable for novices and youngsters.

Though it's too small for the Switch 2, it's worth noting that RDS Industries released an officially licensed Donkey Kong Country Returns Nintendo Switch carrying case alongside the game earlier this year. The carrying case showcases the game's key art and is $20 at Amazon.

See at Woot ($40) See at Amazon ($42.50) See at Amazon ($50)

Despite first releasing in 2014, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical is the most recent brand-new entry in the series. It's the only other modern side-scroller in the franchise, and it (thankfully) feels quite similar to Donkey Kong Country Returns in motion. Overall, there's more variety and playfulness on hand in Tropical Freeze's 63 levels. That may sound like a big drop in level count, but many of the levels take longer to complete, so the games feel roughly the same length in the end.

Like most of the Wii U's best games, Tropical Freeze got a second chance at life on Switch. It's not quite as challenging as its predecessor, so we'd actually recommend starting here if you're new to the series. Tropical Freeze also has more playable characters. Beyond Donkey and Diddy Kong, you can play as Cranky, Dixie, or Funky. Each character has their own unique moves and feels different enough to warrant multiple playthroughs.

Though Tropical Freeze is basically the same game on Switch and Wii U, the addition of Funky Kong essentially created an assist mode similar to Nabbit and Toadette in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. Funky Kong can double jump and hover, and his surfboard lets him stand on spikes.

See at Amazon See at Walmart See at Woot (sold out)

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is nothing like the two DKC platformers above. Instead, this remake of the Game Boy Advance classic lets Donkey Kong return to his days as a villain. Essentially a spiritual successor to Donkey Kong on Game Boy--which itself is an homage to the classic arcade game--Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a puzzle-platformer that favors quick wits rather than reflexes.

After Donkey Kong steals a bunch of Mini-Mario toys, you have to get them back by completing a wide assortment of room-based challenges. Mario vs. Donkey Kong has more than 130 levels in all. Most levels are bite-sized and can be completed in a few minutes, but it also has some clever boss fights and cool optional challenges.

Just be aware that even though this is technically a platformer, Mario moves much slower than he does in the mainline Super Mario series. There's a weightiness to the movement system that emphasizes the methodical puzzle focus.

If Woot sells out of the $40 deal, you can get a region-free European import from Amazon for $44.

See at Woot

As a reminder, these Switch games are also compatible with the Switch 2, and they all have the full game on the cartridge, just in case you aren't a fan of Nintendo's Game-Key Card system. All of Nintendo's first-party Switch 2 games also have the full game on the card, so you collectors don't have to worry about this with Donkey Kong Bananza either.

Donkey Kong Bananza preorders are available at multiple major retailers, including Amazon. You can also reserve the adorable new Amiibo featuring Donkey Kong and Pauline.

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Donkey Kong Lego Sets at Amazon

Heads up for Donkey Kong fans who like building Lego sets: Amazon recently restocked all four of the discontinued Donkey Kong expansion sets in the Lego Super Mario lineup. Lego retired the Donkey Kong sets last fall, and a couple of them have been sold out everywhere for months, including Donkey Kong's Tree House. Amazon also has Dixie Kong's Jungle Jam for 30% off and Diddy Kong's Mine Cart Ride for 20% off. Rambi the Rhino rounds out the lineup as a small $11 buildable figure. Amazon is the only major retailer still carrying these Lego sets.

You can also save on Donkey Kong & DK Jumbo, the 387-piece building set from Lego's new Mario Kart series that debuted this year. All five Donkey Kong-themed Lego sets are compatible with the Lego Super Mario, Luigi, and Peach electronic figures included with the discounted Adventures with Mario Lego Starter Sets.

• Donkey Kong's Tree House (555 pieces) -- $60
• Mario Kart: Donkey Kong & DK Jumbo (387 pieces) -- $29.49 ($35)
• Diddy Kong's Mine Cart Ride (1,157 pieces) -- $90 ($110) | Also at Walmart
• Dixie Kong's Jungle Jam (174 pieces) -- $18.89 ($27)
• Rambi the Rhino Expansion Set (106 pieces) -- $11
• Save on Lego Super Mario Starter Sets - Mario, Luigi, and Peach
• Save on more Lego Mario Kart Sets

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Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Donkey Kong Country Returns Mario vs. Donkey Kong Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 Donkey Kong Bananza

This story originally appeared on: GameSpot - Author:UK GAG