Donkey Kong BananzaExplainer
Donkey Kong Bananza DLC: DK Island & Emerald Rush costs $19.99, and it's where the Super Mario Bros. event lives
Donkey Kong Bananza has one DLC, DK Island & Emerald Rush. Nintendo released it on Sept. 12, 2025, for $19.99 in the US eShop, or $89.98 bundled with the game. It adds DK Island, a modern take on Donkey Kong's home with locations like DK's Treehouse and Gangplank Galleon, and Emerald Rush, a timed challenge mode. Since then it has hosted limited-time events, including a Super Mario Bros. collaboration that started on June 9, 2026, with Mario and Luigi outfits for Donkey Kong and Pauline.
- Switch 2
Donkey Kong Bananza’s only expansion so far goes back to DK Island, and it keeps getting limited-time events. Here’s what the DLC costs, includes and how to start it.
What is the Donkey Kong Bananza DLC?
It’s called DK Island & Emerald Rush, and it came out on Sept. 12, 2025, two months after the game launched on Switch 2 on July 17, 2025. Nintendo’s US eShop sells it for $19.99, and the bundle with the game costs $89.98, which is the $69.99 game plus the DLC at full price.
It’s the game’s only DLC, according to Nintendo’s support site. The download is small: Nintendo’s store data puts it at about 0.9 GB, on top of the roughly 9 GB game.
What’s on DK Island?
A modern take on Donkey Kong’s home, packed with nostalgic views like DK’s Treehouse and Gangplank Galleon. Nintendo says you can take in-game photos with Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, Cranky Kong, Rambi and Squawks, decorate the island with DLC-exclusive character statues bought with Banandium Chips, and find hidden bonus stages among the mine cart tracks and jungle ruins.
You don’t have to finish the game to visit. Talking to Squawks after reaching the Racing Layer gives you a first look at DK Island, and after the main story it becomes its own Layer that you can reach from the Warp Gong. The Ver. 2.0.0 update that added the DLC also raised the Banandium Chip limit from 9,999 to 99,999.
How does Emerald Rush work?
It’s a mode that plays quite differently from the main game, according to Nintendo. You take on timed, repeatable challenges that get harder as you go, starting from the ground up and rebuilding Donkey Kong’s power and skills across DK Island and Layers of the Underground World. Collecting emerald ore earns exclusive in-game rewards and perks.
Emerald Rush opens after you clear the main storyline. Once you’re on DK Island, you talk to Void Kong to start it.
What events has the DLC had?
Nintendo has run several limited-time events, all for players who finished the main story and own the DLC. Chip Fever ran from Oct. 28 to Nov. 3, 2025, with exclusive statues of Enguarde and Kong Bananza. Another Emerald Rush event ran from Jan. 20 to Jan. 26, 2026, with statues of Tucks and Lord Fredrik and predetermined skills in place of random ones.
Then came the Super Mario Bros. collaboration, announced during the Nintendo Direct of June 9, 2026, and held in four waves, starting the same day. It gave Donkey Kong and Pauline outfits inspired by Mario and Luigi, plus ? Blocks, Super Mushrooms and more during the event.
Will there be more DLC?
Nintendo hasn’t announced a second expansion. The latest game update listed on its support site is Ver. 3.2.0, released on Feb. 24, 2026, with bug fixes, after Ver. 3.1.0 added Polish and Ver. 3.0.0 added Thai and a camera auto-follow option.
For Nintendo’s next big platformer, see our new 3D Mario game page. For other Nintendo games that keep getting updates, see our Mario Kart World update and Kirby Air Riders update pages, and for everything with a date, our upcoming Switch 2 games list.
This page is updated as soon as Nintendo announces a new event, update or DLC for Donkey Kong Bananza.
FAQ
How much is the Donkey Kong Bananza DLC?
DK Island & Emerald Rush costs $19.99 in Nintendo’s US eShop. The bundle with the full game is $89.98, and the game alone is $69.99.
When did the Donkey Kong Bananza DLC come out?
On Sept. 12, 2025, alongside the game’s Ver. 2.0.0 update, which added support for it.
How do I start the Donkey Kong Bananza DLC?
You can get a first look at DK Island by talking to Squawks after reaching the Racing Layer. After you finish the main story, you reach DK Island by striking the Warp Gong, and you start Emerald Rush by talking to Void Kong there.
What is the Donkey Kong Bananza Mario event?
A limited-time Super Mario Bros. collaboration inside the DLC, announced on June 9, 2026, and held in four waves. Players who have beaten the main game and own the DLC get outfits for Donkey Kong and Pauline inspired by Mario and Luigi, plus ? Blocks and Super Mushrooms during the event.
Do I need to beat Donkey Kong Bananza before playing the DLC?
Not for a first look at DK Island, which opens after the Racing Layer. Emerald Rush, statue decorating on DK Island and the in-game events need you to finish the main story.
Will there be more Donkey Kong Bananza DLC?
Nintendo hasn’t announced any. Its support site lists DK Island & Emerald Rush as the game’s only DLC.
How big is the Donkey Kong Bananza DLC?
Nintendo’s store data puts it at about 0.9 GB, on top of the game’s roughly 9 GB.
Pop quiz
1 questions from this story.
Which Kong-themed location from older games is part of DK Island?
Nintendo’s store lists DK’s Treehouse and Gangplank Galleon among the nostalgic locations on DK Island.
Your call
Have you played DK Island & Emerald Rush?
