Donkey Kong Bananza has done it the big ape just stomped to the top of the UK’s physical sales charts. That’s right. After years of silence, DK has swung back with his biggest launch yet. But while it’s a personal best for the banana-loving brute, he’s still a long way from matching Super Mario Odyssey’s debut.

According to Game Business boss Christopher Dring, Bananza sold three times more than Tropical Freeze in its first week. That’s huge. It proves there’s still serious love for Donkey Kong in 2025. But here’s the kicker it sold less than half of what Odyssey pulled when it launched on the Switch.

A big win for Donkey Kong, but Mario still reigns supreme

That said, the numbers only cover UK physical copies. No digital sales. No global stats. And let’s be real Nintendo fans still love their boxes and cartridges. So these early numbers matter. Just maybe not the full story.

The Bananza dev team includes some of the folks behind Odyssey, which explains the tight movement, creative worlds, and that unmistakable Nintendo charm. It looks like Mario’s DNA is baked right in but this time it’s louder, bolder, and packed with DK’s punchy attitude.

So while Bananza hasn’t knocked Mario off the top spot, it’s made a serious mark. And it’s only just getting started. Give it a few more weeks. We’ll see if this jungle king can keep climbing.

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