Donkey Kong Bananza Climbs to Top of UK Charts, Outperforming Switch Predecessor

Donkey Kong Bananza Takes Number One Spot in UK Sales Charts, Surpassing Previous Franchise Entry The latest UK charts data highlights Donkey Kong Bananza as this week’s breakout hit, racing to the top of sales and outperforming long-standing favorites like Mario Kart World, Hogwarts Legacy, and EA Sports FC 25.

Developed and published by Nintendo, Donkey Kong Bananza is the latest installment in the iconic franchise, debuting on Nintendo Switch and the recently launched Switch 2.

Its strong launch underscores the enduring popularity of the Donkey Kong brand among UK players. According to industry analyst Chris Dring from The Game Business, Donkey Kong Bananza achieved a notable sales milestone: selling approximately three times as many copies as Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze did on the Nintendo Switch during its equivalent period.

However, the new release sold less than half of what Super Mario Odyssey managed at its own launch, demonstrating the ongoing dominance of the Mario brand in the Nintendo ecosystem. Addressing trends in consumer behavior, Dring explained that while digital sales have been increasing in 2025, Nintendo Switch users continue to show a preference for physical copies.

Recasting Dring's statement for clarity: the tendency for Switch owners to purchase physical over digital games remains evident, with only a slight shift toward digital adoption.

This is in contrast to the broader industry, where digital sales are increasingly outpacing physical formats. The launch context for Donkey Kong Bananza partially explains its sales figures relative to the likes of Super Mario Odyssey.

When Odyssey released in October 2017, the Nintendo Switch had already reached an installed base of approximately 14-15 million units, providing a much larger audience.

In contrast, with Bananza debuting less than two months after the release of Switch 2, the hardware platform is still gaining traction with early adopters, resulting in fewer consoles available in the market at the time of launch. Despite these factors, Donkey Kong Bananza’s performance is a strong showing for both Nintendo and the iconic primate hero.

This achievement is all the more impressive considering Mario’s enduring status as a Nintendo flagship character with decades of established popularity.

Recent efforts from Nintendo to further promote Donkey Kong as a leading character within its portfolio appear to be resonating with consumers. The latest GfK-compiled chart shows Donkey Kong Bananza leading a competitive lineup, with multi-platform releases like Hogwarts Legacy and EA Sports FC 25 also posting strong results across Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.

Rounding out the top five were Robocop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, highlighting the diversity of player interest across genres and franchises. With Donkey Kong Bananza’s strong debut, Nintendo solidifies its presence atop the UK sales charts for another week.

As the Switch 2 install base continues to grow and the digital-physical sales balance remains a focal point, industry observers will be watching closely to see how these trends evolve over the coming months.

Donkey Kong Nintendo Switch Donkey Kong Country Nintendo Donkey Kong Bananza Switch Tropical Freeze UK Charts UK Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Bananza