MARIO VS. DONKEY KONG: A TIDY PUZZLE REMAKE THAT ENDS TOO SOON
7.0 of 10 bananas. A remake of the 2004 Game Boy Advance puzzle platformer. Mario chases Donkey Kong through rooms full of keys, switches, and Mini Marios. Clever and polished, but short, and priced like a bigger game.
By the Alpha. US version Switch cartridge listing. Updated Nov 5 2026.
Honest note: This is not a fresh hands-on playtest. I built this verdict from launch reviews, critic consensus, update history, and what is known about the game today. If I put real hours in on stream, I will update the score and say so.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch (developed by Nintendo Software Technology, published by Nintendo, released February 16 2024). Two player co-op. The Amazon button is the US version cartridge. At my Nov 5 2026 check it was sold by a third-party seller, The Wonder Stuff, at 48.37 dollars, and stock looked low. That is close to the 49.99 dollar list price, not a deal. Sellers and prices change, so look at the seller before you pay.
Get Mario vs. Donkey Kong for Switch on AmazonSit with me a moment. A big ape stole a factory full of toys, and a plumber has to get them back. I take this one personally. Luckily, Donkey Kong comes off better here than in most stories about my kind.
What It Wants To Be
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a puzzle platformer. Each level is a small room: grab the key, reach the door, then guide wind up Mini Marios to the exit. Mario flips, handstands, and climbs, but the real challenge is timing and order, not reflexes.
What Works
Critics put it in the mid 70s on Metacritic. The puzzles are clever and the remake adds new worlds, a Casual mode with extra lives, and local co-op. It looks and sounds bright and clean.
What Breaks
Listen well. It is short, and veterans will finish the main game in a few evenings. Co-op can make some puzzles easier than they should be. Paying close to 50 dollars for a remake of a handheld game is a lot.
Who Should Play
Play it if you like short, smart puzzle rooms or want something to share with a child. Skip it at this price if you need many hours; Captain Toad gives more puzzle for the money.
STRENGTHS
- Clever puzzle rooms
- Casual mode for beginners
- Local co-op
- Clean, bright remake
HONEST COSTS
- Short main game
- Near full price
- Co-op softens puzzles
- Third-party seller, stock looked low
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