Players of Donkey Kong Bananza often highlight the satisfying destruction of environments as a key appeal. Now, an exciting new roguelike expansion, Emerald Rush, offers the chance to endlessly smash objects, earning valuable rewards in the process. This paid DLC is currently available for $20.
The Emerald Rush mode introduces a new currency, Emeralds, which you collect for Void Kong. Similar to Gold in the main game, Emeralds must be acquired rapidly within this mode. Void Kong sets collection quotas, requiring players to aggressively destroy surroundings for a few minutes per session. Each round also features bonus objectives—such as defeating specific enemy groups, breaking a set amount of rock, or interacting with a rhino—which, upon completion, trigger successive goals, encouraging fast-paced exploration.
While Emerald Rush requires completion of the base game, players start fresh with their abilities reset. Progress isn`t carried over; instead, you discover special bananas embedded in the environment that unlock specific skills, such as Turf Surf and Wind Up Punch, or Bananza abilities like the Ostrich egg drop. To ensure variety, these skill-bestowing bananas are randomized every few rounds. Additionally, collecting fossils grants access to various perks, including more Emeralds or improved treasure chest odds, which can be stacked for enhanced effects.
To assist in the destructive gameplay, players can utilize barrels for fast travel. Simpler difficulties provide more fast travel opportunities per round, while harder ones offer fewer, though these can be boosted with perks. A key strategic element is the ability to instantly spawn a barrel, which counts as a fast travel. This allows for tactical maneuvers, such as linking barrels to quickly traverse the map and access new areas.
Emerald Rush is playable across all existing levels of Donkey Kong Bananza, providing ample environments for players to explore in pursuit of Emeralds. Furthermore, the expansion introduces DK Island, a new hub area inspired by the classic Donkey Kong Country overworld. This island features recognizable landmarks like the Kong Hut, a pirate ship, a mountain shaped like DK`s head, a mine cart, and even enormous bongos. Beloved characters such as Cranky, Diddy, and Dixie can be found there, alongside an Easter egg tribute to Candy Kong. Players can also use banana chips to unlock indestructible character statues, which serve as decorations for their personalized DK Island.