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Our experts have spent time searching for great games similar to Donkey Kong Country Returns and have found the following:
Donkey Kong Country Returns is a running, jumping and bashing game where you play Donkey Kong and other characters trying to reclaim their island from the Tiki Tak Tribe. It's a return to the side-on platforming of the classic Donkey Kong 64 in 1999.
Unfortunately, Donkey Kong Country Returns is not available on Android, Mac, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox X|S or iOS. However, we recommend the following games that offer a similar experience or theme:
Release Date: 21/11/2010, updated in 2013
Out Now: 3DS and 2DS, Wii and Wii U
Skill Rating: 6+ year-olds
Players: 1-2
Genres: Action, Platform (Adventure, Collecting, Puzzle and Traversal)
Accessibility: 17 features
Components: 2D Side-On
Developer: Retro Studios (@RetroStudios)
Costs: Purchase cost
Here are our hand-picked short list of similar games; the perfect thing to play next if you enjoyed Donkey Kong Country Returns. We don't use automatic matching, instead, we hand-pick games that are good to play if you have enjoyed Donkey Kong Country Returns.
Ori and the Blind Forest is a running and jumping game that places you in control of a diminutive guardian spirit.
Ori and the Blind Forest is a running and jumping game that places you in control of a diminutive guardian spirit. You traverse and solve platforming challenges to progress through the world while fighting off monsters.
Out Now: PC, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox X|S
AntonBlast is a frantic running-and-jumping game where you play a disgruntled construction worker who has a feud with Satan.
AntonBlast is a frantic running-and-jumping game where you play a disgruntled construction worker who has a feud with Satan. It's reminiscent of the classic Wario Land games, as you smash through buildings, enemies, and obstacles with your hammer.
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Yoshi's Woolly World is a running and jumping game where you play a character in a world made of wool and other craft materials.
Yoshi's Woolly World is a running and jumping game where you play a character in a world made of wool and other craft materials. You explore, jump and run your way around, solving puzzles and collecting items to complete each stage.
Out Now: 3DS and 2DS and Wii U
Rayman Legends is a platform game, the sequel to Rayman Origins, where you get sucked into a painting that takes you to a fantasy world with all sorts of creative running and jumping challenges.
Rayman Legends is a platform game, the sequel to Rayman Origins, where you get sucked into a painting that takes you to a fantasy world with all sorts of creative running and jumping challenges. You play through the 120 levels, with up to four players working together to run, jump and attack their way through the level.
Out Now: PC, PS Vita, PS3, PS4, Switch, Wii U, Xbox 360 and Xbox One
Rayman Origins is a platform game where you run, jump, swing and attack your way through fantasy cartoon levels.
Rayman Origins is a platform game where you run, jump, swing and attack your way through fantasy cartoon levels. It stands out because of the strong characters and variety of different enemies ranging in difficulty.
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Unruly Heroes is a hectic martial arts running, jumping and hitting game.
Unruly Heroes is a hectic martial arts running, jumping and hitting game. You play one of four heroes on a quest to collect all the scroll fragments and restore balance.
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Here are our hand-picked long list of similar games; the perfect thing to play next if you enjoyed Donkey Kong Country Returns. We don't use automatic matching, instead, we hand-pick games that are good to play if you have enjoyed Donkey Kong Country Returns.
New Super Lucky's Tale is a running and jumping game where you play a fox on a quest to recover pages from a magical book that will save his world.
New Super Lucky's Tale is a running and jumping game where you play a fox on a quest to recover pages from a magical book that will save his world. Play is action-oriented but the islands and characters are full of quirky characters and treasures.
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ElecHead is a running and jumping puzzle game where you control a character who is a source of electricity.
ElecHead is a running and jumping puzzle game where you control a character who is a source of electricity. With this power, you activate the platforms you need to progress in unusual and puzzling ways.
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Eagle Island is a running and jumping adventure where you play Quill and his owl companion Koji as they uncover the secrets of Eagle Island.
Eagle Island is a running and jumping adventure where you play Quill and his owl companion Koji as they uncover the secrets of Eagle Island. You work your way through levels using falconry-inspired attacks to take down enemies.
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Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a running and jumping game.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a running and jumping game. It's a spinoff of the LittleBigPlanet series and follows Sackboy and three friends as they explore, collect and battle their way through a fantasy world.
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Super Mario Galaxy is a running, jumping and exploration game that takes Mario to hundreds of different planet-shaped levels as you race to save Princess Peach from Bowser's claws.
Super Mario Galaxy is a running, jumping and exploration game that takes Mario to hundreds of different planet-shaped levels as you race to save Princess Peach from Bowser's claws. It stands out for the way the mind-bending physics and ever-changing gravity add a new twist to the classic platforming play.
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Sonic the Hedgehog is a series of games starring an athletic blue hedgehog who runs, jumps and bounces his way around platform levels. Created as Sega's answer to Mario, Sonic is now on all modern video game platforms.
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Yoshi's Crafted World is a running and jumping game where you control a friendly dinosaur, Yoshi in a hand-made world of paper-craft. You work through each level, eating or jumping on enemies while searching for hidden items and collectables.
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New Super Mario Bros.
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Dadish is a pair of tongue-in-cheek running and jumping games that are simple to play.
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Mario vs.
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Sigi is a retro-styled running, jumping and attacking game.
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Bobby Bombastic is a running, jumping (hovering) and shooting game where you explore volcanic caves on a do-it-yourself rescue mission to find some stranded explorers.
Bobby Bombastic is a running, jumping (hovering) and shooting game where you explore volcanic caves on a do-it-yourself rescue mission to find some stranded explorers. You enter the jungle with nothing but your homemade helicopter-backpack, a laser blaster and a couple of explosives.
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Donkey Kong is a series of running and jumping games where you play Mario, who navigates a single screen to rescue the princess.
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9 Years of Shadows is a retro-looking running and jumping game about exploring dungeons and using elemental powers to take on monsters.
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Cyber Trigger is a retro running, jumping and shooting game.
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Dormiveglia is a running and jumping game about Quin's adventure to stop the world from falling into an endless slumber. Along with the classic run and jump moves, you use your whip to swing across chasms, move objects, and capture enemies.
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Tiny Thor is a retro running and jumping game where you play a young Thor on an adventure.
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Itorah is a running, jumping and fighting game similar to Dead Cells, where you explore a vibrant, handcrafted world, solve a mystery and defeat enemies.
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MouseCraft is a puzzle game where you guide mice to the cheese at the end of each level.
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Owlboy is a running, flying and shooting adventure where you fight sky pirates in the clouds.
Owlboy is a running, flying and shooting adventure where you fight sky pirates in the clouds. You explore dungeons to discover secrets and treasures, shooting bad guys along the way.
If you like the sound of Donkey Kong Country Returns but find it too complex or challenging, the games in this section offer a similar experience but with a lower Skill Rating.
These are our hand-picked alternatives to Donkey Kong Country Returns. This doesn't use automatic matching, instead, we hand-pick games that are good to play if you have enjoyed Labyrinth. These selections also include games that offer a different experience but address a similar theme or topic.
Speedy Roll (also known as Hedgehog Roll) is an action dexterity game where you roll the hedgehog (a fuzzy tennis ball with eyes) to collect woodland items that stick to it.
Speedy Roll (also known as Hedgehog Roll) is an action dexterity game where you roll the hedgehog (a fuzzy tennis ball with eyes) to collect woodland items that stick to it. This determines which path you can take through the forest to get back home before the fox.
Unicorn Glitterluck Cloud Crystals is a competitive roll-and-move game for very young players.
Unicorn Glitterluck Cloud Crystals is a competitive roll-and-move game for very young players. Each player takes on the role of one of four Unicorns, racing along the clouds to be the first to reach the sun and collect the most crystals along the way.
Kites is a sequencing game where you work together to keep six different coloured kites in the air.
Kites is a sequencing game where you work together to keep six different coloured kites in the air. You play Kite cards to turn over their related sand-timers to try and stop them running out and the kites crashing down.
These are games of a similar genre mix to Donkey Kong Country Returns. This includes games from the Puzzle, Adventure, Platform, Action, Collecting and Traversal genres. We pick out games of a similar PEGI rating to further hone these generated suggestions.
Kirby's Epic Yarn is a running and jumping game starring Nintendo's Kirby character who can absorb enemies to gain their abilities and powers.
Kirby's Epic Yarn is a running and jumping game starring Nintendo's Kirby character who can absorb enemies to gain their abilities and powers. It's set in Patch Land, a world made completely out of fabric.
TowerFall Ascension is a running, jumping and archery game where each player selects a pixelated knight and fights to eliminate opponents by shooting them with arrows or jumping on their heads.
TowerFall Ascension is a running, jumping and archery game where each player selects a pixelated knight and fights to eliminate opponents by shooting them with arrows or jumping on their heads. Play is about quick reactions and second-guessing what your human or computer opponents will do.
Out Now: Mac, PC, PS Vita, PS4, Switch and Xbox One
Ibb and Obb is a puzzle game where you run, jump, land on enemies and solve momentum puzzles.
Ibb and Obb is a puzzle game where you run, jump, land on enemies and solve momentum puzzles. The novelty is that it's a game designed for cooperation.
Out Now: Mac, PC, PS3 and Switch
Super Mario Bros Wonder is a running and jumping game that evolves the classic 2D Mario genre in weird and dream-like directions.
Super Mario Bros Wonder is a running and jumping game that evolves the classic 2D Mario genre in weird and dream-like directions. You play with up to four friends, each picking from Mario, Luigi, Toad, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Yoshi and other Nintendo characters.
Disney Illusion Island is a running and jumping game where you play Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald in an original adventure.
Disney Illusion Island is a running and jumping game where you play Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald in an original adventure. As you explore, you use their unique abilities to traverse water, land and air.
Cuphead is a running, jumping and shooting game that looks like an old Mickey Mouse cartoon.
Cuphead is a running, jumping and shooting game that looks like an old Mickey Mouse cartoon. You play on your own or with someone else and work across the screen, jumping gaps, shooting enemies and avoiding projectiles.
Aqua Lungers is a fighting and collecting game where you control a diver who can dash and swim through underwater levels.
Aqua Lungers is a fighting and collecting game where you control a diver who can dash and swim through underwater levels. You are racing to collect more treasure, faster than your opponents and get it back to your base.
N Plus Plus is a physics-based jumping puzzle game.
N Plus Plus is a physics-based jumping puzzle game. You run and jump around each level to collect gold tokens while avoiding hazards and unlocking the door.
Astro Duel 2 is a space battle that combines spaceship dogfights with on-foot fights.
Astro Duel 2 is a space battle that combines spaceship dogfights with on-foot fights. Play starts with piloting your spaceship but instantly transitions to on-foot battles when you enter gravity zones.
Out Now: Apple TV, Mac, PC, Switch and iOS
Sonic Superstars is a running, jumping and zooming game that updates the classic platform action game for 4 players.
Sonic Superstars is a running, jumping and zooming game that updates the classic platform action game for 4 players. You rush through levels, collecting rings and bouncing on enemies.
Out Now: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox X|S
No Heroes Here is a cooperative defend your castle game for up to four players.
No Heroes Here is a cooperative defend your castle game for up to four players. In simple pixel graphics, you have to work together to prepare your defences and then use them as the armies attack.
If you like the sound of Donkey Kong Country Returns but it doesn’t offer the accessibility you require, the games in this section offer a similar experience but with more Accessibility Features. You can view a full breakdown in our Donkey Kong Country Returns Accessibility Report.
In addition to the similar games listed above, which have been linked to this game specifically in the database, you may find games with a similar theme to Donkey Kong Country Returns in the following lists: