Donkey Kong Bananza programmer recommends 'destructive meditation'

Donkey Kong Bananza isn't just one of the best games of 2025 and a delightful reimagining of Nintendo's leading gorilla. No, it's also a meditation aid — a way for you to focus on whatever's weighing on you while you mindlessly destroy the game's levels.

The game's destructive potential was a focus at a panel at the Game Developers Conference. Programmer Tatsuya Kurihara said in an interview there, "The goal in creating this game was to create a game that feels good to destroy."

Kurihara suggested another way to play: "You know, another alternative way to play this game is – you've got something stuck in your head. You've got something to think through. You can just put Donkey Kong Bananza on and focus on your thinking as you're just mindlessly destroying the game. That's one way to enjoy this as well."

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