From Banjo to a Star Wars Death Star, fans are having a lot of fun with Donkey Kong Bananza artist mode

When Donkey Kong Bananza launched earlier this month on the Nintendo Switch 2, it set expectations high with its ambitious return to 3D platforming. But no one could have quite predicted how much the newly introduced Artist Mode would steal the spotlight, becoming an unexpected hotspot for some truly wild, often nostalgic creations.

In a move reminiscent of Super Mario Maker, but taken in an entirely different direction, Donkey Kong Bananza’s Artist Mode allows players to flex their building muscles using an intuitive interface, detailed prop sets, and a visual editor that’s already being dubbed “the most accessible toolset for beginner 3D creators on a console.”

And fans haven’t wasted time proving that right. Since launch, the web has been overflowing with quirky, nostalgic, and downright impressive tributes crafted entirely within the tool. Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) are lighting up with screenshots and 30-second flythroughs of everything from the Banjo-Kazooie hub world to a shockingly faithful recreation of the Star Wars Death Star.

From Rare Memories to Galactic Warfare: What Are Players Actually Building?

If you’ve played Rareware’s classics on the N64, you’ll probably appreciate the precision some fans are showing in recreating old favourites. One standout build is a near pixel-perfect rendition of Spiral Mountain from Banjo-Kazooie, instantly recognisable with its familiar winding paths and Mumbo Jumbo’s skull hut, built exclusively using assets available in the base toolkit. While the eyeballs-on-logs aesthetic of the DK world adds a surreal touch, players have embraced the motif to hilarious effect.

Another unexpected hit? A recreation of the Death Star trench, complete with working lasers and timed explosion markers (well, nets flung via explosive barrels, but you get the idea). It’s not just a visual homage, it’s also playable, with players jumping over laser beams and dodging obstacles as if they were platforming through a Mega Drive-era render.

But what’s making Donkey Kong Bananza Artist Mode click with fans is not just its nostalgia pandering. It’s the surprisingly deep toolset. Despite branding itself as a family-friendly 3D platformer, the ability to customise assets, apply animated behaviours, and even adjust camera movement mid-level offers more control than expected.

Unlike Super Mario Maker, where gameplay rules are fixed, Bananza’s system lets players experiment with collision physics and character behaviours, something many creators are using to break the platformer mould. For example, one user managed to transform their stage into a stealth level, reprogramming familiar Kong enemies to act like patrolling guards. Another created a musical level in the style of Rhythm Heaven using timed banana pickups and rumble cues.

Nintendo Letting Loose: A New Era for Playful Creation

Nintendo hasn’t historically been the most liberal company when it comes to player-generated content. Yet Donkey Kong Bananza is clearly a part of their new creative strategy, particularly on Nintendo Switch 2. What sets it apart is not only its robust Editor Mode, but how smoothly it integrates with core gameplay. Players can even unlock secret assets by completing the base campaign, incentivising a “build from what you earned” structure that aligns with the game’s adventure tone.

And considering the vibrant circus aesthetic at the heart of Bananza, we’re not surprised to see so many trippy, psychedelic levels floating around. The DK-world tongue-in-cheek humour is alive here too. One user built an extremely cursed “Waluigi’s Banana Shed” and filled it with… let’s just say, many motionless copies of Waluigi paintings. Somehow, it works. Ridiculous? Absolutely. But there’s no denying the charm.

With Donkey Kong Bananza fan creations now springing into mainstream visibility thanks to social media, Nintendo may just have a surprise creator hit hiding inside its big summer platformer. No paid DLC, no microtransactions, just a fresh way to let fans get creative with Donkey Kong Bananza characters and make something bizarrely beautiful.

It’s early days yet, and no word on whether Nintendo will expand support with prop packs or downloadable themes. But for now, Artist Mode serves not only as a major draw, but it’s giving life to the kind of zany, playful creativity Nintendo fans have been craving since the sandboxy golden era.

Whether you’re sculpting a tribute to Globox, recreating Bowser’s Castle with fish-shaped bananas, or just throwing barrels into the void, consider this your official sign: Donkey Kong Bananza’s creativity engine is bursting with potential. And the community? They’re only just getting started.