Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush - Nintendo Switch 2 (Digital)

A: Hi, thanks for reaching out about Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush - Nintendo Switch 2 (Digital). The short answer is no, but with one interesting exception. Donkey Kong Bananza (and its DK Island & Emerald Rush DLC) is a native Nintendo Switch 2 title. Because it was built to take advantage of the more powerful hardware (specifically its voxel-based destructible environments), it cannot be purchased or played as a standalone game on the original Nintendo Switch (v1, Lite, or OLED). However, there is a specific way to play it with someone who only has the older console: 1. The "GameShare" Co-Op Exception Nintendo included a feature for this game called Local GameShare. If you own the game on a Switch 2, you can host a local multiplayer session where a second player joins on an original Switch. How it works: The Switch 1 doesn't actually run the full game; it essentially "streams" the second-player experience from the host Switch 2. The Catch: The second player is limited to playing as Pauline in a support role (similar to Cappy in Super Mario Odyssey), and the session ends as soon as the host Switch 2 disconnects. 2. Digital Compatibility & DLC Not Forwards Compatible: You cannot buy the digital version of DK Bananza on the eShop and download it onto a Switch 1. It won't even appear in your "Redownload" list on the older hardware. DLC Requirement: The DK Island & Emerald Rush DLC specifically requires the full Switch 2 version of the game to run. You cannot buy the DLC on a Switch 1 to use with other Donkey Kong games. 3. Backwards Compatibility (The Other Way) It is worth noting that compatibility only works "backwards." While you can't play Switch 2 games on your Switch 1, you can play almost your entire library of original Switch games on the new Switch 2 with improved performance. If you have any additional questions, we welcome you to contact MyTGTtech at 833-848-8324 every day, between 7am-11pm CST.