This N64 Game Was a Masterpiece, But You’ll Never See It Again

My childhood was shaped by the Nintendo 64 and I can still recall fond memories of it. Paper Mario, Yoshi’s Story, and Super Mario 64 were some of my favorite games on this console. The Nintendo 64 is where my love of the platforming genre began, and one game in particular stood out amongst all the incredibles game in this genre. Its wild 3D world and characters were a masterpiece, ambitious, larger-than-life, and unlike anything else at the time. For years, myself and other fans have waited and hoped for a return or rerelease on modern consoles, especially if Nintendo can clear up some of the clunky designs.

The truth is we know it’s never coming back. While Donkey Kong 64 is remembered fondly, the sad reality is that the business of this game all but guarantees it will never come back. Some fans have turned to the future with Donkey Kong Bananza with its beloved characters, but I continue to look back at this Nintendo 64 gem and long to play it again.

Donkey Kong 64 Is the Forgotten Gem of Rare’s Golden Era

Rare is responsible for some of the greatest games on the Nintendo 64. Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark, and GoldenEye 007 were all defining hits of this generation. Each release pushed the system’s hardware and imagination further than anyone thought possible. Among these is also Donkey Kong 64, one of the biggest platformers of its day, and easily one of my favorite 3D platformers.

But it wasn’t just a platformer. Super Mario 64 already proved the potential for this genre on the 64. No, Donkey Kong 64 was a massive collect-a-thon that tests the limits of how big and detailed game worlds can be. Rare further expanded this challenge with five unique characters, sprawling diverse levels, countless hidden items, and even a working port of the original Donkey Kong arcade game. Donkey Kong 64 felt like a celebration of everything Rare and Nintendo achieved together.

Donkey Kong 64 may be clunky today, even with nostalgia helping it, but it was an incredible game back in the day. It was also the last game by the studio before Microsoft acquired them, signaling an end to the golden era of Rare games. This timing cemented it as a cult classic and a final chapter of Rare and Nintendo’s powerful partnership.

Licensing Nightmares Keep Donkey Kong 64 Locked Away

Here is where things get tricky and sad. On paper, Donkey Kong 64 belongs to Nintendo. It uses its character, its franchise, and its console. But Rare’s development makes the rights murky, especially after being acquired by Microsoft. After the purchase, many of Rare’s IPs came with it, and while Donkey Kong remained a Nintendo entity, the legal and contractual elements of Donkey Kong 64 became a headache none of these parties wanted to deal with.

This is why, despite the success of Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze and Donkey Kong Bananza, Donkey Kong’s Nintendo 64 adventure remains trapped in time. Nintendo has rereleased numerous classic titles in the series, but never Donkey Kong 64. Fans, myself included, have begged and begged for a remake or even just a rerelease. For this to happen, Nintendo would have to collobarate with Microsoft and Rare, two studios intent on seeing Sea of Thieves become the best game it can be.

It’s not impossible for this collaboration to happen and free Donkey Kong 64, but nearly everyone agrees it won’t happen. A part of me holds onto the hope it will work out but ultimately I know the sad reality is we’ll likely never see this Nintendo 64 masterpiece again.

Why Fans Still Hope Donkey Kong 64 Returns

In all spite of all this, fans hang onto a sliver of hope that Donkey Kong 64 will come to the Nintendo Switch 2. Two major pieces of evidence stand out: Banjo-Kazooie in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Microsoft’s recently changed stance on its console exclusives. These have reinvigorated the belief that all three companies will come together and give fans what they have been demanding for years.

Banjo-Kazooie’s inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was a major win for those hoping to see Donkey Kong 64 revived. The bear and bird’s first game was the precursor to DK’s 3D adventure, so it almost feels poetic to see the duo return to another iconic Nintendo series that started on the Nintendo 64. Banjo joining Smash’s roster sparked a new wave of hope, but one has to look at it as an exception, not a rule, when it comes to Rare and Nintendo supporting one another again.

What may be a bigger indicitation that Donkey Kong 64 hopes aren’t dead is Microsoft’s support of the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2. Forza Horizon 5, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and even Gears of War: Reloaded are being released on platforms outside of Xbox. If this is possible, why wouldn’t an old title like Donkey Kong 64 be possible too? All it takes is for Microsoft to give Rare the go ahead and Nintendo to agree.

Regardless of whether Donkey Kong 64 ever sees the light of day outside the Nintendo 64 remains to be seen, excluding the themed Donkey Kong Bananza DLC. I for one don’t believe it will happen despite rumors and hopes. Still, I’m 100% behind it if Nintendo, Microsoft, and Rare ever work out a deal. Until then, it remains buried under corporate legalities and nostalgia, forever to remain a forgotten masterpiece.

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