Despite being released on the same day as the Switch 2’s announcement, and the fact it’s a rather bare-bones and lazy port, Donkey Kong fans are buying Donkey Kong Country Returns HD in large numbers.
Make no mistake—Donkey Kong fans were starved for a new game. It was 11 years since the release of Tropical Freeze on Wii U, and 7 years since the port of Tropical Freeze on Switch. Fans of the banana slammin’ gorilla had little choice but to purchase whatever Nintendo threw their way in 2025. And that’s what fans did—and Returns HD selling well is the result.
In Japan, the Returns port sold 107,093 copies between January 16th to the 19th. This compares to the 96,754 copies the 2018 Tropical Freeze Switch port sold in Japan at launch, and the 94,334 copies the 2013 3DS port sold during the launch period in Japan. For reference, the original 2010 Wii game sold 165,859 units during a similar launch period.
In the UK, we don’t have sales numbers other than the fact it topped the charts. Yes, the port placed first “according to GfK data for the week ending January 18th, 2025.”
Check This Out: While the game may be selling well, read our full review or watch it below before you run out to purchase this game.
Here were the Top 10 games of the week in the UK:
- Donkey Kong Country Returns HD – NEW
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- EA Sports FC 25
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Super Mario Party Jamboree
- Minecraft
- Nintendo Switch Sports
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Dynasty Warriors: Origins – NEW
Did you buy DKC Returns HD and help contribute to it selling well? Let me know in the comments below!