Party games have long been a cornerstone for bringing people together through video games, and Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is the latest title that’s looking to bring the fun with its cast of wacky characters and, most importantly, delightful and accessible gameplay that players of all ages can enjoy.

Since its inception in 2001, Super Monkey Ball has been a cherished arcade platformer, featuring the unique mechanic of maneuvering a monkey encased in a gachapon ball using the game board as a controller. The objective remains straightforward: guide the monkey ball to the goal within the time limit. It’s simple, engaging, and fun to boot.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble stays true to this tried and tested gameplay loop, challenging players to reach the goal within a minute, but also introduces new twists along the way to keep things fresh. In the game, players will be introduced to a new character in the Monkey Ball family: Palette, a young monkey on a quest to find her father. She enlists the help of AiAi and the gang, teaching them a new technique called the Spin Dash to help them clear more levels than ever before.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble offers various playstyles for all types of players. Whether you want to go solo or conquer numerous levels with a team of like-minded monkeys, the game has something for everyone.

It’s Adventure Time!

Before jumping into the deep end of the multiplayer pool, how about getting your feet wet first with Adventure Mode? It’s a great way to get a tutorial on how to play Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble if you’re unfamiliar with the game, and with 200 new levels to choose from, each with its own unique gimmick, there’s enough fun to last for hours.

Players can get a hang of the simple controls that are used to fully control your monkey ball, with the left analog stick to tilt the stage and control where the monkeys will roll, while the right analog points the camera in the right direction. Once you have the basics, you can learn the spin dash technique by holding down B and then releasing toward the direction you wish to spin dash in. It’s that simple and easy to learn!

If that’s not enough, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble also offers players various assist features to give them the extra push they need to clear some hard levels. You can use a Route Guide to help you navigate the level, a checkpoint so you don’t have to start from scratch, and finally, Rewind Mode allows you to redo certain areas that require a little bit more precision.

Once you complete Adventure Mode by going through various innovative and cleverly designed levels, you can invite over some friends for some multiplayer goodness. For the first time in the series, you can play up to four players in couch multiplayer split screen and see who can finish these levels in the fastest time, or you can also play time attack once you’ve completed the levels to try beating your score.

Adventure mode can also give players a playground to test out the different characters in Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble. AiAi is the most balanced, as opposed to his defensive partner MeeMee, who has an edge with braking. The new ape, Palette, joins the crew with a higher spin dash ability, allowing her to spin through corners, proving to be a formidable ally and opponent.

There are 7 fully customizable monkeys in Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble to play with and dress up in the Style Mode. As you purchase new outfits and accessories in the Shop, you can dress your apes up in style with kimonos, special hats, and shirts with your hard-earned player points. Get that high score, obtain those feats, and get rewarded in style with over 300 style items to choose from.

Get Ready To Banana Rumble!

It isn’t called a rumble for nothing, and Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble brings the mayhem in multiplayer, as this is where the fun really kicks the game into overdrive. With five unique battle modes to choose from, you can spend hours with your friends and online rivals aiming for the top monkey.

Not only will you have access to spin dash, making games fast-paced, but items will also make gameplay more dynamic and chaotic. Items range from Barrier, which nullifies the effects of items on yourself, to Giant, which increases your size and makes it harder for opponents to push you away and easier for you to knock them back. Missiles take it over the top should you wish to blast away other monkeys who are in the way of you and the goal.

Race Mode is a classic, pitting 8–16 players through obstacles, pitfalls, and more as they race to the goal. You can’t go wrong with this mode, and its simple mechanics prove to be a no-frills favorite as you zoom your way to the end while maneuvering through turns and corners against the competition.

These monkeys have a hearty appetite for bananas, and for players who have a knack for collecting, Banana Hunt is something to look forward to. Speed is of the essence, but keeping your eyes on the prize is more important, as the player who collects the most bananas by the end of the timer will win it all! Bigger and more fruitful bananas will appear as the game goes on, so it isn’t over until the final buzzer sounds.

Players who work better with teams will find Goal Rush to be something to look forward to. In Goal Rush, players will be split into 2 teams to score as many goals as possible. As the race starts to get more intense, there are specially marked goals where you can earn more points and turn the tide even during the final seconds! A super bonus goal will also spawn at the end, where every team member can rush to clinch victory. This is certainly a favorite of ours, and it could be yours too!

Another team-based game mode is available in Robot Smash, as players will work together to ram themselves into a giant robot to smash it for points. Larger robots earn you more points, and aiming for the head will yield a big bonus. This mode will surely put your Spin Dash expertise to good use, so aim well, and your team will take home the victory.

Because mayhem is an integral ingredient of the menu in Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, Ba-Boom is definitely a specialty of the house. Similar to Hot Potato, certain players will have to pass around a bomb and avoid being handed the bomb as it explodes! Survive, and you gain a point, and whoever gets the most points at the end of it all is declared the winner. Ba-Boom is probably the most frantic battle mode in Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble, and if you can handle the excitement, it surely is a blast.

More Fun With Friends!

Multiplayer fun is definitely the highlight of Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, establishing it as an excellent action party game for 2024. With a variety of multiplayer options, you can enjoy the game through couch co-op, online multiplayer, or Nintendo Switch’s local multiplayer to connect with nearby players who also have the game.

While playing with friends is always enjoyable, you can expand the fun online, where up to 16 players can join simultaneously. Compete in smashing, racing, and banana-collecting challenges, making the experience even more exciting.

For those who prefer couch co-op, you can play with up to four players in split-screen mode using 2-4 Joy-Cons in Adventure mode. The controls are intuitive, allowing you to quickly engage in competitive banana-smashing fun. When playing battle mode, up to 2 players can enjoy the mayhem of split-screen, injecting a sense of nostalgia into your multiplayer sessions.

You can also take the fight to CPU opponents in battle mode! Players can add up to 15 CPU opponents for 1-player matches and up to 6 CPU opponents for 2-player sessions. Whichever way you prefer to play, there’s always a choice to enjoy the craziness of Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble.

If multiplayer isn’t your preference, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble also offers a rich single-player mode. Unlock various levels in Adventure Mode, earn points to spend in the shop for cosmetic items for your charming chimps, and enjoy the engaging storyline featuring the beloved Simian mascots throughout your Banana Rumble journey.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is now available on the Nintendo Switch!