| Atomix |
Aldo López |
80 / 100 |
06-24-2024 |
Honestly, I would recommend it to players who want to get into the franchise and don’t know how to do it, and although it gets difficult as you go through the levels, at least there is a help mode to guide new players. As for veterans of the saga, they will enjoy it just as they did with the Gamecube classics. |
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| CGMagazine |
Jordan Biordi |
9 / 10 |
06-24-2024 |
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble maintains the series’ iconic arcade fun while bringing fresh new elements to enhance the game like never before. |
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| Checkpoint Gaming |
Charlie Kelly |
7.5 / 10 |
06-24-2024 |
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble’s offerings are exactly what you’d expect, a fun and bananas time that is easy to pick up and hard to master. The new gimmick of the spin-dash feels quintessential and juices the experience of working through 200 arcade levels just that little bit more. Though there’s room for improvements with online matchmaking and some levels perhaps being a bit too hard for hard’s sake, there are just as many quality additions in gameplay assistance tools and the ability to doll your monkey up in dozens upon dozens of cute fits. There’s no monkeying around here when it comes to quality- Super Monkey Ball as a franchise remains the belle of the ball. |
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| COGconnected |
Jaz Sagoo |
80 / 100 |
06-24-2024 |
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is the return to form that fans have been waiting for. Courses develop in their complexity in order to create the best single-player campaign since the sophomore release. While the multiplayer portion includes new minigames, it struggles to maintain the same level of engagement and longevity as the originals. Despite that, the dedication to improving the franchise’s gameplay mechanics ensures it’s a significant addition for both longtime fans and newcomers alike. |
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| ComingSoon.net |
Tyler Treese |
8.5 / 10 |
06-24-2024 |
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is yet another success in Sega’s platform party game series. |
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| Daily Star |
Tom Hutchison |
3.5 / 5 stars |
06-24-2024 |
It’s old-school gaming, straight to the point, simple and fun. |
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| Digital Trends |
Giovanni Colantonio |
4 / 5 stars |
06-24-2024 |
Sometimes a niche series like this that’s been around for decades can become comfortable catering to longtime fans. Banana Rumble avoids that pitfall by instead giving new players all the tools they need to understand each challenge. Casual multiplayer modes, as light as they may be, bring some extra appeal for that crowd. On the other end of the spectrum, the spin dash is a powerful tool for veterans who want a new way to push their skills to the limits. Whether you’re a longtime spectator or a seasoned speed demon, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble saves a seat for you at the party. |
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| Final Weapon |
Alex Patterson |
4 / 5 stars |
06-24-2024 |
Banana Rumble is the first all-new Super Monkey Ball game in a long time, and it proves that the series still has more arcade thrills to provide. The new Spin Dash mechanic is an excellent addition and opens up some very neat possibilities. Unfortunately, some technical issues and a few tedious stages somewhat hurt the overall experience, but there is otherwise a lot to appreciate here. |
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| Game Rant |
Nick Rodriguez |
4 / 5 stars |
06-24-2024 |
Banana Rumble truly understands what makes the Super Monkey Ball series tick, giving players the same sense of intense, exhilarating thrill and wholesome fun thanks to its no-frills chaos. With polished fundamentals, Spin Dash, and online multiplayer, it’s easy to see Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble fostering a strong community of players for years to come. |
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| GamingTrend |
Jack Zustiak |
85 / 100 |
06-24-2024 |
Banana Rumble shows the value of adding a new spin on a tried-and-true formula. This series has wallowed in its past for a long time, so I’m glad to see the new Spin Dash mechanic propel it into new and exciting places. As far as Super Monkey Ball sequels go, this one is easily the top banana. |
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| God is a Geek |
Lyle Carr |
8 / 10 |
06-24-2024 |
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a great entry in the series, with loads of single player stages and fantastic frantic online multiplayer. |
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| Hardcore Gamer |
Michéal Murphy |
4 / 5 stars |
06-24-2024 |
When it comes down to it, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is an exciting and worthwhile entry in the acclaimed series. There’s a lot to enjoy for newcomers and fans, from new levels and characters to multiplayer and modes. The Nintendo Switch does the title justice in the gameplay, though it hurts the graphical fidelity some of the stages and sceneries may have had. Still, it’s an essential title for those looking for a fun, challenging and vibrant experience, and is definitely worth all the monkey business and your time. |
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| Hobby Consolas |
Javier Escribano |
80 / 100 |
06-24-2024 |
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a good step forward in the saga, with few but very successful changes: the Spin Dash move enriches the gameplay and its very flexible difficulty guarantees demonic challenges without anyone getting frustrated. Add in generally fun multiplayer modes and fun is guaranteed all summer long. |
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| MonsterVine |
Spencer Legacy |
4.5 / 5 stars |
06-24-2024 |
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is another exhilarating platformer from Ryu ga Gotoku Studio. Though some of the later levels can be less than pleasant, the majority of the game is a blast and will have you on the edge of your seat in the best way possible. |
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| Nintendo Life |
Oliver Reynolds |
7 / 10 |
06-24-2024 |
If all you’re looking for in a new Super Monkey Ball game is a selection of new single-player levels to tackle, then you’re in luck, because Banana Rumble boasts some of the best stages we’ve seen in recent memory. The additional ‘Spin Dash’ ability makes traversal a lot more fun, and the physics feel as close to ‘classic’ Monkey Ball as the franchise has got in quite some time. Unfortunately, if you’re looking forward to the multiplayer modes, then temper your expectations. They’re simply not very good for the most part and are significantly hampered by the drop in frame rate. We almost scored this a point lower, but the quality of the single-player just about pulls it up. As it stands, Banana Rumble is a mixed bag, but one worth delving into if you’re itching for more single-player shenanigans. |
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| NintendoWorldReport |
Melanie Zawodniak |
8.5 / 10 |
06-24-2024 |
The failures of Banana Mania have not been repeated, and the high skill ceiling of the spin dash combined with the extensive replayability of the optional objectives means that I am probably going to be playing this game for the next twenty years just the same as the GameCube classics. Even as the modern descendant of Super Monkey Ball’s original developer Amusement Vision, Ryu ga Gotoku Studio has outdone themselves here. This is not simply a return to form; this is proof of the bright future that Super Monkey Ball might have. |
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| Press Start |
Kieron Verbrugge |
7.5 / 10 |
06-25-2024 |
Though it does little to stray from the formula, Banana Rumble is a worthy original entry in a series that has somehow survived decades on a fairly simple concept. With a worthy Adventure Mode full of fun stages and addictive challenges, some great inclusions for approachability, a healthy suite of unlockables and some amusing, if not particularly compelling, multiplayer Battle modes, this is a decent overall package for Monkey Ball vets and newcomers alike. |
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| Screen Rant |
Carrie Lambertsen |
4.5 / 5 stars |
06-24-2024 |
Other than a few issues with the camera, which were able to be adjusted in the options, Banana Rumble provides a nearly endless amount of fun. The laughter of playing in split screen with a friend is perfection, and the challenge levels of the game itself are well-balanced. I was impressed at how in-depth the Adventure Mode can be, as well as the different assistance features and motion-sickness-reducing options. Whether someone has played a Super Monkey Ball game in the past or not, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is absolutely one that should not be overlooked by anyone looking for a cheerful, fun time. |
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| Shacknews |
Ozzie Mejia |
8 / 10 |
06-24-2024 |
There hasn’t been a new Super Monkey Ball game in over a decade and Sega certainly approached this new entry to the series like it had some catching up to do. There’s a lot to enjoy in Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, from the lengthy story to the local and online multiplayer. It certainly isn’t perfect, especially given that some of the series’ most recognizable multiplayer modes aren’t here. Seriously, no Monkey Target might cause an uproar among fans. However, even with those missing staples and some over-the-top difficulty spikes, this is no rotten banana. Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a strong comeback for the series and will hopefully keep rolling for years to come. |
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| Siliconera |
Graham Russell |
8 / 10 |
06-24-2024 |
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is a welcome return to new ideas for the franchise, and does manage to avoid inferior minigame replication disappointment by… not replicating the old minigames at all! The choice to ape (pun intended, pun always intended, you know us) Fall Guys’ multiplayer formula isn’t the best, but there’s some fun here. And the main mode is enjoyable too! |
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| SpazioGames |
Valentino Cinefra |
7 / 10 |
06-25-2024 |
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is certainly perfect for passing the time and fans of the series will be happy to have 200 new levels, but 12 years after an unreleased chapter one would have expected a more lively revival in every aspect. |
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| The Games Machine |
Emanuele Feronato |
8.2 / 10 |
06-24-2024 |
There are games that do not necessarily have to innovate or dare to propose new mechanics because they are simply already perfect as they are. Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble fits into this category by offering the classic Super Monkey Ball gameplay while introducing nothing more than the spin dash to add further speed to an already frenetic racing. This seems to be the franchise’s fate: to occasionally offer hundreds of new levels until gradually interest fades, but so far we have a fun racing game that is easy to complete yet requires a lot of practice to find optimal paths and trajectories. Good. |
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| TheSixthAxis |
Dominic Leighton |
7 / 10 |
06-24-2024 |
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a short and sweet addition to the Monkey Ball canon. There’s plenty of Monkey shenanigans to indulge in, and fans will no doubt love the new online modes, with the only true caveat being that this is still, unequivocally, more of the same Monkey Ball. |
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| VGC |
Chris Scullion |
3 / 5 stars |
06-24-2024 |
As the first entirely new Monkey Ball game in 12 years, fans of the series will at least be happy to have a selection of new stages to play through. Performance issues and a relatively sparse multiplayer offering prevent it from being considered among the best the series has to offer, however. |
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| VGChartz |
Evan Norris |
7.5 / 10 |
06-24-2024 |
Banana Rumble doesn’t unseat the original Super Monkey Ball or its sequel, but it gets closer than you’d think. |
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