Banjo-Kazooiecelebrates its 25th birthday after being released all the way back on June 17, 2025. The game was developed by the now infamous Rare, a British developer that was reeling off a string of hit games at the time, ranging from the critically acclaimedDonkey Kong Countryseries toGoldeneye 007, one of the most influential FPS gamesto date according to many. Despite having to contend with the huge shadow cast bySuper Mario 64, a similarly groundbreaking platformer that had been released two years prior,Banjo-Kazooiewas able to carve out its own unique identity and is arguably a more well-rounded and polished platformer than Mario’s first 3D outing.
Starring the titular Banjo, a lovable, brave bear, and his foul-mouthed friend, a breegull named Kazooie, the game was able to capture the imagination of gamers of a wide variety of ages thanks to its broad appeal. Despite a plot that sees Banjo setting off to rescue his sister from an evil witch’s castle, somewhat suggesting that the game’s target audience is young children,Banjo-Kazooiehas a nuanced difficulty that belies its perceived theme, underscored with adult humor and some of the most intricate level design ever seen in a platforming game up to that point. The game is often cited as giving birth to the ‘collect-a-thon’, as it tasks players with finding a host of different items in every level, each with its own purpose.
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Banjo-Kazooie Made a Huge Mark on the Platforming Genre
Banjo-Kazooiewas undeniably years ahead of its time, a fact that is further reinforced when playing it today. It holds up incredibly well a quarter of a century later, and its influence on later titles is clear to see. From unlocking new moves and using them to backtrack to previously inaccessible locations, and then to fast-travel style shortcuts and interconnecting levels,Banjo-Kazooiewas a pioneer for the genre as a whole. The success of the game,and its 2000 sequelBanjo-Tooie, paved the way for other famous platforming duos to follow in the pair’s footsteps. BothJak and DaxterandRatchet and Clankdrew varying degrees of influence fromBanjo-Kazooie, with the latter in particular a popular franchise that is still going strong.Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apartis hailed as one of the PS5’s best exclusivesto this day.
While some games are very clearly influenced byBanjo-Kazooie, others hide their inspirations a little less obviously. WhenBanjo-Kazooieeventually got a third game after Microsoft purchased Rare, many fans rejoiced at the prospect of a third and final platforming title to make up one of the best trilogies ever. In a bold and unexpected move, however, Rare pulled the rug from fans' feet by unleashingBanjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, inspiringZelda: Tears of the Kingdomall those years later - a game primarily about vehicular construction with precious little platforming involved.
Despite the lack of traditional platforming inNuts & Boltsthough, the actual vehicle construction was impressively detailed, with a physics engine that allowed for some creative build designs. Interestingly, thanks to a similarly robust physics engine and Link’s Ultrahand ability, which effectively allows him to fuse any items together, many have compared Nintendo’sTears of the KingdomtoNuts and Bolts. While it seemed out of left field at first, spending any amount of time experimenting withTears of the Kingdom’s building mechanicsmakes the comparison much easier to understand.
Many would love to seea newBanjo-Kazooiegame, and their 2019 inclusion as downloadable characters inSuper Smash Bros Ultimatereignited interest in the beloved duo. It’s unclear exactly what, if anything, the future holds for the pair, but either way,Banjo-Kazooieis rightly considered to be one of the greatest platforming games of all time.
Banjo-Kazooieis available now for Nintendo Switch Online - Expansion Pack owners.
