Secret Code in Donkey Kong Bananza Uncovered

Translating a secret video game language is an impressive feat, but managing to decipher it before the game even launches? That's the remarkable achievement of YouTuber 2Chrispy, who has (somehow) done exactly that for the upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza.

Following the same inquisitive spirit as fans who cracked the hidden language of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, 2Chrispy analyzed trailers, preview clips, and even the Nintendo Today app to decode the Ancient Monkey Scrolls from Kong's newest adventure.

"The trailer was packed with subtle secrets," 2Chrispy detailed in a fantastic video outlining his method. "But the element that captivated me most was the banana-based script. See how I managed to decode and translate every monkey letter I could find."

By cleverly noticing that an in-game item was officially named "Chip Exchange," Chrispy embarked on meticulous, frame-by-frame detective work. He successfully identified all but five characters of the banana alphabet—or the "Bananabet," as he dubs it.

Armed with this newfound ability, 2Chrispy has translated almost every sign, note, and document spotted in all publicly available footage. To discover their meanings, visit Chrispy2's YouTube video.

For example, in one screenshot, he translated an overhead sign reading "welcome," a neon sign saying "factory," and a snow level marker for "ice." He also decoded various notices stating "hint" and "item," and one sign that read: "Message. Thank you for reading. Someone."

"I'm thrilled to discover what other text the full game will contain," he added. "Could we find nods to classic DK lore? References to missing Kongs? Any mention of the Kremlings or King K. Rool?"

"Bananza looks set to be one of the most visually stunning Nintendo games I've ever seen," we noted in our first hands-on preview of Donkey Kong Bananza. "It truly leverages the Switch 2's hardware—the environments are breathtaking, DK's animations are wonderfully expressive, and I came away feeling the next generation of first-party Nintendo titles has officially begun."

Now that we finally have a release date and full tech specs for the highly anticipated successor, the Nintendo Switch 2—along with insight into potential pricing for first-party Nintendo games on the new console—explore our comprehensive analysis where we consult industry experts. For the latest on Nintendo Switch 2, you can review everything showcased at last month's Nintendo Direct. Donkey Kong Bananza launches on July 17 for $69.99, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.