Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble

IGN

Logan Plant·Jul 3, 2024

Critic80/100

Agreement—

A brilliant return to form with the best stages and controls the series has seen in over 20 years.

Game Informer

Brian Shea·Jun 26, 2024

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble aptly demonstrates that the franchise still has something to offer in 2024 beyond nostalgia.

Kotaku

Cole Kronman·Jun 24, 2024

Critic—

Agreement—

After years of diminishing returns, Sega's series is back to its original glory

Nintendo Life

Oliver Reynolds·Jun 24, 2024

Critic70/100

Agreement—

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.