Donkey Kong Bananza's Secret Language Revealed and Translated

Uncovering a secret in-game language is impressive enough, but doing so before the game even launches? That’s next-level detective work. YouTuber 2Chrispy has somehow cracked the Ancient Monkey Scrolls in the upcoming title *Donkey Kong Bananza*—long before its official release.

Much like how players previously decoded the hidden script in *The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom*, 2Chrispy meticulously analyzed trailers, preview footage, and even data from the Nintendo Today app to piece together the mysterious banana-based alphabet—what he now calls the “Bananabet.”

“In the trailer, there were a lot of hidden details,” 2Chrispy explained in his detailed breakdown video. “But the one that stood out most was the banana language. Watch to see how I decoded and deciphered every monkey letter I could find.”

By spotting an in-game item officially named “Chip Exchange,” 2Chrispy dove into frame-by-frame analysis, successfully decoding all but five characters of the Bananabet. His efforts have allowed him to translate nearly every sign, note, and written clue visible in the released footage so far.

For example, 2Chrispy translated an overhead sign as “welcome,” a glowing neon sign as “factory,” and a snowy level marker as “ice.” He also transcribed various notes reading “hint,” “item,” and one particularly curious message: “Message. Thank you for reading. Someone.”

“I’m excited to see what other text we’ll find in the game,” he added. “Could we see references to DK lore? Missing Kongs? Any mention of the Kremlings or King K. Rool?”

As we noted in our first hands-on preview of Donkey Kong Bananza, the game appears to be a visual showcase for the new hardware, with stunning environments and expressive animations that highlight the potential of the Nintendo Switch 2.

With the Nintendo Switch 2 launch on the horizon—and details now emerging about its tech specs, release window, and software pricing—interest in first-party titles like this has never been higher. Be sure to check out our full Switch 2 deep dive and revisit everything shown during the latest Nintendo Direct.

Donkey Kong Bananza arrives July 17, 2025, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2, priced at $69.99.