Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania

About

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is a single player arcade platformer game with comedy and anime themes. It was developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and was released on October 4, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

The Digital Deluxe Edition includes: Classic Character Pack, Golden Banana Mode, SEGA Legends Pack, Classic Soundtrack and Customization Pack.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania screenshot

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83%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,417 reviews

music54 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

Includes remastered levels from Super Monkey Ball 1, 2, and Deluxe, providing extensive content and challenge.
Bright, colorful graphics with good performance on PC and Steam Deck, plus customizable characters and various unlockables.
New accessibility features like infinite lives, helper mode, and skip level options help both newcomers and casual players.

Physics and controls differ noticeably from the originals, leading to less precise movement and frustration on certain stages.
No multiplayer in the main game mode; multiplayer is limited to party games only, disappointing fans of co-op and competitive modes.
Some party mini-games are broken or poorly implemented (notably Monkey Target and Monkey Baseball), and original soundtrack and characters are paid DLC.

music
192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
65%
7%
The game's music receives mixed reactions, with many praising the original soundtrack as iconic and superior, but criticizing the new remixed tracks as inconsistent or generic. A major point of contention is that the classic soundtrack is locked behind paid DLC or the deluxe edition, which many see as a disappointing and unnecessary expense. Overall, while some new tracks are enjoyable, the consensus favors the original music for a more authentic and memorable experience.
- “The main game and soundtrack are especially top-notch and underappreciated.”
- “The graphics, sound effects and music are all really great and polished.”
- “With a fresh new coat of paint giving them a smooth and charming modern style, new songs and remasters of the old classics, and the same lovable gameplay as before, this is an instant hit.”
- “The music is the most horrible generic crap you could ever imagine, and they pay-walled the original soundtrack behind a DLC purchase.”
- “Slightly annoying but for whatever reason they also locked the OG soundtrack behind a paywall, and you are left with a pretty annoying replacement.”
- “What I can't get behind however is Sega's choice to torture your ears with some random singing eikaiwa teacher they discovered in a karaoke bar and selling the original music tracks as DLC.”
story
175 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
83%
6%
The story mode offers a large number of levels and missions that provide a satisfying challenge and replayability, but its narrative and presentation are widely considered weak, featuring stripped-down or static cutscenes and a shallow, sometimes incoherent plot. Multiplayer story mode has been removed, and the overall storytelling lacks the charm and personality of the originals, making the story a lesser focus compared to the enjoyable arcade-style gameplay and mission challenges. While completionists appreciate the breadth of content, many find the story mode tedious and its linear structure restrictive.
- “The rich storytelling and how they build on the characters is phenomenal.”
- “Many level designs here are absolutely brilliant, especially those in story mode.”
- “The mission system really tests your limits in a good way and a plethora of challenge modes and party games really make it a full package and a must-own for couch co-op enthusiasts.”
- “All reused levels, incoherent story mode that doesn't match the story with the levels at all, completely broken monkey target that is unplayable, and ruining grand prix.”
- “5) Boring story-telling: the story mode in this game is told through still images and to be honest, they are lame and there isn't much of a story to begin with. While I wasn't expecting an in-depth story-telling, what's being presented here leaves much to be desired. Jumping immediately to the stages, instead of watching those cringy cutscenes, would've probably been better.”
- “They also replaced the story mode cutscenes with extremely lifeless, barely animated segments that hardly even resemble the story.”
gameplay
111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
63%
8%
The gameplay of Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is generally praised for its faithful recreation of the classic monkey ball experience, offering challenging, fast-paced, and rewarding mechanics with a wealth of content and modes that enhance replayability. However, some reviewers note issues with altered physics and camera controls that detract from the precision and feel of the originals, alongside inconsistent quality in mini-games and the absence of local co-op for the main game. Despite these drawbacks, the gameplay remains accessible and fun for both new players and long-time fans, supported by helpful accessibility options and a nostalgic yet fresh approach.
- “It is packed with content, bursting with personality, and built around gameplay that is as timeless as it is demanding.”
- “Despite these minor shortcomings, Banana Mania remains faithful to the series’ soul: a blend of lighthearted visuals, deceptively simple mechanics, and ruthless difficulty.”
- “Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is a remake of the first two Monkey Ball games with tons of added content and replay value. The gameplay is for all intents and purposes the same as it was 20 years ago, you can customize everything you want for the 5 main monkeys, the guest characters are great, it has all you could ever want out of a Monkey Ball game.”
- “The main gameplay mode suffers from terrible ball physics (especially mid-air), bad camera controls and no power-ups to ease completing stages or making them more interesting and fun.”
- “Monkey physics in general gameplay feels a little too slippery, a lot of the minigames are seriously off (monkey target in particular has been completely busted), the new soundtrack is unbelievably bland, and many of the stage backgrounds are ported badly with minimal efforts to revamp or fix import bugs.”
- “Despite my praises, I'm still heavily disappointed that a lot of party games have gotten terrible revamps in mechanics and physics that do not work or simply don't make sense.”
graphics
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The graphics in this remake receive mixed feedback, with many praising the vibrant, colorful visuals and detailed stage backgrounds that modernize the classic aesthetic, while others find the art style overly bright or a downgrade from the muted originals. Enhanced graphical fidelity, smooth textures, and added customization options, including mod support, are appreciated, though some criticize missing original visuals, stiff animations, and a lack of graphical polish in certain effects. Overall, the updated graphics are seen as a solid improvement that respects the series’ roots, though not without divisive stylistic changes.
- “Monkey bowling, monkey target, monkey racing, monkey billiards, and more make their return, each reimagined with new visuals and smoother controls.”
- “While I still prefer the more muted art style of the originals, Banana Mania's more colorful art style has really grown on me and in terms of graphical fidelity, Banana Mania obviously looks much better, especially in regards to the stage background.”
- “Doesn't quite contend with original (obviously), but it's damn sight better than any of previous games we got, like Banana Blitz. I would have to recommend this on basis of newly instilled quality put into the game, and to highlight the sheer rapid improvement of this game and development overall. Actually, the graphics and layout and freshness of this game has just blown me away.”
- “The graphics are somehow worse here than in the original, missing content like story mode cutscenes, day one DLC, new music and sounds that just ain't it, and the physics are weird.”
- “I could take the incredibly bland visuals which are a huge downgrade, the broken ball SFX, the just general awful UI, the lack of animation on the stage view, the removal of multiplayer from the main game... as long as it was still fun to play, but it's just so unsatisfying to actually control.”
- “Aesthetic and physics are much worse, and the soundtrack is replaced by a godawful one you have to spend money to change back.”
humor
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely centered around the absurdity and silliness of a monkey rolling inside a ball, which many players find amusing and meme-worthy. While some appreciate the nostalgic and quirky charm, others feel the humor is undercut by lackluster story elements or difficulty that borders on frustrating rather than funny. Overall, the game's humor is quirky and playful, appealing especially to those who enjoy lighthearted, silly scenarios.
- “Yo Mr. White, this game is the bomb! You tilt the level to make the funny monkey roll around in a ball to collect bananas and get to the goal within the time limit, isn't that straight up awesome?”
- “Aiai wearing shades and wearing a Supreme parody shirt will never not be funny to me!”
- “A game made in the early 2000's having cut scenes that are more engaging than a remake can pump out in 2021 is just hilarious.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The emotional experience of the game is mixed, with some players finding it wholesome and genuinely enjoyable, particularly praising the music and challenging modes, while others feel frustrated by poor minigames, boring storytelling, and motion sickness caused by world tilting. Overall, it evokes a range of emotions from nostalgia and fun to disappointment and irritation.
- “This game makes me want to cry every bit as much as the original deluxe did when I was 12.”
- “The most emotional and realistic chapter in the ape sphere saga (so far).”
- “That opening theme is so wholesome, and I'm having a genuinely good time when I come back after work.”
- “Boring storytelling: the 'story mode' in this game is told through still images and to be honest, they are lame and there isn't much of a 'story' to begin with. While I wasn't expecting in-depth storytelling, what's presented here leaves much to be desired. Jumping immediately to the stages instead of watching those cringy cutscenes would have been better given how little effort was put into making the story itself.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
Replayability in Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is praised for its abundant missions, unlockable characters, cosmetics, and various game modes that keep players engaged long-term. While some feel certain rewards are too easily obtained, the overall mix of classic gameplay, added content, and competitive features offers a high level of replay value and fun in both solo and multiplayer modes.
- “The missions that net these points is plentiful, so the replayability is insanely high.”
- “Good main game, has replay value with the mission system and a reason to do said missions, the banana coins which unlock cosmetics, special modes, filters, and characters for the main game.”
- “Super monkey ball banana mania is a remake of the first two monkey ball games with tons of added content and replay value. The gameplay is for all intents and purposes the same as it was 20 years ago, you can customize everything you want for the 5 main monkeys, the guest characters are great, it has all you could ever want out of a monkey ball game.”
- “Super Monkey Ball loses a significant amount of its replay value when you take away any incentive not to die.”
- “I am a big fan of the classic Monkey Ball games, but much of the franchise has lost a lot of its charm and heavy replayability factor.”
- “The game's signature playable credits are gone, and the 3D cutscenes and dialogue of SMB2's story mode have been flattened into incomprehensible, screaming cartoons.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game runs smoothly and performs well on the Deck, offering a good experience for short gameplay sessions, with no significant glitches reported. However, it suffers from severe controller stability issues, requiring extensive troubleshooting to reconnect controllers, which detracts significantly from the overall enjoyment.
- “Runs great on the deck and is perfect for short bursts of gameplay.”
- “It runs great, plays great and has some really challenging levels.”
- “No glitches that I have encountered thus far.”
- “The amount of troubleshooting it takes to get the game to recognize the controller again — uninstalling, re-mapping/selecting controller binds, installing on different drives, all over and over — makes this game actually un-fun.”
- “TL;DR: If your controller disconnects once, the game won't pick it up again without 1 hour of troubleshooting. Get Dolphin and play SMB1 and SMB2 that way instead.”
- “Bought this game for my son and after 8 hours of nonstop troubleshooting the controllers will straight up not work.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
63%
Grinding in this game is often described as slow, tedious, and frustrating, especially when aiming for 100% completion across numerous stages. Many users find certain missions and mini-games repetitive and hampered by awkward controls, making solo play less enjoyable. Playing with friends may alleviate some of the grind-related frustration.
- “Attempting to 100% this game is tedious and frustrating even outside of the main game, and I highly doubt this game will update since it hasn't updated between now and the release day.”
- “It's fun but I refunded it since I don't see myself getting through all 300 stages as the gameplay becomes tedious after a bit and the announcer has a very annoying voice, often repeating the same lines over and over. For example, in the minigame Monkey Target, the announcer yells 'hit' every time you shoot an enemy, which is very annoying.”
- “Even after I learned how the new physics work, it's extremely slow and tedious.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The game demonstrates excellent optimization on PC, delivering smooth performance with high frame rates and low hardware usage even on older systems. It runs crisply and stably, allowing for an enjoyable experience without technical issues.
- “The PC version of this game was optimized very well. I had NVIDIA performance stats on my top left while playing on high settings, running more than 120fps with CPU temperature at 20% and GPU at 40%. All of this with an Intel Core i7-10750H, 16 GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB, and a 144Hz monitor. If you have the same specs, you're good.”
- “I have had no technical hiccups or crashes, and the game seems to be fairly well optimized, as I'm running it on a 7-year-old PC.”
- “Instead, it refines it: crisp presentation, bright colors, smooth performance, and an upbeat energy define the experience from the first roll.”
- “The PC version of this game was optimized very well. I had Nvidia performance stats on my top left while playing on high settings, getting more than 120fps with CPU temperature at 20% and GPU at 40%, all on an Intel Core i7-10750H, 16 GB of RAM, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 6GB, 144Hz monitor. If you have the same specs, then you're good.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Character development features a mix of opinions, with some praising the personality and customization options, while others criticize the new character designs as lacking charm and being off-putting compared to the original. The playful cutscenes may also give a misleading impression of the game's tone.
- “The character designs have a lot of personality, and the customization feature is fun.”
- “Character designs are bad still.”
- “There is no charm in the character designs like there was in the original; the new characters are off-putting.”
- “Note that the initial impression of the character designs and silly cutscenes can give the impression that this game is strictly for toddlers.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many features and content removed from the base game and locked behind purchases. Users feel the game is abandoned at launch and overly focused on selling skins and cosmetic items, detracting from the original experience.
- “Game after game was just another soulless cash grab, another punch to an already dead horse.”
- “Abandoned at launch cashgrab with a plethora of features removed from the advertising and original games.”
- “Feels like a cash grab there when they should have been in the base game.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere in Banana Mania is lively and cheerful, creating an energetic and skill-driven experience that keeps players engaged through high scores, challenging courses, and party games.

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77%Critics’ scoreBased on 40 critic reviews

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25h Median play time

346h Average play time

2-36h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is a arcade platformer game with comedy and anime themes.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 346 hours playing Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania was released on October 4, 2021.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania was developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its stability.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is a single player game with local co-op support.

Similar games include Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series, Marble It Up! Ultra, Rolled Out!, Sonic Generations, Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection and others.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania

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