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World 9 of 12

Donkey Kong Bananza: Radiance Layer walkthrough

Dark caves that need their lights switched back on; the Snake Bananza and rematches with Poppy and Grumpy Kong.

  • 3 parts · 3 steps
  • 2 bosses

Compiled from 8 guides · checked Oct 19, 2026

0 of 3 done

What each player can do here

P1 · Donkey Kong
  • Player 1 is Donkey Kong: punch, climb and dig through the terrain, tear off chunks to throw, and do all the platforming while Pauline rides along.
  • Pauline's singing turns DK into his Bananza forms, each learned from an Elder in one of the layers.
P2 · Pauline
  • Player 2 is Pauline, riding on DK's shoulder. Aim and fire vocal blasts at enemies and walls (Joy-Con 2 mouse controls or motion aiming), and copy nearby terrain to power up the blasts.
  • A second player can join with a shared Joy-Con, or from another Switch 2 (even a Switch 1) through GameShare with one copy of the game.

If your skill levels differ: DK handles every jump, and Pauline's job is aiming her blasts (and copying terrain to power them up), with motion or stick aiming. For an easier run overall, Assist Mode adds path guidance, aim assist, reduced damage and health that refills.Our suggestionGive the newer player Pauline. How to split the roles

Snake Elder

Part 1 of 3. Learn the Snake Bananza.

  1. BothThe Snake Elder teaches the Snake Bananza, the fifth and last form, once you rebuild his Ancient Record. Its Glare slows things down.

Poppy Kong (rematch)

Part 2 of 3. Beat Poppy Kong again.

  1. BothShe is invisible and much faster this time. Switch to the Snake Bananza and use Glare to slow her down, then hit her.

Grumpy Kong (rematch)

Part 3 of 3. Beat Grumpy Kong again.

  1. BothGrumpy's skeleton is back with armour that hits do not break. Break holes in the ceiling domes so light shines on him and turns the armour to dirt, then break it.

Where people tend to fall

  • Glare also slows his pickaxe spin.

Boss

Poppy KongThe first boss

  1. Rematch: Slow her down with the Snake Bananza's Glare, then hit her.

Grumpy KongThe second boss

  1. Rematch: Open the ceiling domes to let light weaken his armour, then break it.

Extras and notes

  • At the end of this layer DK and Pauline get separated.
Sources (8)

Steps compiled from 8 text guides, checked Oct 19, 2026, and written in our own words. We did not play the game for this guide. A step marked “single source” rests on one guide so far.