Donkey Kong 64 Settings Change Is a Game Changer on Switch

The Nintendo Switch Online release of Donkey Kong 64 retained a widescreen setting that users should turn on when given the chance, as it is one of the few N64 titles to come with widescreen support. Donkey Kong 64 is the 43rd N64 title to be added to Nintendo Switch Online since 2021.

Originally released in November 1999, Donkey Kong 64 was the franchise’s first foray into 3D graphics. The arrival of DK64 on the N64 app for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 came just over 26 years after the game’s debut. DK64 was developed by Rare and featured a cast of five playable characters, such as Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, and Lanky Kong. Donkey Kong 64 also marked the debut of the DK Rap, which has since been referenced in Donkey Kong Bananza and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

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Donkey Kong 64 Has Built-In Widescreen Support

With Donkey Kong 64 now available for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers to enjoy, users can turn on a setting that not too many titles from the late 1990s had. After booting up the game in the N64 app, Donkey Kong 64 players can go to the game’s options menu and change the screen size from Normal to Widescreen. This will take away most of the borders on both sides of the screen and allow more of the game’s levels to be shown. For example, more of DK’s house and the surrounding area can be seen with widescreen enabled. The mode works whether the Switch and Switch 2 is being used handheld or docked. Additionally, users can also turn on surround sound support from the sound menu, marked by the barrel with blue headphones.

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However, Donkey Kong 64 is not the only N64 title developed by Rare to include widescreen support. GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Tooie, Jet Force Gemini, and Perfect Dark each have support for widescreen displays, which can also be toggled within each respective game’s settings menus. Although later consoles like the GameCube and the PS2 made widescreen support a more common feature for games, it was a rarity during the late 1990s and the early 2000s due to how many users still had 4:3 displays. In short, Rare was ahead of its time by adding widescreen support to Donkey Kong 64.

The debut of Donkey Kong 64 on Switch consoles means that Switch Online users with the Expansion Pack upgrade now have 43 titles to enjoy. However, some of the N64’s best-selling titles, such as Super Smash Bros., are still not available on the N64 app. Although leaks about Super Smash Bros. on the N64 app have periodically appeared, nothing has come to light as of this writing.

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With Donkey Kong 64 now available, it remains to be seen how many more titles will be added to the N64 app throughout 2026. However, users may not have much longer to wait for more news from Nintendo. According to leaks posted on social media, a Nintendo Direct could debut the week of June 9. While Nintendo has yet to post an official announcement, time will tell when the company will make its next moves.