Games Like Banjo-Kazooie

What Made Banjo-Kazooie Work

Banjo-Kazooie is the collectathon at its peak: worlds designed as puzzle boxes where every note and jiggy is placed by hand, and a moveset that expands until you can reach anything. The imitations that fail are the ones that scatter collectibles randomly.

Banjo-Kazooie was made by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 in June 1998. Banjo-Tooie followed in 2000. After Microsoft bought Rare in 2002, the series continued with Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts on Xbox 360 (2008). The N64 original was re-released on Xbox 360 in 2008, included in Rare Replay on Xbox One in 2015, and is playable on Switch through Nintendo Switch Online's Expansion Pack.

Also written as Banjo Kazooie — same game, same list.

9 Games Like Banjo-Kazooie

1. Yo

   1.Yooka-Laylee(2017)

   By much of the same team — the direct attempt at a successor.

   Why it fits: Playtonic Games, founded by former key Rare staff, 2017 on PC, PS4 and Xbox One (Switch later that year). The deliberate spiritual successor, remade as Yooka-Replaylee in 2025.

   What is different: The worlds are bigger and emptier, and the camera and controls are less precise than the originals'.

   Where to play it: PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch.

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2. A

   2.A Hat in Time(2017)

   The one that actually recaptured it, with better movement than the original.

   Why it fits: Gears for Breakfast, PC in 2017, then PS4, Xbox One and Switch. The modern collectathon that best recaptures the genre, with tighter movement than the N64 games.

   What is different: Chapter-based missions rather than open note-hunting, and a stronger sense of humour than of wonder.

   Where to play it: PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch.

   More about this game →
3. Do

   3.Donkey Kong 64(1999)

   Rare's own follow-on, bigger and far more indulgent about collectibles.

   Why it fits: Rare, Nintendo 64, 1999. Rare's next collectathon after Banjo, on the same console, with five playable Kongs and far more to collect.

   What is different: Five playable Kongs with separate colour-coded collectibles — the amount of backtracking is a real barrier.

   Where to play it: N64; Wii U Virtual Console.

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4. Su

   4.Super Mario 64(1996)

   The template Banjo refined, and still the tightest movement of the era.

   Why it fits: Nintendo EAD, Nintendo 64, 1996. The game Banjo-Kazooie built on, and still the cleanest movement of that generation.

   What is different: Much less to collect and almost no characters or jokes; it is about movement and stars.

   Where to play it: N64; DS remake; Nintendo Switch Online with the Expansion Pack.

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5. Co

   5.Conker's Bad Fur Day(2001)

   Same engine and team, aimed at a completely different audience.

   Why it fits: Rare, Nintendo 64, 2001. Built by Rare on the same platformer foundations as Banjo, but aimed squarely at adults.

   What is different: An adult comedy with set pieces rather than a collectathon, and the jokes are the point.

   Where to play it: N64; remade as Live & Reloaded on Xbox; in Rare Replay on Xbox One.

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6. Ps

   6.Psychonauts(2005)

   The collectathon with genuinely great writing and level concepts.

   Why it fits: Double Fine Productions, 2005, on PC, Xbox and PS2. A collectathon with inventive, very different levels and real jokes in the writing.

   What is different: Floatier platforming, and a darker, stranger sense of humour.

   Where to play it: PC, PS2 and Xbox; the sequel on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

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7. Ka

   7.Kao the Kangaroo(2022)

   A modern, straightforward take on the same structure.

   Why it fits: Tate Multimedia, 2022, on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Switch. A modern, straightforward 3D platformer revival of a 2000s mascot.

   What is different: Smaller in scope and more linear, with much more combat than collecting.

   Where to play it: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Switch.

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8. Su

   8.Super Lucky's Tale(2017)

   Gentler and smaller, but built on the same bones.

   Why it fits: Playful Studios for Microsoft, 2017 on Xbox One and PC. A smaller, gentler hub-world platformer on the same bones.

   What is different: Aimed at younger players, short levels, very little challenge.

   Where to play it: Xbox One, PC and Switch.

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9. As

   9.Astro Bot(2024)

   Modern platforming with the same hand-placed, every-corner-rewards-you design.

   Why it fits: Team Asobi, PS5, 2024. Modern platforming in which every corner hides something placed there on purpose.

   What is different: Level-based rather than hub-and-worlds, and there is no dialogue humour.

   Where to play it: PS5.

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Where to Start

A Hat in Time is the one to play if you want the feeling back without the 1998 camera. If you want Rare's own continuation, Banjo-Tooie is the natural next step and Donkey Kong 64 comes after it — but both demand patience with collecting.

How We Picked These Games

Every pick is a 3D platformer with worlds designed by hand, collectibles placed with intent and a moveset that grows as you play. Games that scatter collectibles at random, or are platformers in name only, were left out.

Which One to Play, by What You Liked

If you liked Banjo-Kazooie for the music and the Rare humour, try Yooka-Laylee and Conker's Bad Fur Day. Yooka-Laylee's score is by Grant Kirkhope and David Wise; Conker is Rare's own N64 platformer with the jokes turned up.

If you liked Banjo-Kazooie for collecting every note and jiggy, try Donkey Kong 64 and A Hat in Time. Donkey Kong 64 has far more to collect than Banjo; A Hat in Time has less, with better movement.

If you liked Banjo-Kazooie for big themed worlds off a hub, try Super Mario 64 and Psychonauts. Mario's castle paintings and Psychonauts' summer camp both work like Gruntilda's Lair: one hub, many self-contained worlds.

If you liked Banjo-Kazooie for playing with a child, try Super Lucky's Tale and Kao the Kangaroo. Both are gentler and simpler than Banjo, with short levels and forgiving checkpoints.