6 Games Like Banjo-Kazooie [Recommendations]

Banjo-Kazooie was one of the best games for the Nintendo 64, and it is available to this day for purchase on the Xbox Marketplace. Rare Ltd. certainly has developed a ton of amazing games in the gaming industry, but more importantly, the games they made were quality! Banjo is a simple bear with a female breegull as his bird friend. Banjo's sister Tooty is captured by a witch named Gruntilda, and it's your job to rescue her. Banjo-Kazooie had humor, a lot of humor! It also had many things to collect in an open world environment.

We love the hilarious cast of characters in Banjo-Kazooie, they all had colorful personalities, and the characters were all original! In our gaming exploits, we've come across a few other games with a humorous duo. There are also other games that have you running around everywhere, collecting things, and jumping everywhere. Banjo-Kazooie had vast open areas with clever puzzles, and a fun morphing mechanic. You had to visit Mumbo Jumbo, a hilarious shaman who sometimes changes the heroes into odd things to get past obstacles. You may be done with Banjo-Kazooie, however, it wasn't the only platformer with a likable cast. Below you will find 6 games like Banjo-Kazooie!


Similar Games to Banjo-Kazooie

1. Ratchet & Clank

  • System/Platform: Playstation 4
  • Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment, SCEA, SCEE, SCEI, SCE Australia
  • Developer: Insomniac Games
  • Release Date: Apr. 12th, 2016

Ratchet and Clank are a pair of heroes who have been around since 2002. You collect many items in the game, like screws, nuts, and bolts to upgrade your weapons. Captain Qwark has been imprisoned, and he starts to tell the story of how it happened. You play as Ratchet and Clank, as they try and save the day from Drek's evil plan. Ratchet & Clank games have evolved throughout the years and have gotten increasingly better. The 2016 version of the game is one of the best iterations of the franchise, and follows the story of the movie.

One of the main similarities between Banjo-Kazooie, and Ratchet & Clank, is that both Ratchet and Banjo, have sidekicks on their backs most of the time. They're both games that have you running around everywhere collecting items, which makes your characters stronger, and progresses the game! The dialogue between Ratchet and Clank can sometimes take a comedic turn. Banjo and Kazooie are all about humor, and puns too! If you liked Banjo-Kazooie, Ratchet & Clank should be a game on your list to check out!

Ratchet & Clank - Trailer


2. Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier

  • System/Platform: Playstation 2, PSP
  • Publisher: SCEE, SCEA, SCE Australia, SCEI
  • Developer: High Impact Games
  • Release Date: Nov. 3, 2009

Jak and Daxter crash-land on an island after a fight with some Eco Pirates, and you have to figure out a way to repair your ship. After you do repair the ship, you get to fly around and shoot down enemy ships! You must battle sky-pirates, Aeropans, and Duke Skyheed. You must uncover just what is going on with the Eco, and stop Skyheed's plan. Playstation 2 was a great console, and it was home to Jak & Daxter. Later, the game was released for the Playstation Portable. It was one of the best platformer games for the PS2.

There is a lot of humor in Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier, much like Banjo-Kazooie. Jak also has Daxter riding on his back almost the whole game, much like Kazooie does with Banjo. Daxter can offer Jak a slow fall ability after jumping, also like Kazooie with Banjo. This is another game that has you running around areas collecting things to make the characters stronger. There is a strong chance that if you liked Banjo-Kazooie, you'll also like Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier. Actually, you might like any of the Jak & Daxter games!

Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier - Trailer


3. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

  • System/Platform: Playstation 4
  • Publisher: Activision, Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • Developer: Vicarious Visions
  • Release Date: Jun. 30, 2017

There was more than one gaming icon born in the 90s, and in 1996 Crash Bandicoot hit the scene. He was so popular that he had his own dance in Japan! Your goal is to stop Dr. Neo Cortex from mutating Crash's love interest, Tawna. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, is due to release at the end of this month, and contains a remastered version of all 3 original Crash games. So now, you can have the complete story of Crash, without having to hunt down the older games!

Crash Bandicoot, much like Banjo-Kazooie, has a witch doctor. Aku Aku, guardian of the Wumpa islands, helps Crash through the game. When Crash collects his masks, which are scattered through the game, he gains various abilities. Banjo-Kazooie has Mumbo-Jumbo, a shamanic witch doctor. In Banjo-Kazooie you have to collect items for Mumbo-Jumbo in order to progress. In both games you also collect fruit! Banjo-Kazooie was remastered from an older game, and Crash Bandicoot is about to be too. Both games also have fun cartoonish animal characters as the protagonists. Your goal in both games is also similar, save the female protagonist from being mutated! If you liked Banjo-Kazooie, you'll probably like Crash!

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy - Trailer



Any Games Like Banjo-Kazooie ?

4. Yooka-Laylee

  • System/Platform: Linux, Macintosh, Nintendo Switch, PC, Playstation 4, Xbox One
  • Publisher: Team 17, Sold Out
  • Developer: Playtonic Games
  • Release Date: Apr. 5, 2017

From the talent behind Banjo-Kazooie, comes a game very much like it, in almost every way! When it was first released, people complained a bunch about the camera. They have recently had an update for the game that addresses these issues! Also, this game is due to release on the Nintendo Switch this year! If you don't have any other version, but have a Switch, wait for the Switch version! Your job is to stop the evil Capital B from converting the world’s literature into pure profit. Roam vast areas and collect Pagies to advance in the game.

Make no mistake, Yooka-Laylee is pretty much Banjo-Kazooie with updated graphics, different characters, and a different plot. Yooka is a chameleon, and Laylee is a bat. Laylee is on Yooka's back the whole time and plays almost exactly like Kazooie does. Both of these games have the same voice acting style. Both of the games also have very similar, if not the same presentation. Yooka-Laylee is widely regarded as the spiritual successor of Banjo-Kazooie! So without a doubt, if you liked Banjo-Kazooie, this game is a must have!

Yooka-Laylee – Trailer


5. Super Mario Galaxy 2

  • System/Platform: Wii
  • Publisher: Nintendo, iQue
  • Developer: Nintendo EAD Tokyo
  • Release Date: May. 23, 2010

Mario has been setting the standard for platforming for a very long time. In Super Mario Galaxy 2, it's your job to collect power stars and save the princess again! This time, however, Mario has a sidekick named Baby Luma to help him along. A second player can pick up the controller and help player one collect items too! Super Mario Galaxy 2 expands the Mario franchise into space again, as you will run around small planets, and defeat bosses. Travel the stars with Starship Mario, and defeat Bowser!

Like Banjo-Kazooie, most Mario games have you saving someone (mostly Princess Peach). Super Mario Galaxy 2 provides Mario with a sidekick who hides in Mario's Hat. Banjo and Kazooie must collect Jiggies to progress in the story, and Mario must collect stars to progress in the game. Mario has purple coins to collect in SMG2, and Banjo has music notes! Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a much newer, and more polished game than Banjo-Kazooie. If you liked Banjo-Kazooie you can't pass this one up!

Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Trailer


6. Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc

  • System/Platform: Gamecube, Macintosh, PC, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360
  • Publisher: Ubisoft, Feral Interactive, ak tronic
  • Developer: Ubisoft Shanghai, Ubisoft
  • Release Date: Jan. 20, 2003

Hoodlum Havoc has been remastered in beautifully rendered HD since its release. You take the role of Rayman, a limbless hero, who can smack things from many feet away. Your goal is to stop the evil Andre, leader of the Black Lums. Andre turns all of the Red Lums into Black Lums to make his hoodlum army and Rayman must travel vast areas and collect various gems and power ups. Rayman games have had many successful games in 2D as well as 3D. As far as platforming goes, it's right up there with the best!

Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc has a metric ton of humor, like Banjo-Kazooie. You'll also be gliding, slow-falling to platforms, and collecting various items. Rayman has Globox as his sidekick, to Banjo's Kazooie. Rayman can glide down to areas in a very similar fashion to Banjo when Kazooie flaps her wings, too. He also has many forms he can take with his power-ups, like Banjo and Kazooie, which helps you get past obstacles in both games. If you liked Banjo-Kazooie this is another game to check out for sure!

Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc


Final Thoughts

Banjo-Kazooie and the Nintendo 64 have a special place in gaming history. We love the honeycombs you can collect in that game! We live in a hive at Honey's, and Honey is sweet, lovely, and we're getting carried away. Anyway, it was so popular it spawned a Banjo-Tooie, and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts. The Bear and Bird will live on in our memories. Just not that mole, Bottles. If you talk to Bottles too much he threatens to delete your game data, what a jerk! Ahem, did you like our list? or perhaps have a game that was left out? We would love to read your comments below!

by Samuel Mackey