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It's been almost 30 years since Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! was released, and since then, we've been treated to two more entries in the Country series: Donkey Kong Country Returns and 2014's Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.
Both of these took the classic side-scrolling gameplay fans loved and updated it for the modern day, introducing brand-new level mechanics and villains (the Tikis and the Snowmads, respectively), while also overhauling the visuals by replacing the original pre-rendered sprites with true 3D models.
Being a fan of the Kremlings and the original trilogy's pre-rendered art style (Donkey Kong Country 2 is still the high point of the series, for me), I've always wondered what it would have been like to receive one more numbered entry in that classic style, and it seems I've now got my wish — albeit not through official means, but a new fan project, which is set to launch on November 18th, 2026.
Donkey Kong Country 4: The Kong's Return (as spotted by Retro Dodo) is an upcoming fan game for PC, which doesn't just feature Donkey, Diddy, Dixie, and Kiddy, but also ropes in characters from Donkey Kong 64, too, letting you play as Chunky, Tiny, and everyone's favourite Lanky Kong.
It is being developed by a group of developers, including Rangelukaz, Kalango, Leocore, Necrotoad, Rodrigo Boechat, Buiu Alves, Douglas Gonçalves, Leandro Ferrete, Marvin, Portelo, Lucas Manoel, Samsk8, and Molly Snyder.
It appears to feature a number of beloved elements from the original trilogy, including a large number of returning animal companions (Rambi, Squawks, Winky, Parry, Expresso), in addition to "dozens of new levels," from Sunset-Shore-esque stages to Redwood-filled forests.
Looking online, it seems the project has been in development for well over a decade, with multiple demos having been released throughout the years.
Now, though, fans will finally get to play the finished version later this year, and I personally couldn't be more excited.