A Parent’s Guide To Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a cartoon running game in which players control a cute monkey called AiAi – and his friends – as they navigate elevated platforms that twist, turn, buckle, and roll. Players race through stages, avoid traps, collect bananas, and occasionally engage in multiplayer matches. The challenge is trying not to fall off the platforms, while completing levels as quickly as possible.

But is this spherical time-based racing platformer appropriate for your family?

Is Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble Appropriate for Kids?

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB, meaning it’s generally suitable for all ages. Banana Rumble also has a Content Descriptor for Mild Fantasy Violence and an Interactive Element for In-Game Purchases.

Throughout the game, players can use various power ups like rockets, ice blasts, and baseball bats against enemies, such as robots. Some characters yell when hit and fly through the air from explosions. In battle mode, players can use a cartoony missile to knock other players away.

This game features friendly, cartoon characters engaged in slapstick racing, with comical enemies and obstacles. It’s designed for single-play and multiplayer, either at home or online, or against computer bots.

Where Can I Play Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble and How Much Does It Cost?

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is available for Nintendo Switch for $49.99. A Deluxe edition costing $69.99 includes a ‘SEGA Character Pass’ with six extra downloadable characters and additional fashion items to customize favorite characters.

As indicated by the In-Game Purchases Interactive Element, the SEGA Character Pass is also available on its own for $4.99.

What is Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble About?

The Legendary Banana has been hidden away and is sought by AiAi and his many friends. To complete their mission, they’ll collect seven artifacts through a series of 200 levels.

How Does Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble Play?

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a fast-paced game where players will race and explore a series of increasingly tricky maze-like stages. AiAi and his friends speed through a variety of themed worlds, such as a fantasy flower garden, a Venetian-inspired city, an exotic temple, and a magical desert.

The challenge is to stay on the course without falling off the platforms while making use of special powers, like the ability to ‘Spin Dash,’ which allows players to sprint past rivals while finding winning shortcuts. These tracks include hazards like holes, paddles, moving platforms, sharp turns, and more, all of which make it truly challenging to stay on the track.

Players can enjoy the story mode (called Adventure) either alone or with up to three friends. They can also play various multiplayer modes for up to 16 players, including competitive online ‘battle’ modes like races and a riff on hot potato. Many of these are also available to play offline against computer-controlled bots.

Younger players may find it more challenging to race quickly through the level without falling off, but the game offers assist features to help less experienced players learn levels. This includes things like the ability to rewind the game and/or repeatedly practice beating the most difficult twists and turns, all without having to restart the level over and over again. A ‘ghost’ guide can also be summoned, who shows how to beat each level.

Manage Your Kids’ Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble Experiences

There are plenty of tools and resources to help you set reasonable parameters for your kids’ video game experiences as they prepare to enter the next arena.

Of course, it’s always a good idea to check the ESRB-assigned rating information, including a game’s Rating Summary when available, to make sure it’s appropriate for your children. If possible, the best way to learn about a game is to try it out before giving your kids permission to play. You can also learn more about a game with some online research, especially online streams, trailers, and gameplay videos.

As mentioned, it’s also important for you to familiarize yourself with the robust set of parental controls on the Nintendo Switch (and its mobile app) that allow you to manage what your kids play (based on the ESRB-assigned rating information), when and for how long, with whom, and whether they can spend money on new games or in-game purchases. You can find step-by-step parental control guides at ParentalTools.org.

If you’re looking for more tips about video games and online safety, visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide.

Colin Campbell is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The Economist, The Guardian, Polygon, IGN, Gamesindustry.biz and more.