A darker and far more ambitious follow-up to Banjo-Kazooie. The ten interconnected worlds, the split abilities and the depth of its puzzles place it among the N64's true high points. Denser and at times labyrinthine, but generous and intelligent in ways the platform rarely matched.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer1 player7+
Description
Ambitious sequel to Banjo-Kazooie featuring vast interconnected worlds and a darker story around Gruntilda's resurrection. Developed by Rare, published by Nintendo, released in 2000. Ten massive semi-open levels, advanced split moves, transformations, and split-screen multiplayer mini-games.
Banjo-Tooie review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Colourful worlds in three dimensions, round creatures and settings brimming with detail: Rare unfurls a 3D platformer of delightful liveliness and inventiveness. The warmth of the hues and the expressiveness of the duo overflow with cartoon charm. This art direction, polished and generous, illustrates the golden age of the N64 platformer.
Broader and more adventurous, Grant Kirkhope's sequel weaves interconnected themes that blend into one another across the vast worlds. The music gains in richness and emotion, without losing any of its sparkling humour. This melodic generosity magnificently extends the magic of the first game.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
The bear and the bird return in larger, interconnected worlds packed with new powers to unlock: exploration takes on an exhilarating scale. Solving puzzles that stretch from one area to another delivers lasting satisfaction. More ambitious and just as playful, this sequel overflows with generosity for platformer fans.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Exploring vast, interconnected worlds where an action over here unlocks a passage over there weaves a more devious collectible hunt than ever. Each new ability rekindles the urge to comb through areas already seen. The sheer scale of the back-and-forth can dilute the pace, but the density of finds and the ingenuity of the puzzles grip you for the long haul.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Exploring ten giant, interconnected levels multiplies the bear-and-bird adventure, darker and far vaster. Puzzles now stretch from one world to the next, rewarding methodical searching and a memory for places. That increased scope, true to Rare's collectathon spirit, offers a lifespan dear to platformer fans.
North American November 2000 pressing. The cartridge is built for the Expansion Pak, which it requires to operate. The US run is set apart by the Kev Bayliss Rare cover showing the central tree of Witchyworld on the sleeve, an element not reproduced on the PAL version. That graphic specificity makes it the prime target for North American Rare collectors after the studio's original iconography.
Is Banjo-Tooie still worth playing in 2026?
Banjo-Tooie takes everything its predecessor mastered and pushes it toward almost outsize ambition. The ten worlds interconnect, the duo can split for distinct abilities and puzzles gain real depth. The result is darker, more labyrinthine and occasionally tough to navigate, yet of an inventiveness and generosity rare on the hardware. The art direction pushes the N64 to its limits and the writing keeps Rare's spark. For fans of dense 3D platforming and forward-looking adventure design, it remains a peak still worth exploring.
