About Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooie is one of the most beloved 3D platformers of the Nintendo 64 era, developed by Rare and released in 1998. You control Banjo the bear and Kazooie the breegull, a bird who rides in his backpack, as they chase the witch Gruntilda across the magical world of Spiral Mountain and beyond. The game defined the collectathon genre: each of its colorful worlds is packed with jigsaw pieces (Jiggies), musical notes, and other collectibles that unlock new areas and moves. Banjo and Kazooie combine talents — Kazooie can shoot eggs, fly, and peck enemies, while Banjo handles brute force and ground pound attacks. The writing is warm and witty, the music by Grant Kirkhope is iconic, and the level design rewards thorough exploration. It remains a high-water mark for the genre, and the Xbox Live Arcade version added HD presentation, and the original is also available through Nintendo Switch Online.
Game details
How to play
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Banjo-Kazooie FAQ
Is Banjo-Kazooie free?
No — it is a paid classic platformer, available on Nintendo Switch Online, with the Xbox Live Arcade remaster on Xbox platforms.
What is a collectathon?
A platformer focused on gathering collectibles across large worlds — Banjo-Kazooie is the genre's most famous example.
Do I need to play both characters separately?
No — Banjo and Kazooie work as one team, with moves that combine both characters' abilities.
Is Banjo-Kazooie hard?
It is family friendly and moderate in difficulty, with a few tricky challenge areas for completionists.
Which games are in the series?
The main series includes Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Tooie, and the racing spin-off Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.