Map Key
| Map Key | |
|---|---|
| First appearance | Donkey Kong Country Returns (2010) |
| Latest appearance | Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (2025) |
| Effect | Unlocks a new path on the map |
- “What, you need a key to bust through some flimsy lock?”
- —Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong Country Returns
A Map Key is a special golden key used in Donkey Kong Country Returns and its Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch ports. In each world of the game, excluding Cloud, it can be purchased from Cranky Kong's Shop for 20 Banana Coins. In New Mode of the 3DS version and Modern Mode of the Switch version, it instead costs ten Banana Coins. Once the player leaves the shop with a Map Key, it automatically unlocks the path on the Level Selection Screen in that world that is otherwise blocked by golden chains and a lock. Each such path leads to one additional level, with the path for completing that level sometimes creating a route to the world's boss level that has fewer levels total. The player cannot purchase Map Keys they already have, and they appear grayed out in the shop.
Unlocked levels[edit]
The following levels are accessible via Map Keys:
- 1-4: Sunset Shore
- 2-6: Blowhole Bound
- 3-4: Damp Dungeon
- 4-4: Mole Patrol
- 5-6: Springy Spores
- 5-7: Wigglevine Wonders
- 6-5: Precarious Plateau
- 7-3: Handy Hazards
- 8-4: Smokey Peak
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | もんキー[?] Monkī |
Pun on "monkey" and "key" |