All Super Monkey Ball Console Games Ranked

Monkey see, monkey do, monkey roll! Super Monkey Ball has been around since 2001, initially launching for arcades before hitting the GameCube a few months later. The series quickly became one of Sega's most iconic properties thanks to its brutal difficulty, maze-like obstacle courses, and endlessly replayable party modes.

Over the years, more than a dozen titles have launched on various platforms, some of which are much better than others. If you're looking to get started with the Monkey Ball series, which games should you play? And which should you skip?

Updated on July 9, 2024, by PJ Molloy: Super Monkey Ball is back! After years of remakes and remasters, Sega finally launched a brand-new game in the form of Banana Rumble. But how does this new entry compare to the others?

For this list, we're only ranking the console games. Arcade machines and mobile games don't qualify.

13 Super Monkey Ball Jr.

An Impressive Tech Demo, But Frustrating To Play

Super Monkey Ball Jr. is nothing short of a technical marvel. Most aspects of the first GameCube game are here, including the levels, music, voice acting, and minigames. Plus, the simulated 3D gameplay is beyond impressive for the hardware. It's a miracle it runs on the Game Boy Advance at all.

Unfortunately, the perks come at a grave cost. The physics are, quite frankly, awful. You never truly feel in control, discouraging you from collecting hard-to-reach bananas and making the advanced stages infuriating. Sadly, Super Monkey Ball Jr. bit off more than it could chew, making it difficult to recommend to anyone besides those curious about its technical prowess.

12 Super Monkey Ball 3D

Goodbye, Challenge. Hello, Mario Kart Clone

At first glance, Super Monkey Ball 3D appears to get everything right. The controls are fine, the visuals are nice, and the environments are creative. The biggest problem is the level design. Many stages have railings along the edges that prevent you from falling off, robbing the game of the arcade-style challenge the series is famous for.

As for the party games, Monkey Race and Monkey Fight have been entirely reworked to resemble Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros., respectively. The results are shallow imitations that fail to enhance or even use the core Monkey Ball gameplay. Overall, the 3DS entry lacks everything that makes the series special, resulting in a derivative and boring experience.

11 Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz

Motion Controls And Jumping Make An Odd Combo

Banana Blitz is arguably the most divisive game in the series. To its credit, it has a few redeeming qualities. The music is incredibly catchy, the new art style is adorable, and the addition of bosses is a nice touch. However, two aspects really bog the game down: the motion controls and the jump button.

The motion controls don't allow for the precision needed to navigate narrow paths and tight corners, leading to many unfair deaths. The jump button helps a little but feels more like a bandage for a fundamental design flaw than something that actually enhances the gameplay. If you're interested in this game, you're better off playing the remaster.

10 Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll

One Step Forward And One Step Back

The second Wii entry tries to innovate upon Banana Blitz to very mixed results. On the one hand, the jump mechanic is gone, and the music and visuals are exceptional. On the other hand, the motion controls are still there, along with the option to play with a Wii Balance Board, which is somehow even worse.

However, there's a larger issue here. Step & Roll dramatically tones down the difficulty to compensate for the less precise control scheme. While this makes the motion controls more tolerable, it does so at the cost of the series' identity as a challenging arcade-style experience. It's better than Banana Blitz, albeit ever so slightly.

9 Super Monkey Ball Adventure

Introducing Sandbox Exploration To Mixed Results

Super Monkey Ball Adventure swaps the series' traditional arcade-style format for sandbox exploration. You roll the monkeys around semi-open worlds to grab collectibles and complete objectives, similar to collect-a-thons of the era. You can even unlock new abilities to expand your moveset.

While the concept seems interesting on paper, the execution is hit-or-miss. In these types of 3D platformers, the moveset should feel liberating to make exploration fun. Super Monkey Ball's gameplay is a bit too limiting for these kinds of environments, leading to a tedious experience overall. There are definitely fun moments here, but Monkey Ball and open-world levels aren't exactly a match made in heaven.

8 Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD

A Solid Remaster With Much Better Controls

This is how you do a remake. Banana Blitz HD fixes many issues from the original while adding new features and characters. First, you can finally play with a traditional control scheme. So long, motion controls! The movement is significantly more precise, allowing you to enjoy the level design without worrying about unfair deaths.

Not only do all playable characters return, but you can even play as Sonic the Hedgehog for the first time in the series. While the levels aren't quite as good as the GameCube titles, Banana Blitz HD is a decent entry and miles ahead of the Wii original.

7 Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz

A Wonderful Hidden Gem

Banana Splitz is widely considered the most underrated game in the series. The main game is exactly what you'd want from Monkey Ball, featuring over 100 new mazes and a pretty satisfying difficulty curve. While you can play using motion controls, you can turn them off completely in favor of the joystick.

As far as minigames go, Banana Splitz has some interesting ideas. The standout is the new Love Maze mode, in which you must control two monkeys at a time without moving them too far apart. Overall, it's a fun and underappreciated entry that all Monkey Ball fans should consider trying.

6 Super Monkey Ball: Touch & Roll

A Great Way To Play Monkey Ball On The Go

Touch & Roll is kind of like Super Monkey Ball's greatest hits. The levels mostly come from the first two GameCube games, and they work surprisingly well on the DS. The 3D environments blend well with the 2D sprites, and the animations are brimming with charm and personality.

Ultimately, your enjoyment will depend on whether you can stomach the touch controls. Overall, they're shockingly responsive and allow for the precision needed for the tougher mazes. If you don't mind playing with a stylus, Touch & Roll is a fine way to take Monkey Ball on the go and a great addition to your DS collection.

Personally, I find that using the stylus gets a bit uncomfortable after a while. Thankfully, some mods let you map the touch controls to a 3DS circle pad, which makes for a much better experience.

5 Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania

A Loving Remake Of The First Three Games

As far as remakes go, Banana Mania pulls out all the stops. Every level from the first two games and Super Monkey Ball Deluxe is here with dazzling new visuals. Every playable character from the series' history returns, in addition to many guest characters like Sonic, Tails, and Kazuma Kiryu from Yakuza. You can even play as a Sega Dreamcast.

Now for the downside: the physics and controls aren't a one-to-one recreation of the original games. Fortunately, they're enough that you probably won't notice unless you know the GameCube titles like the back of your hand. If you're looking to revisit these classics, Banana Mania is a great way to do it.

4 Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble

Reviving The Series After A Long Hiatus

Check out our review of Banana Rumble to learn more!

After 12 years of no brand-new Monkey Ball game, Banana Rumble hit the Nintendo Switch to prove that the series is still fantastic. On top of a charming art style and fully animated cutscenes, this entry knocks it out of the park with a top-tier single-player mode featuring challenging, well-designed mazes.

The biggest new addition is the Spin Dash, which gives you an instant burst of speed. Luckily, it feels less like a gimmick and more like a useful tool for speedrunners. That said, not everything is perfect. The multiplayer modes, in particular, are lacking. But don't let that discourage you from playing what is otherwise an outstanding game.

3 Super Monkey Ball Deluxe

Two Great Games On One Disc

If you didn't grow up with a GameCube, you could still play the series, thanks to Super Monkey Ball Deluxe. This game is a compilation of the first two GameCube titles with brand-new levels added, which are, thankfully, just as good as the originals.

For those experienced with the series, Monkey Ball Deluxe puts your skills to the test with an Ultimate mode, which contains a whopping total of 210 back-to-back stages. The audio issues are the only things that hold it back from being the best. Other than that, the controls are phenomenal, the physics are spot-on, and the series' trademark difficulty is here in full glory.

2 Super Monkey Ball

A Timeless GameCube Classic

The first Super Monkey Ball seamlessly brought the beloved arcade game to consoles, and it's still a blast to play today. The combination of well-designed mazes, a punishing yet rewarding challenge mode, and several exceptional party games have earned Monkey Ball a spot among the best multiplayer GameCube titles.

Where the first entry truly shines is its gameplay. The controls and physics are so precise and perfect that no installment after the GameCube era has ever accurately replicated them. In short, Super Monkey Ball has aged remarkably well and remains a must-play for anyone interested in the series.

1 Super Monkey Ball 2

The Best Super Monkey Ball Game

Often considered one of the best GameCube games ever, Super Monkey Ball 2 expands upon the first entry with over 100 cleverly designed levels, six new party games, and revised versions of the returning minigames. Everything from the physics to the controls is top-notch, providing a challenging experience that feels endlessly rewarding when you finally master those tricky stages.

The biggest addition is the new story mode, in which the monkeys must retrieve their stolen bananas from the villainous Dr. Bad-Boon. The cutscenes are delightfully silly and add even more personality to an already charming game. If you own a GameCube, you owe it to yourself to play Super Monkey Ball 2.