Banjo-Kazooie is a platform video game developed by Rare and originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998. The game follows a bear named Banjo and his bird friend Kazooie as they attempt to rescue Banjo's sister Tooty from the witch Gruntilda. It is known for its colorful graphics, humorous tone, and collect-a-thon gameplay.
The game was a critical and commercial success, praised for its level design, music, and character. It has sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide. A sequel, Banjo-Tooie, was released in 2000, and the series later appeared on Xbox platforms via Rare Replay and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.
As of 2026, Banjo-Kazooie remains a beloved classic, often cited as one of the greatest video games of all time. It is available on Nintendo Switch Online as part of the Expansion Pack, and on Xbox via backward compatibility.
