With my Nintendo 64 currently packed up, I finally decided to give in and purchase that Expansion Pack for Nintendo Switch Online so I could revisit some of my all-time favorite games.  We’ve actually discussed the Banjo-Kazooie franchise many times over the years, but I can’t believe I never ranked these sprawling and colorful worlds packed with plenty to do and see and collect.  And now, I must right this wrong and rank the nine worlds of Banjo-Kazooie, from the least to the best.  And once you’ve read my list, why not leave a comment letting us know your favorite and least favorite levels you visited with the iconic bear and bird!

9: Mumbo’s Mountain – Mumbo’s Mountain is pretty basic, but I can’t really fault it for its simplicity, as it’s just the game’s introductory world.  Now that I’ve played the game many times over the years, I can easily get 100% in roughly 15 minutes, making it just a bit too short and easy for my liking.  Nevertheless, it’s a great first world for newcomers, with its small size and some nice green slopes for practicing your new talon trot ability, which you’ll be using quite frequently over the rest of the game…

8: Bubblegloop Swamp – This murky, piranha-infested swamp is home to the Flibbits, some of my least favorite enemies in the whole game, as these hopping frogs are surprisingly difficult to hit.  You can also meet such reptilian characters as Tiptup and his turtle choir (situated, weirdly enough, in the belly of an even larger turtle, Tanktup), and Mr. Vile, the greedy crocodile who makes us compete in three minigames against him.  This level is a welcome break after the anxiety-inducing Clanker’s Cavern, but I’ve always found it to be one of the least memorable worlds in the game. 

7: Rusty Bucket Bay – Unlike most people, I always rather liked this world, mainly because it has some of the best music in the game.  But I must admit that a good soundtrack does not make up for the fact that even the most seasoned of Banjo-Kazooie veterans will likely have a perfect playthrough marred by their first and only death here in the Rusty Bucket’s horrid engine room, which is filled with all manner of spinning objects and a bottomless pit.  (Why did I go for that Mumbo token, why?!)  Along with the general ugliness of this big metal boat and its polluted, oily water (that drains your air even when you’re on the surface), this world will stretch your skills to the limit.

6: Clanker’s Cavern – This stressful level features a major difficulty spike.  When I was a duckling, I died countless times just attempting to dive deep enough to raise poor Clanker higher in the filthy water so this…shark/whale hybrid could get some fresh air.  As such, it was a long, long time before I ever entered Clanker’s innards.  This whole level is also very grimy and unpleasant, meaning it’s not my favorite place to explore.  Nevertheless, I’ve always been rather fond of poor Clanker, Grunty’s sentient garbage disposal.  Plus, the fact that much of the level revolves around him, whether you’re exploring inside his belly or using his tail or blowhole to reach other ledges, is pretty cool and memorable.

5: Treasure Trove Cove – This is where the game truly begins.  This sprawling beach level is where you learn how to fly through the air, but you’ll also need to be quick with your swimming, as Snacker the shark will hunt you down everytime you dip your toes into the ocean.  Treasure Trove Cove is a great level for dialing up the difficulty just a little bit and giving you a feel for what the rest of the game is going to be like.  It’s not too easy like Mumbo’s Mountain, but it’s not too hard, either.  Plus, this is one of the best gaming levels of all time if you’re looking for a beachy, summer vibe.

4: Freezeezy Peak – If Treasure Trove Cove is the epitome of summer beach levels, then Freezeezy Peak is the Christmas winter level that all other snowy levels should strive to emulate.  From sled races to scaling a giant snowman, from climbing up the inside of a giant Christmas tree to giving gifts to Boggy’s sad, neglected kids, this level will get you in the holiday spirit in the middle of July.  While the vibes here are great, I will admit that I’m not the biggest fan of Boggy’s sled races, the icy water, or the maniacal Sir Slushes that enjoy throwing snowballs at my face as they attempt to knock me out of the air….

3: Gobi’s Valley – This bright desert-themed level is littered with pyramids and even a sphynx named Jinxy.  The music is fast-paced, and the perpetually moving texture on the sand makes this place feel quite energetic.  As such, I always really enjoyed this level, and I liked checking out each pyramid one at a time, from King Sandybutt’s tomb, complete with a labyrinth and a spiky ceiling that will crush you if you don’t get to the other side on time, to a simple little memory game.  I’ve always loved the mysterious vibes of Gobi’s Valley, too, with the door in the side of the mountain (associated with Stop n Swop) and the quiet and almost eerie music that plays inside the sphynx.  Egyptian-inspired tombs and ruins will always be interesting to me, as will any gaming world associated with them.

2: Mad Monster Mansion – We’ve got a great summer level, a Christmas level, and now a Halloween level!  Easily my personal favorite world, I love the spooky vibes of Grunty’s mansion tucked away in the woods and the surrounding grounds, which are home to a hedge maze, a church and cemetery, and plenty of ghosts and skeletons.  (Though the Portrait Chompas are the only true scares this kid-friendly horror level has to offer.  Those things still freak me out!)  The music, getting to explore the rooms of Grunty’s mansion (although I wish the mansion was more than a handful of disconnected rooms), and the overall atmosphere of this world make it top-tier for me.

1: Click Clock Wood – While Mad Monster Mansion may be my favorite, Click Clock Wood is easily the best world in the game.  The level has four iterations, one for each season, and the whole world revolves around a massive tree.  I love the way this world changes, keeping our four visits from feeling too redundant.  In spring, everything is green and new, and then in summer, the water dries up, and swarms of bees roam above the yellow grass.  Fall is characterized by piles of orange leaves, as expected, and winter is snowy and a bit dead, with the inhabitants holed up for winter.  As the year progresses, a house gets slowly built up high in the tree, Eyrie grows into a mighty eagle, a giant flower grows and dies, and Nabnut the squirrel eats all his acorns and expects us to get him prepared for winter while he mopes about it.  This is a wonderful end to an already amazing game!