Can You Play Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania Online With Other People?

Upon booting up Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania, the game will ask you if you want to connect to the internet. Some might think, “oh so this game has an online component? Cool.” Most video games have some kind of online component to them like cooperative or PvP modes. However, another question is posed when it comes to this game. What kind of online modes does Super Monkey Ball have?

Can you play Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania online with other people?

Unfortunately, you cannot play this game online with other people. It seems strange that you can’t in a game like this. Super Monkey Ball games have always had these secondary mini games to sink some down time into if you have some friends over. In another article, I went over the different party games this game has to offer and ranking which is the best to the worst.

So another question comes into play; why would the game ask you to connect to the internet if you can’t play with other people? Well, the answer simply lies in the fact that there is an online component via the Ranking Challenge mode. It’s just a glorified time trial mode where you can submit your clear times from the Story and challenge modes.

The closest you can get to playing with selected people is by competing with someone’s already completed times, but you cannot outright play simultaneously. This mode does allow you to play main game missions and even party games. Compete for the best times, upload the time, and get your own time posted up. You can compete with friends, but not in real time. At least the game will compensate you with additional points to spend in the shop.

The only way to actually play this game with other people is in a local setting. If you’re on the Nintendo Switch, the same applies through using the same console. It does seem like a missed opportunity for a game with a decent selection of minigames to not let players play online with their friends or in a public setting.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is set for an October 5th release. People who preordered the Digital Deluxe Edition will have access to it starting October 1, 2021. It will be out on the PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Click here to check out additional content about the game like guides and even a review.