Donkey Kong Land follows Dixie Kong as she searches for The Lost World after hearing about a contest on the radio. With her baby cousin Kiddy Kong in tow, Dixie sets out to find it before others do. This takes the lead in the third chapter of the Donkey Kong Land series, where Dixie Kong takes center stage.
Gameplay-wise, Dixie can glide using her hair, while carrying barrels over her head. Her partner Kiddy carries barrels in front of him and can jump further by somersaulting over platform edges first. The duo is aided by special animal friends, including Ellie the Elephant, Enguarde the Swordfish, Squawks the Parrot, and Squitter the Spider, each with their unique abilities. Players must collect Bonus Coins and DK Coins scattered throughout levels to progress.
The game features a Time Attack mode, where players can attempt to beat the best time for certain levels once they've completed the game. To unlock the full experience, players must collect all the coins and explore the 'Lost World' levels.