Donkey Kong Bananza reveals Pauline as a 13-year-old residing in New Donk City, sparking speculation about its connection to Super Mario Odyssey. While the game's finale shows Pauline in her hometown, evidence suggests Bananza is a sequel, with Teenage Pauline as the granddaughter of the original Pauline from the Donkey Kong arcade game. The game features three generations of both Paulines and Donkey Kongs, raising questions about Mario's age and Nintendo's approach to lore consistency. Ultimately, the game's true placement within the franchise timeline remains ambiguous.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.