Pauline has appeared on the cover art of Donkey Kong Bananza, but only on the Korean Nintendo website. The artwork shows Pauline looking significantly younger, which may indicate that she plays a key role in the game as it is a prequel. This revelation was spotted by ResetEra user NotLiquid and confirms rumors that Pauline will make a cameo appearance.
The notable difference between the two images of Donkey Kong Bananza’s Switch 2 page on the Korean website is the inclusion of a younger-looking character who bears a striking resemblance to Pauline. In one image, she replaces an Odd Rock creature, suggesting this might be her in disguise. Nintendo has since removed the artwork from their site, but it can still be viewed using the Wayback Machine.
The fact that Pauline’s involvement was added too early suggests that Nintendo plans to reveal more about her role before launch on July 17, 2025, a month after Donkey Kong Bananza’s platform, the Nintendo Switch 2.
Source: https://www.thegamer.com/donkey-kong-bananza-pauline-box-art-confirmed