The game continues on from the side-scrolling platform gameplay of the Donkey Kong Country series and sees Donkey Kong and his friends travelling through six different islands in order to defeat the Snowmads.
Tropical Freeze fortsætter i samme stil som de tidligere spil i Donkey Kong Country-serien og handler om Donkey Kong og hans venner, der skal kæmpe mod vikingerasen Snowmads og rejse gennem seks forskellige øer.