- Banjo - Banjo is a brown honey bear, who first appeared in Diddy Kong Racing. He stars in a handful of games including Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Tooie, Banjo-Pilot, and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. He has a younger sister named Tooty, who needed rescuing in Banjo-Kazooie. He is polite and well-mannered, and is always seen wearing yellow shorts with a belt, a shark tooth necklace, and a bright blue backpack. The backpack usually contains his good friend Kazooie. He was first seen in Diddy Kong Racing where he started his career. His arch-nemesis is Gruntilda the Witch. He can also play his namesake instrument (a Banjo).
- Bumper - Bumper is a badger from the game Diddy Kong Racing. He drives a yellow vehicle with a blue stripe down the center.
- Conker the Squirrel - Conker is a greedy, heavy drinking, red squirrel whose first appearance was in the original version of Diddy Kong Racing. Conker, though highly materialistic and never afraid to insult, always approaches new characters with a positive outlook. Conker was originally a kind-hearted character in Conker's Pocket Tales, till he got altered in Conker's Bad Fur Day. Conker's adventures occur because he gets drunk and wanders in the opposite direction to his home. In the Xbox Live Arcade version of Banjo-Kazooie, his picture is seen in the Rusty Bucket Bay level where Berri's originally was in the Nintendo 64 version.
- Drumstick - Drumstick is a large overalls wearing rooster and one of the best drivers on Timber's Island. During the events of Diddy Kong Racing Drumstick attempted to challenge the invading alien wizard, Wizpig. This was the last that was seen or heard of Drumstick. After a while of adventuring and after gaining four gold trophies and thirty-nine Golden Balloons Diddy Kong and his friends came upon a frog, who oddly had a red rooster's comb on its head. Running over this frog the heroes were surprised to discover that the frog was in actuality Drumstick. It seems instead of racing Drumstick, Wizpig had simply transformed him into a frog. After the heroes freed Drumstick from his frog form he joined the heroes in their quest.
- Krunch - Krunch is a Kritter that appears in Diddy Kong Racing as an ally of Diddy Kong. However in the manual, it explains that he's actually doing this to keep an eye on Diddy and his allies as Krunch had suspected that Diddy was actually up to an "anti-Kremling plan in the works."
- Pipsy - Pipsy is a small, yellow mouse who wears a white and blue sailor's shirt with red gloves in her hands and a white polka-dotted red bow on her head. She drives a pink vehicle. Pipsy is statistically the best character to play as before unlocking T.T. She is also apparently the only girl in her first game.
- Taj - Taj is an elephant genie who appears in Diddy Kong Racing. He is the rightful owner of the island who aids Diddy and his friends with such actions as transforming their go-karts into airplanes or hovercrafts if need be.
- T.T. - T.T. is the fastest driver in Diddy Kong Racing. He appears to be a stopwatch with some clock details (like the hand). He records time trials for Diddy and his friends.
- Timber - Timber first appeared in Diddy Kong Racing, and appeared again for Diddy Kong Racing DS. He is a tiger with an Australian accent.
- Tiptup - Tiptup first appeared in Diddy Kong Racing. He is a clumsy turtle who often gets stuck on his back—hence the name 'Tiptup', a play on the phrase 'tipped-up'. He appears in Banjo Kazooie directing a chorus of young turtles. In Banjo-Tooie Tiptup is presumably much older as he is waiting for his child to hatch, hoping that it's a boy as he already has 19 daughters. He needed Banjo and Kazooie's help hatching his egg in Jolly Roger's Lagoon.
- Wizpig - Wizpig is an evil alien pig who first appeared in Diddy Kong Racing. He went from world to world challenging people to life and death races.
- Bluey - Bluey is a walrus who first appeared in Diddy Kong Racing. He is one of Wizpig's allies and serves as the boss of Snowflake Mountain.
- Bubbler - Bubbler is an octopus who first appeared in Diddy Kong Racing. He is one of Wizpig's allies and serves as the boss of Sherbet Island.
- Smokey - Smokey is a dragon who first appeared in Diddy Kong Racing. He is one of Wizpig's allies and serves as the boss of Dragon Forest.
- Tricky - Tricky is a Triceratops who first appeared in Diddy Kong Racing. He is one of Wizpig's allies and serves as the boss of Dino Domain. He was conceived by Rare Ltd. to be the adult form of Tricky from Dinosaur Planet who was later retooled into Star Fox Adventures. Rare has indicated that both Trickys are the same character.
Read more about this topic: List Of Donkey Kong Characters