I personally would say play some of the first game to get a feel for what that game is/was, then move on to Nuts and Bolts. That is purely because I love the charm of that game and the mechanics of it and the trial and error nature of the tasks in game. However, I probably am on the outside of the majority on this one.

The first one. Easily. Classic game, go with the series chronologically if you can.

Just play the first hour or so of the first and Tooie, than move on to Nuts & Bolts. I really don't think those first two games have aged well at all.

Bullshit. The first two are still fantastic.

You should start with Banjo-Kazooie. It's a smaller game than the others, so it won't take long to complete and it's worth it. I like Banjo-Tooie a lot, especially because of its Metroidvania style world designs and character progression, but it's magnitudes more difficult and complex later on than Banjo-Kazooie. Finally, Nuts 'n Bolts is a pretty different experience, but you'll get more out of it if you at least have knowledge of the first game's plot and characters. Personally, I think you should complete them all, but you should at least finish Banjo-Kazooie. It's great.

As much as I like the first two Banjo games, you have to have some sort of appreciation and tolerance for them if you're playing for the first time. They are dated collectionathons with some awkward controls, albeit with a lot of charm and fun to be had. Do you really like old-school platformers? Give the old games a try, starting with the original. Otherwise, just go to Nuts and Bolts and have fun.

Start with the originals, they're still worth playing IMO, but I have major nostalgia/appreciation for them since I was the right age at their release. Nuts & Bolts is amazing and not enough people played it.

Banjo-Kazooie is still a classic, but if it isn't grabbing you after the first few worlds just move onto Nuts and Bolts. Banjo-Tooie is more of the same, albeit with much more complicated world design.

Nuts and Bolts is garbage. Play through the first two.

I would go chronologically.

But nuts & bolts is an awesome game, don't listen to the haters.

I think the first two hold up well enough if you are or ever were into 3D collect-a-thon platformers. Nuts and Bolts is more of a vehicle builder game but it's actually pretty awesome.

Start with nuts and bolts, and then end there.

Well, I can't really speak for you, but here's how I would approach it:

Step 1: Play some of Kazooie, maybe a couple hours, maybe all of it if you're having fun.
Step 2: Move onto Tooie, play all of it.
Step 3: Start playing Nuts and Bolts
Step 4: Swallow sadness and disappointment and hope Yooka-Laylee can pull it off.

I don't really know what the state of the ports is for Rare Replay, but if they're the XBLA versions then they are excellent versions. Banjo 1 holds up well, if you're accustomed to that era of platformers. I never played Banjo Tooie, so I can't help you there.

Chronological. Not complicated.

First two are some of the best of the best of the genre. Nuts and Bolts is......well....you'll see.

Echoing the "play them in order" people, but If you can, play the N64/original version of Rusty Bucket Bay in Banjo 1. That 'll grow some hair on your chest.

Hm. I played Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts first and enjoyed its self-deprecating humor and frequent pokes at early 3D platformers. Then when I went back and played Banjo-Kazooie proper, it was all the more hilarious because it tied into the 2008 game's humor so perfectly.

At the very least, you should watch the introduction of Banjo-Kaziie: Nuts & Bolts first to set the stage for how many things you are actually going to have to collect in both the original one and its sequel. :-P

Play the games to completion in order. B-K is relatively short and the XBLA version doesn't have the 'collect 100 notes in 1 visit' problem anymore. B-T is more complex but that's a bit reason it's beloved and why a lot of the fanbase didn't like Nuts and Bolts (or why the staff do).

Do not listen to this crazy human being

I came to the Banjo games pretty late, when they were re-released on XBLA. I have a pretty high tolerance for old-game-jank, but they seemed totally fine as far as modern platformers go. I'd at least give the first game a shot to get an idea of the series roots, but I wouldn't feel too bad about it if you don't finish it. Nuts & Bolts is absolutely incredible and a game you should definitely see.

The real secret about Banjo games is that none of them are very good. Nuts and Bolts is fun but it's not what you would call a great game. The original two Banjos (and Donkey Kong 64 which is pretty much part of the series) were mediocre when they came out and have aged terribly. Not sure if the 360 versions manage to fix the clunky controls and the bad camera, but even if they do the games won't be necessarily compelling unless you really do love collecting everything. Honestly, it was just a time when people were craving for more 3D platformers and Banjo filled that hole.

They have decent music though, so there's that.

Nuts and Bolts clearly. The first two are pretty good platformers but Nuts and Bolts is an insanely creative and fun game.

Hey man, I just wanna let you know you're missing the Gamboy Advance game Banjo Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge game on your list. I'd probably just start from the first one but I wasn't all that big on these game growing up.

This is a load of horseshit. Ignore this man.

Banjo 1 is still great, I'd start with that. I don't like Tooie much but I'm in the minority. I haven't played Nuts and Bolts but it always looked incredible.

Tooie makes Kazooie feel like a proof of concept (think Assassin's Creed 1 vs Assassin's Creed 2), but there are still a bunch of little references and stuff that you might not understand if you don't play through Kazooie.

People who like Nuts and Bolts the most actually just don't like Banjo games. Nuts and Bolts is clever for a little bit but it's not even remotely the same type of game as the first two; there's a reason people are excited for Yooka-Laylee.

Nothing said here is true at all. People loved them then and still do now.

Also you've gotta have some incredibly high standards for controls to think old Banjo controls are at all clunky.