Whereas Mario is the primary man relating to all issues Nintendo, it was Donkey Kong who gave the plumber a leg-up on this planet of video video games. The ape’s debut not solely conquered the arcade and launched the world to a video gaming legend, nevertheless it saved the corporate and put Nintendo on the trail to changing into the cultural pressure it’s right now.
It is simple to overlook simply what number of video games Mario’s erstwhile nemesis has to his identify, too. From 1981’s unique Donkey Kong to the current day, the ape and his clan have featured in dozens of video games.
What’s the very best Donkey Kong recreation, although? Beneath you will discover each DK recreation ranked from the underside of the barrel to high banana.
Sufficient monkey enterprise. Let’s check out the very best DK video games ever. Right here w—, right here w—, right here we go!
31. Donkey Kong Jr. Math (NES)
Donkey Kong Jr. Math provides some arithmetic to the fundamental vine-swinging and platforming of Donkey Kong Jr. in a title that sucks all of the enjoyable out of each gaming and arithmetic. It combines ‘schooling’ and ‘leisure’ to make — you guessed it! — a horrible recreation. Consider the poor child who obtained a launch NES console and this. There will need to have been a minimum of one.
Do not feel too sorry, although. Boxed variations of Donkey Kong Jr. Math are price a fairly penny as of late, so silver linings and all that. The title makes the sport sound dreary, and it very a lot is, however a minimum of it delivers on the promise of its identify, and a novel, surprisingly enjoyable two-player expertise is that this retro curio’s saving grace.
Beforehand obtainable through Digital Console and now on NSO, it is technically playable on GameCube, too, because it’s one of many NES video games included within the unique Animal Crossing.
30. Donkey Kong Barrel Blast (Wii)
This DK racer actually is backside of the barrel. Initially a DK Bongo tie-in deliberate for GameCube, it obtained moved to its motion-controlled successor with the barmy bongo peripheral swapped for Wii Distant waggle. ‘Bongo Blast’ grew to become ‘Barrel Blast’ and also you shook your Wiimote and Nunchuk to speed up.
Sadly, the racing is sluggish, the controls are hideous, and the visuals appeared ropey even on the time. The truth that DK and Diddy featured within the wonderful Mario Kart Wii solely highlighted what a multitude Donkey Kong Barrel Blast was. Developer Paon DP would do higher with these characters in different video games (King of Swing, Jungle Climber), however this was plain unhealthy. The quilt makes it appear to be the sport could possibly be enjoyable. Belief us, it is not.
29. Arcade Archives Donkey Kong 3 (Swap eShop)
If push got here to shove, we would personally favor to sit down down with Donkey Kong 3 over Donkey Kong Jr. purely for the way it diverges from its predecessors in intriguing methods. Taking management of that almost all well-known of Nintendo icons, er… Stanley the Bugman, you utilize bug spray to deflect the advances of flower fanatic Donkey Kong by way of your greenhouse. DK has enlisted a military of bugs and bees to maintain you occupied whereas he makes off along with your prize petunias.
Regardless of missing the enduring gameplay and sound results which have handed into online game lore, there’s one thing oddly compelling about Stanley’s battle towards the headlining ape, and one thing a little bit unhappy within the information that Stanley would vanish into obscurity afterwards. Effectively, that is not fairly proper; Stanley has had a handful of cameos over time in video games like Smash Bros. and the WarioWare sequence, however you not often hear Nintendo followers clamouring for his return. Poor Stanley.
28. Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Transfer (3DS eShop)
The primary 3D entry in what up to now had been an completely side-scrolling affair, Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Transfer interprets the sequence’ gameplay nicely to the third dimension, even when it does not actually add something to the fundamental formulation.
As you may need noticed from the title, the plumber and the ape have settled their variations this time round and are merely MC-ing issues alongside Pauline right here, thus diminishing Donkey Kong’s presence considerably. Whereas the gameplay can typically turn into infuriating and really feel a little bit unfair, MADMOTM (or ‘mad-mottom’, as no one has ever known as it however ought to) continues to be a enjoyable time when you’ve obtained the persistence for it.
27. DK: King of Swing (GBA)
With a beautiful, pastel colouring to its artwork, DK: King of Swing takes the essence of Clu Clu Land and makes an honest recreation out of it. Utilizing the shoulder buttons to swing round and grasp onto pegs all through the jungle, this twist on DK gameplay is kind of refreshing after so many commonplace 2D platformers and Mini-marching video games.
It is good to see him doing one thing exterior his typical wheelhouse which does not contain driving karts, smashing tennis balls, or swinging a golf membership with one hand. It isn’t an absolute stone-cold basic, however DK: King of Swing is a enjoyable little moveable recreation and a breath of contemporary air in amongst all his 2D platforming monkey enterprise.
26. Arcade Archives Donkey Kong Jr. (Swap eShop)
The tables turned on this sequel to the arcade unique, with Mario having kidnapped Donkey Kong this time, so it is as much as Junior to rescue Kong Senior. We have had ports aplenty over time, however this Hamster’s model of Donkey Kong Jr. allows you to flip your Swap into vertical mode for probably the most genuine expertise you will get exterior an arcade.
It is laborious to argue that the bottom gameplay right here hasn’t aged, and you will in all probability want a wholesome dose of nostalgia and/or tutorial curiosity to get most enjoyment from it these days. There’s positively some retro enjoyable available, however we will consider dozens of ’80s classics we would play earlier than getting down with DKJ.
25. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (Wii U eShop)
Placing in an look on each Wii U and 3DS (the latter of which additionally acquired Mini Mario & Buddies: amiibo Problem which drew closely on this sequence), Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars reverted to 2D gameplay and gave us a style of the gratifying action-puzzler sequence in superb HD for the primary time.
It is extra of the identical, though the Miiverse integration made sharing your workshopped ranges a breeze, and when the bottom gameplay is that this enjoyable, it is simpler to forgive how steadily Nintendo has gone again to its field of DK and Mario-shaped mechanical Minis.
24. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (3DS eShop)
In the case of deciding which model of Tipping Stars to play, it fully comes down to private style. The Wii U model is barely extra snug and simpler on the eyes, however the 3DS model does have the big benefit of being moveable, which can make or break the choice for many individuals. So far as the core recreation is worried nonetheless, there isn’t any distinction between variations. In case you did not choose this up earlier than the Wii U and 3DS eShops shut down, in fact, it is all tutorial anyway.
23. Donkey Konga 3 (GCN)
The ultimate, Japan-only entry within the trilogy, Donkey Konga 3 introduced one other bunch of banana-banging tracks a mere eight months after its predecessor debuted on Japanese retailer cabinets. It is extra Donkey Konga, which isn’t a nasty factor. Trilogy remaster when?
22. Recreation & Watch Donkey Kong Jr. (DSiWare)
There is no denying the nostalgia issue concerned in these basic Recreation & Watch releases and the DSiWare service is the proper place to make these obtainable as particular person releases for individuals who’ve longed to play them once more. They don’t seem to be going to set the gaming world on hearth with their playability, however for individuals who can admire them they’re actually cool and nonetheless plenty of enjoyable to sit down down with when you could have a couple of minutes to kill. Donkey Kong Jr. is definitely one of many extra gratifying of the Recreation & Watch releases and when you’ve by no means tried any of the Recreation & Watch titles, this one is a good place to start out.
21. Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Swap)
Mario vs Donkey Kong serves up a slick return to the 2004 GBA journey that finds contemporary enjoyable in cooperative play. Yep, the brand new co-op mode actually is the star of the present this day trip and, alongside two new worlds, ‘Plus’ variations of every stage, a Time Assault mode, and fancy new seems and sounds, there’s lots to dig into and luxuriate in with a core puzzle/platforming setup that has aged fairly nicely.
Simply remember that, when you’re a extra seasoned participant searching for platforming challenges, this recreation finds its strengths as an expertise for youthful avid gamers or as a co-op title to get pleasure from along with your children. Taken as such, it completely earns a advice.
20. DK: Jungle Climber (DS)
Following the quite poor Barrel Blast, developer Paon redeemed itself a little bit by returning to the DK formulation it began with on Recreation Boy Advance in DK: King of Swing. DK: Jungle Climber for DS places you in charge of your favorite tie-wearing simian as he climbs by way of the jungle utilizing the shoulder buttons and it really works quite nicely on unique {hardware}.
The soundtrack is a little bit disappointing by DK’s excessive requirements, however this and its predecessor are uniquely managed entries within the Kong canon which are price a glance, even when they do not scale the heights of his extra well-known adventures.
19. Donkey Konga 2: Hit Tune Parade (GCN)
Following on lower than a yr after its predecessor, Donkey Konga 2: Hit Tune Parade delivered extra of the bongo-bashing identical and primarily capabilities as a second tune pack. It is nonetheless price investigating when you’re a rhythm-game gamer who did not perish below a mountain of peripherals all these years in the past.
18. Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (DS)
The sequel to the GBA unique, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis gave you management of mini variations of the plumber through the touchscreen quite than having them observe Mario round just like the Pied Piper, and the sport grew to become extra tactical because of this.
It additionally noticed the return of Pauline for the primary time in a few years, somebody now very acquainted to even the youngest Mario followers after her super-star flip in Tremendous Mario Odyssey‘s New Donk Metropolis.
17. Arcade Archives Donkey Kong (Swap eShop)
Out there on console for the primary time since being tucked away as a bonus in Donkey Kong 64, that is the unique recreation from which this complete lovely mess spawned — the Mario sequence, the DK sequence, and Nintendo’s huge empire of evergreen gaming.
Mario (or quite Jumpman) could seem fairly restricted in his talents (and demise by such quick falls could be very old-school), however Donkey Kong continues to be a enjoyable recreation. More durable than the NES port, high-score chasing can get addictive.
For followers of the sport and the OG arcade cupboard’s vertical orientation, Hamster’s TATE mode-compatible Arcade Archives launch is one thing of an ‘final version’. Three variations of it with a couple of show choices and the same old array of modes and on-line leaderboards make this an ideal selection and one of the best ways to revisit this arcade basic.
The motion may really feel stiff and the animation rudimentary, however give it time and DK’s iconic attraction is certain to win you over.
16. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! (DS)
The fourth entry within the sub-series, 2010’s Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! is probably our favorite of the bunch. With crisp visuals, cute mini variations of your favorite Mushroom Kingdom denizens, and a beautiful soundtrack besides, the gameplay actually shines on DS with its touchscreen and stylus.
There is a host of secrets and techniques and non-compulsory targets to get pleasure from right here and, maybe most significantly of all, Donkey Kong is again to doing what he does greatest: nabbing Pauline and legging it up a tall construction.
15. Donkey Kong Land (GB)
We keep in mind the primary time we noticed Donkey Kong Nation on the SNES and questioning how a 16-bit machine may pull off its ‘superb’ graphics — these pre-rendered sprites felt fairly particular on the time. Seeing them approximated on the lowly Recreation Boy {hardware} in Donkey Kong Land felt like precise darkish magic, although.
With spectacular animation and detailed backgrounds, typically you may get disorientated for a second as enemies blended into the backdrop, however the way in which DKL managed to seize the essence of its 16-bit brethren makes it a captivating and worthy entry within the Kongpendium.
14. Donkey Konga (GCN)
After Nintendo manufactured the DK Bongos, the corporate supported them with a shocking variety of releases. Donkey Konga predated Guitar Hero by a yr, simply earlier than music-loving avid gamers’ households had been stuffed to the roof with plastic guitars and hulking drum kits.
The rhythm-based premise is old-hat these days, however Donkey Konga works very nicely and, offered you’ve got obtained the requisite variety of bongos, makes for a superb get together recreation for as much as 4 gamers.
13. Donkey Kong Land III (GB)
Donkey Kong Land III is a good-looking Recreation Boy title which additionally sounds notably beautiful and caps off the Donkey Kong Land GB trilogy in effective style — it is arguably the choose of the moveable bunch. Fortunate Japanese avid gamers even obtained a model enhanced for the Recreation Boy Colour which appeared even lovelier.
This was to be Uncommon’s ultimate 2D platformer that includes the DK clan and Twycross’ custodians of Kong definitely went out on a excessive.
12. Donkey Kong Land 2 (GB)
It may need his identify on the field, however Donkey Kong is barely on this one! Donkey Kong Land 2 has Diddy and Dixie rescuing the captured DK from the clutches of vile crocodile Kaptain Ok. Rool.
By simplifying background components compared to the unique Recreation Boy rendition, it is a little bit simpler to see what you are doing right here and, as with all of the DKL video games, the way in which it captures the appear and feel of the SNES DKC video games on such modest {hardware} is spectacular to today.
11. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Once more! (DSiWare)
A DSiWare instalment of the Mario vs. Donkey Kong puzzle platformer sequence, there’s nothing a lot fallacious with Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Once more! — it is merely ‘one other a type of’. If you cannot get sufficient of this sub-series’ lock-and-key gameplay, the third entry is a stable one and includes a stage editor much like its predecessor.
Though as of late sharing your customized ranges is rather a lot more durable than it was once. Poor one out for the DSi Store.
10. Donkey Kong 64 (N64)
There are some who blame the collapse of the collectathon 3D platforming craze on Donkey Kong 64, and whereas it is laborious to argue that Uncommon maybe went a little bit too far with the large variety of inconsequential collectible doohickeys, it is a recreation which turns every part as much as 11 and there is one thing admirable about its unapologetic everything-and-the-kitchen-sink method.
With 5 playable Kongs ( them nicely), enormous worlds, and an abundance of minigames (together with emulated variations of the unique arcade Donkey Kong and Final Play the Recreation’s Jetpac), DK64 was one hell of a worth proposition again in 1999 and we predict it in all probability deserves re-evaluation after many years of bashing. C’mon Cranky, take it to the fridge.
So there we’re, each Donkey Kong recreation, ranked (apart from a couple of DK dupes)!
Greatest Donkey Kong Video games FAQ
Earlier than we sweep up the banana skins, let’s reply a couple of questions on DK video games on Swap and elsewhere.
What’s the very best Donkey Kong recreation on Swap?
The Swap port of Donkey Kong Nation: Tropical Freeze is the very best Swap Donkey Kong (retail launch), in keeping with our record.
Nonetheless, Donkey Kong Nation 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest for Tremendous NES can also be playable through Nintendo Swap On-line, and that ranks as #1.
You probably have a Swap 2, nonetheless, then might we level you in the direction of the model new Donkey Kong Bananza?
What is the newest Donkey Kong recreation?
Donkey Kong is Nintendo’s freshest property proper now, with DK getting the large 3D platformer remedy earlier than Mario on Swap 2.
Donkey Kong Bananza launched on seventeenth July 2025, which is the primary utterly new DK recreation in over a decade.
Is Donkey Kong 64 on Swap?
Uncommon’s DK64 is not on Swap on the time of writing, though we would wager it is solely a matter of time earlier than it is added to the NSO SNES library.
A choice of Rareware’s N64 classics have appeared regardless of the corporate being owned by Microsoft since 2002.
Hold on, the place’s [insert DK game here]?
We have included solely video games on Nintendo consoles, so you will not discover obscurities like Donkey Kong 3 Dai Gyakushuu or the numerous, many ports of the unique DK arcade recreation again within the ’80s.
We have additionally restricted it to full video games the place the ape has a starring position — we would be right here all day if we included all the karting and tennis video games that includes the DK clan — and ejected the Recreation & Watch titles (which could be discovered digitally unfold throughout varied Recreation & Watch Gallery collections or DSiWare).
Lastly, we have consolidated ports for the sake of brevity, choosing solely the highest-rated model of the sport to show for the record (so the Wii U model of Tropical Freeze will get mixed with the Swap model).
How can I alter the rating on this article?
We enlisted the assistance of Nintendo Life readers to price each Donkey Kong recreation. The record above is ruled by Consumer Scores in our database and topic to real-time change, even now!
Disagree with the rating? Strive trying to find your favorite DK video games within the field under and price them to affect the order.
