Donkey Kong has had some good video games, and a few unhealthy video games. For each Tropical Freeze, there’s a King of Swing, and for each Jungle Beat, there’s a Donkey Konga. Most DK video games have one thing distinctive about them that makes them price enjoying a minimum of as soon as, however one of the best of one of the best are true classics that you could play.
On this record we’re rating each Donkey Kong recreation, although now we have omitted the Sport & Watch entries and the Mario VS Donkey Kong collection as they’re fairly in contrast to the remainder of the record. Even with out these video games there are greater than sufficient terrible and superb Donkey Kong video games to sink your tooth into on this record. In rating these we’re contemplating each the standard of the sport, and the affect it had on the time of launch.
Donkey Kong Jr. Math (NES), the worst DK recreation
This might be a me drawback, however having to make use of awkward platformer controls so as to enter numbers to resolve math equations… No. This can be a Donkey Kong recreation aesthetically, and strikes like Donkey Kong Jr., however it’s not enjoyable, which feels fairly vital.
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast (Wii)
Barrel Blast isn’t even the one racing recreation on this record, however it’s the worst. Initially designed for the DK Bongos, Barrel Blast would’ve had you slap the left and proper drum to maneuver left and proper. Growth acquired moved to the Wii although, and it’s a movement managed waggler as an alternative. It’s not an offensive recreation, however there’s no cause to play it greater than as soon as.
Donkey Kong 3 (Arcade)
Donkey Kong 3 feels extra like the unique Mario Bros. arcade recreation crossed with Area Invaders. Right here Donkey Kong is descending from a pair of ropes, and it’s as much as you to blow gusts of air at him so he ascends again to the ceiling. Whilst you try this, he’ll unleash wasps and different bugs that rain down on you, and you’ll both keep away from them or blast them away. It’s easy sufficient in idea, however it doesn’t actually come collectively. The worst of DK’s arcade adventures.
DK: King of Swing (GBA)
DK’s GBA-exclusive journey is a little bit of a bizarre one. This would possibly technically be a platformer, however it’s out of the field. On this recreation you management DK’s grip in every hand with the L and R buttons whereas swinging on pegs. Letting go will ship you flying ahead, and studying when to grip and launch to maneuver effectively is the problem. It’s an fascinating concept, however feels extra like a Mario Get together minigame stretched method too far.
Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber (DS)
Keep in mind King of Swing? Nicely Jungle Climber has numerous similarities, however is a extra advanced and developed expertise. It has formally ascended previous Mario Get together minigame standing, and now you can run round as DK on strong floor extra. It does even have some really terrible ranges, although. One other recreation that you simply’re higher off solely enjoying briefly.
Donkey Kong Land 2 (GB)
Lastly we’re onto DK’s extra conventional platformers. Donkey Kong Land 2 is extra Donkey Kong Land, taking heavy inspiration from DKC2: Diddy’s Kong Quest. It’s a good recreation, however doesn’t stand out by itself a lot, and is probably going the worst of DK’s platforming adventures.
Donkey Konga 1+2+3 (GC)
We’re bundling the Donkey Konga trilogy right into a single entry, because the sequels are basically tune packs with the odd further minigame. Make no mistake, this recreation is principally Taiko no Tatsujin performed with a unique type of drum controller, however which means it’s fairly first rate by default. The bongo controller has turn into iconic with age, and even predates the plastic tat golden age that Guitar Hero ushered in. One in every of DK’s higher bizarre video games.
Donkey Kong Land (GB)
Donkey Kong Land is a profitable port of Donkey Kong Nation’s visible model and controls to the Sport Boy, and it shouldn’t work in addition to it does. This sort of recreation was thought-about not possible, however Donkey Kong Land seems nice and performs effectively, even when it’s not as effectively designed as later DK Land video games.
Donkey Kong Land III (GB)
Donkey Kong Land III is the ultimate Rareware platformer for the Sport Boy, and it’s one of the vital distinctive ones. Sure, it’s closely impressed by DKC3 on the SNES, however Dixie and Kiddy go to thoroughly new places and sort out new enemies. Within the Sport Boy period, this was by far one of the best Donkey Kong platformer you might play on the go.
Donkey Kong 64 (N64)
The last word divisive Donkey Kong recreation. Should you’re a Rareware fan from the late ‘90s, you then most likely love Banjo-Kazooie, however DK64 is likely to be a unique story. If solely you have been capable of accumulate any banana and coin with any character, this recreation may’ve been remembered very otherwise, however as it’s, it may be too overwhelming and tedious in locations. Regardless of that, it nonetheless manages to be a minor traditional that followers have numerous nostalgia for.
Donkey Kong Nation 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Bother! (SNES)
One other staff up between Dixie and Kiddy, that is usually thought-about to be one of the best DK SNES recreation. By this level the staff had mastered the know-how and have been free to experiment with degree design and animal transformations extra, along with studying key classes from previous errors. A strong SNES platformer, although maybe not as impactful as earlier video games.
Donkey Kong Jr. (Arcade)
After that dastardly Mario captured and imprisoned Donkey Kong within the first arcade recreation, it’s as much as Donkey Kong Jr. to climb vines and free his dad. Donkey Kong Jr. has extra ranges than the primary recreation, and the brand new vine climbing mechanic is a neat twist on the climbing components that the unique laid out. This can be a nice sequel in true Nintendo model, and it’s a traditional.
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (GC, Wii)
In 2002 Nintendo EAD’s Tokyo department was opened, and in 2003 twenty members of the Tremendous Mario Sunshine staff moved over to steer the ship. In 2004, the staff’s first recreation was Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, a platformer that used the DK bongo controller to navigate DK. Regardless of the identify, and the supposed controller, it wasn’t even actually a rhythm recreation. As an alternative, it’s a platformer that grew to become the origin level for lots of mechanics the staff later utilized in Tremendous Mario Galaxy. Sure, that very same staff now leads improvement on the fashionable Mario video games and the current Donkey Kong Bananza, and none of it might’ve occurred with out Jungle Beat.
Donkey Kong (Arcade)
In 2025 it’s exhausting to elucidate how influential Donkey Kong was within the arcades. This was the most important recreation of the period, and is arguably why Nintendo remains to be such a giant identify within the online game area. With out Donkey Kong, the likes of Mario, Pokémon, and Zelda might by no means have occurred. This recreation solely has 4 ranges however they’re completely designed and had individuals enjoying the sport for hours on finish. A real traditional with lasting affect on the business.
Donkey Kong Nation Returns (Wii, 3DS, Change)
Donkey Kong took a protracted break from platforming adventures after Jungle Beat, however Retro Studios ultimately took up the reins and introduced the massive ape again with Donkey Kong Nation Returns. This recreation brings again the traditional side-scrolling gameplay of DKC and modernizes it with 3D visuals, a banging soundtrack, and nice degree design. It’s not good, however it introduced again DK in a giant method.
Donkey Kong Nation (SNES)
The unique Donkey Kong Nation was a landmark title by way of graphical constancy and remains to be fondly remembered as the most effective platformers of the SNES period. Nostalgia for this one is excessive, and whereas it would’ve ultimately been bettered by its sequels, none of them would’ve been doable if not for Donkey Kong Nation.
Donkey Kong Nation 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest (SNES)
I discussed that DKC was bettered by its sequels, and Donkey Kong Nation 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest is strictly what I’m speaking about, taking all the pieces that was nice concerning the authentic DKC and sprucing it till it shined. Diddy and Dixie make for an ideal duo, and that is considered one of DK’s finest platforming adventures.
Diddy Kong Racing (N64)
The sport that’s usually argued as being higher than Mario Kart 64, Diddy Kong Racing permits you to discover a kart racing world whereas collaborating in races, finishing challenges, and extra. This was extra of a kart-themed journey recreation than a strict racer, however that’s precisely what made it so beloved. Plus, Conker and Banjo are right here too. We’re together with the DS remake on this entry too.
Donkey Kong ‘94 (GB)
A Sport Boy port of the unique Donkey Kong arcade recreation sounds good, proper? And that’s precisely how Donkey Kong ‘94 begins out, solely once you clear by the unique recreation’s ranges, intense music begins enjoying, and Donkey Kong runs off to a totally new space which has model new ranges, puzzles, and a world map. This can be a reimagining of the unique recreation, taken to the intense, and it’s one of the best Donkey Kong impressed by the arcade originals. Mario VS Donkey Kong followers can thank this recreation for lots of the mechanics and concepts seen in that collection.
Donkey Kong Nation: Tropical Freeze (Wii U, Change)
Just like the Sport Boy and SNES Donkey Kong platformers, Retro Studios’ fashionable collection solely improved with the sequel. It’s exhausting to overstate how brilliantly designed the levels are. As you progress by every degree the stage will inform a narrative. A scorching day in a single stage slowly erupts right into a wildfire you could escape, one other stage has you travelling by a fruit processing manufacturing facility and also you witness every stage of the method. And sure, the gameplay remains to be tough-but-fair. Simply one of the best side-scrolling Donkey Kong recreation ever made.
Donkey Kong Bananza (Change 2), one of the best DK recreation
Is it recency bias, or is Donkey Kong Bananza actually simply that good? Personally, I believe it’s simply that good. Bananza seems like an evolution of Donkey Kong gameplay, permitting him to traverse and manipulate every atmosphere within the recreation in fully new methods. The closest comparability level is Donkey Kong 64, and even then Bananza is in a league of its personal. Constructed by the identical staff that developed Jungle Beat and Mario Odyssey, Bananza is a daring and distinctive Donkey Kong recreation and it makes me hopeful that we’ll see extra from DK and Pauline very quickly.
