Summary
- Donkey Kong Bananza may be the launch game fans wanted Mario Kart World to be.
- Donkey Kong played a crucial role in Nintendo's history, paving the way for the NES.
- Diddy Kong Racing on the N64 may outdo Mario Kart 64 in the kart racing circuit.
Donkey Kong Bananza looks like it will be the launch game fans wanted Mario Kart World to be. It’s fitting for Nintendo to go back to Donkey Kong to highlight a big game around a console’s launch, because Donkey Kong's arrival in arcades helped pave the way for the NES. Credit could go to Mario, too, but Donkey Kong got top billing even though he was the villain. He made Nintendo what it is today in the video game market.
15 Best Donkey Kong Games, Ranked
Nintendo's Donkey Kong has been around for a while and has participated in a variety of memorable adventures. Let's look at the best DK games.
How has Nintendo treated Donkey Kong on their platforms over the years? Did he have an illustrious career on every console comparable to Mario, or were some platforms lacking in the big ape's magic? Let’s swing on a vine and determine the best Donkey Kong games on every Nintendo console while waiting for Donkey Kong Bananza.
12 Donkey Kong (NES)
Can’t Go Wrong With The OG
Donkey Kong
- Released
- July 31, 1981
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Arcade
The NES had a few games starring the big ape and his kin, but among them all, Donkey Kong was still the king. As Mario, or Jump Man in this era, players had to scale platforms and dodge DK’s barrels, fireballs, and other traps.
It may not have been as robust of an experience as Super Mario Bros., but like all 80s arcade games, the gameplay was simple enough for everyone to figure out, even grandma.
11 Donkey Kong (Game Boy)
A Classic, Reimagined
Donkey Kong (1994)
- Released
- July 22, 1994
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Puzzle
Donkey Kong was reimagined on the original Game Boy, which is often referred to as Donkey Kong 94 by fans. It was the same style of gameplay as the arcade and NES versions, but sent players through more bite-sized levels and mazes.
Like Tetris on the Game Boy, fans could argue that the portable model made the core platforming experience better for Donkey Kong on the go, rather than having to make the trek to an arcade any time they wanted to play.
10 Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES)
Diddy And Dixie Have Their Day
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest
- Released
- November 20, 1995
- ESRB
- t
- Engine
- game engine
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Donkey Kong Country was a big change for DK, casting him as the hero and starring in a platforming game all his own, similar to Super Mario World. There was a trilogy, but only the first game put DK in a playable role.
The sequel, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, is arguably the better game, even though DK is the one who needs rescuing. Diddy Kong was the new main character, along with newbie Dixie Kong, who could glide, which added a lot more fun to the mechanics.
9 Diddy Kong Racing (N64)
Better Than Mario Kart 64?
Diddy Kong Racing
- Released
- November 21, 1997
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Genre(s)
- Racing
The most notable thing about Donkey Kong 64 is the DK Rap, but the real shining gem of the N64 era was Diddy Kong Racing, which holds up better today.
Donkey Kong: Every Playable Kong In The Franchise (& Their First Game)
The Donkey Kong franchise is filled with a surprisingly rich roster of playable characters, where every Kong is designed to play differently.
Some could even argue that it does the kart racing circuit better than Mario Kart 64 did. Diddy and his friends could drive karts, planes, and boats that added so much more to tracks, something the Mario Kart series would later lean into.
8 Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color)
A Decent Port
Donkey Kong Country
- Released
- November 24, 1994
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- Platform(s)
- SNES, Nintendo Game Boy Color, Nintendo Game Boy Advance
The portable versions of the Donkey Kong Country games are very confusing. There were three versions made for the original Game Boy under the Donkey Kong Land series title, which changed up a few things like switching enemies, and they each one was a decent enough game.
Donkey Kong Country is more of a direct port for the Game Boy Color that gets enough right to make it worthwhile as a portable game, even though the SNES original is still better.
7 Mario Vs. Donkey Kong (GBA)
Back To Puzzles
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
- Released
- May 24, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Puzzle
The GBA also received conversions of the Donkey Kong Country games, but the real hit on the handheld console was the first entry in what would become DK’s portable legacy for the next couple of decades.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong put DK back in the role of the villain who took over a toy factory, and Mario had to free little toy versions of himself. It’s a puzzle platformer featuring some of the most inventive challenges on the handheld, which puzzle lovers still adore.
6 Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (GameCube)
Platform To The Rhythm
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
- Released
- February 4, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Donkey Konga was a rhythm-based game where players could tap to the beat of Nintendo songs or weird versions of hits like “Rock Lobster" by the B-52s or "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M. The trilogy was silly but fun, and Nintendo repurposed the accompanying bongo controller for a full-on platformer called Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, which is the better DK experience.
It could be played with a controller, too, but the inventiveness of gameplay and the boss battles came through better if players embraced the bongos and slapped some sense into DK’s rivals.
5 Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber (DS)
Aim For The Top
Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber
- Released
- September 10, 2007
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Paon
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle, Platformer
Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber was a sequel to DK: King of Swing on the GBA, which featured similar vine-swinging and climbing gameplay. It was improved in the DS sequel because the game utilized both screens to create a sense of verticality.
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Nintendo: 8 Weirdest Things That Donkey Kong Has Done
Over the course of his long history, Donkey Kong has done some strange things here and there. These stand out as his weirdest decisions.
It’s a hard game to port and replicate now due to its vertical design, but the experimental nature of Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber is exactly why more Nintendo fans should check it out.
4 Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)
Back In A Big Way
Donkey Kong Country Returns
- Released
- November 21, 2010
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
As great as the portable era of Donkey Kong was, the Wii was where things got back on track, as Donkey Kong Country Returns was a return to solid platforming for the series.
It was just as challenging as the SNES era of games and just as bombastic with its level design. Retro Studios helped reinvent Metroid for a new era with Metroid Prime, and they certainly put their fingerprint on DK with this game, which was later ported to the 3DS and Switch.
3 Mario And Donkey Kong: Minis On The Move (3DS)
Mario In Toy Land
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move
- Released
- May 9, 2013
- Platform(s)
- 3DS
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move was an eShop exclusive game and part of the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. Players could guide the toy Marios through mazes while using the touch screen to manipulate tile icons and progress through each puzzle.
It was a short and breezy little puzzle game that didn’t reinvent the series, but it made good use of the 3DS’ technology to help keep the DK name alive.