Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong first burst onto the scene in 1981 as the antagonist in Nintendo's groundbreaking arcade game, where he kidnapped Mario’s girlfriend, Pauline, setting the stage for one of gaming’s most enduring rivalries. The success of Donkey Kong led to the introduction of his iconic sidekick, Donkey Kong Jr., in 1982, in a sequel where players took control of Donkey Kong’s son to rescue him from Mario’s clutches. However, it was Donkey Kong Country in 1994 that truly solidified DK's legacy, introducing stunning pre-rendered graphics, innovative platforming, and a host of beloved characters like Diddy Kong and Cranky Kong.

The franchise continued to evolve, with Donkey Kong 64 in 1999 bringing the series into 3D, and the Donkey Kong Country Returns series revitalizing the brand in the 2010s with modern gameplay while preserving the charm of the original. Donkey Kong also found success in spin-offs, including Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., and Donkey Konga, expanding his presence beyond platforming. Throughout his history, Donkey Kong has remained a symbol of challenge, creativity, and fun, cementing his place as one of gaming’s most recognizable and enduring characters.

Main Donkey Kong Series Games

• Donkey Kong Country (1994) – SNES

• Donkey Kong Land (1995) – Game Boy

• Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (1995) – SNES

• Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! (1996) – SNES

• Donkey Kong Land 2 (1996) – Game Boy

• Donkey Kong Land III (1997) – Game Boy

• Donkey Kong 64 (1999) – Nintendo 64

• Donkey Kong World (Game Boy Color) (2001) – Game Boy Color

• Donkey Kong Country Returns (2010) – Wii

• Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (2013) – Nintendo 3DS (remake of Donkey Kong Country Returns)

• Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2014) – Wii U

• Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2018) – Nintendo Switch

Mario vs. Donkey Kong Series

• Mario vs. Donkey Kong (2004) – Game Boy Advance

• Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (2006) – Nintendo DS

• Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! (2009) – Nintendo DSiWare

• Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (2015) – Nintendo 3DS, Wii U

Donkey Konga Series

• Donkey Konga (2003) – GameCube

• Donkey Konga 2 (2004) – GameCube

• Donkey Konga 3 [JP] (2005) – GameCube

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat Series

• Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (2004) – GameCube

• Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (2016) – Nintendo Wii U (remake)

Donkey Kong Racing Series

• Diddy Kong Racing (1997) – Nintendo 64

• Diddy Kong Racing DS (2007) – Nintendo DS

Donkey Kong Sports & Miscellaneous Games

• Donkey Kong Barrel Blast (2007) – Wii

• Donkey Kong: King of Swing (2005) – Game Boy Advance

• Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber (2007) – Nintendo DS