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Which Donkey Kong games are the best?
The primary adversary of Mario in every video game, the gorilla, has evolved into much more than just that.
With a variety of platforming games, the Donkey Kong franchise chronicles the exploits of this ape and his monkey companions.
We've compiled the greatest hits in the series because, despite having more than 20 games in the series, not all of them have been successful.
We evaluated the sales statistics and average ratings of each game in the franchise to build this ranking.
This has made it possible for us to rank these games objectively using specific information from reliable sources.
Prepare your barrels and bananas, as this is our ranking of the top 15 Donkey Kong games:
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Nintendo published this arcade classic, the first game in the Donkey Kong series, in 1981.
To save Pauline from the enormous ape, players assume the position of Mario since DK is the adversary in this first game.
Nintendo created this game in an effort to rival Namco's iconic Pac-Man, one of the greatest retro games ever.
Despite the early misgivings of Nintendo's American team, this game fared better than anticipated and became a critical and economic success in both Japan and North America.
Following its debut, Donkey Kong was selling 4,000 arcade cabinets a month. It gained even more traction when it was brought to home consoles.
In 1982, 8 million copies of the Game & Watch version and an extra 6 million cartridges were sold via the Coleco port.
All versions of the original Donkey Kong game together are projected to have brought in $4.4 billion in revenue as of 2015.
It goes without saying that this game is a significant part of video game history, and thankfully, the Nintendo Switch version is still playable today.
14. Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber
Originally launched on the original Game Boy, this 1997 classic was later ported to the Game Boy Colour.
Donkey Kong Land III, the portable emulation of Donkey Kong Country 3, is regarded as one of the greatest Game Boy Colour titles ever made.
In this game, which involves multiple stages of exploration, players compete to find the Lost World between Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.
The worlds and stages are entirely distinct, even if many of these levels share the same surroundings.
This installment features a large cast of playable characters, with Wrinkly Kong being the only non-playable member of the family.
Fans and reviewers greeted this game favourably upon release, with many complimenting its outstanding level design and striking graphics.
Although it was never made available outside of Japan, Japanese gamers were also given access to an updated version of the Game Boy Colour.
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Released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2004, this game was the follow-up to Donkey Konga and included a special controller.
In order to play this game, players must beat on a unique barrel-shaped controller in time to certain tunes.
The addition of over thirty new tunes to play along with and enhanced graphics is what turned this game into a popular favourite.
The addition of new minigames and beloved characters to Donkey Konga 2 increased its variety compared to its predecessor.
Because some of the songs' lyrics were inappropriate for younger audiences, this game also became the only one in the series to receive a T rating in North America.
Some game versions had different tracks that ended up getting an E rating because they were meant for younger players.
Both gamers and critics gave Donkey Konga 2 high marks, and even if it wasn't a big hit, it's still a really fun game.
This puzzle platformer, which came out in 2004, is among the greatest games on the Game Boy Advance ever.
Mario, who is chasing DK through a toy factory, is controlled by the player in this game, which is a spiritual successor to Donkey Kong from 1994.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong has a wide variety of locations, from lava levels to traditional building sites.
In addition, Plus levels—which are meant to be harder than those in the main game—are available for players to attempt.
9. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!
8. Donkey Kong Country
One of the most eagerly awaited games of all time, Donkey Kong Country even received a $16 million North American marketing campaign in support of it.
With 9.3 million copies sold worldwide, it broke records to become the fastest-selling video game at the time, therefore Nintendo's strategy paid off.
It goes without saying that this game was highly praised by critics and is credited with creating new benchmarks for the video game industry.
Doney Kong Country has been re-released numerous times due to its popularity; the most recent one was in 2020 on the Nintendo Switch.
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Since its 2005 release, Donkey Kong Jungle Beat has grown to become one of the greatest GameCube titles ever made.
The goal of this game is to accompany Donkey Kong on his quest to vanquish a string of wicked rulers and take control of the jungle.
Throughout the game, players can also use a conventional GameCube controller, even though the DK Bongo controller is the recommended controller.
Players take control of DK in each side-scrolling level as he battles bosses, swings across vines, collects bananas, and vanquishes adversaries.
Both fans and critics praised this, the first major Donkey Kong game since Donkey Kong 64.
Jungle Beat was released in 2008 for the Wii, featuring revised controls and improved levels. The Wii U version of the game was released in 2016.
It became one of the greatest Donkey Kong games ever made, despite criticism from some quarters for the absence of returning previous characters.
This game, also referred to as Donkey Kong 94, was released in 1994 on the Game Boy and is mostly based on the original arcade game.
Players assume control of Mario, who has to save Pauline from Donkey Kong, same like in the arcade version.
On certain stages, Donkey Kong Jr. also appears to obstruct Mario's advancement and assist his father.
5. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!
The newest game in the series, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, has some of the most well-known video game characters ever on an all-new adventure.
Kong and his family must embark on a tropical getaway across five islands in this Donkey Kong Country Returns sequel in order to save their house
Similar to its predecessor, Tropical Freeze was well-received, with praise mostly focused on its soundtrack, gameplay elements, and level design.
1995 saw the release of this Donkey Kong Country game, which was the second installment in the series on the SNES.
In this edition, players assume control of Diddy Kong and his pal Dixie, who together need to save Donkey Kong, who has been abducted by King K. Rool.
The game takes place on Crocodile Isle and features 52 levels spread over seven different worlds with unique settings.
One of the greatest 2D platformers ever created, this game peaked at number six on the SNES sales chart when it was first released.
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One of the greatest N64 games ever, and the first in the Donkey Kong series with 3D visuals, comes in first place.
As the title ape travels different levels to gather items and save his buddies from King K. Rool, gamers assume control of him.
A different multiplayer mode is available as well, where four players can engage in deathmatch and last-man-standing competitions.
Upon its release, Donkey Kong 64 garnered widespread praise and soared to the top of Nintendo's holiday sales charts in 1999.
Along with a host of other honours and nominations, it was named the Best Platform Game at the E3 Game Critics Awards that same year.
To save Pauline from the enormous ape, players assume the position of Mario since DK is the adversary in this first game.
Nintendo created this game in an effort to rival Namco's iconic Pac-Man, one of the greatest retro games ever.
Despite the early misgivings of Nintendo's American team, this game fared better than anticipated and became a critical and economic success in both Japan and North America.
Following its debut, Donkey Kong was selling 4,000 arcade cabinets a month. It gained even more traction when it was brought to home consoles.
In 1982, 8 million copies of the Game & Watch version and an extra 6 million cartridges were sold via the Coleco port.
All versions of the original Donkey Kong game together are projected to have brought in $4.4 billion in revenue as of 2015.
It goes without saying that this game is a significant part of video game history, and thankfully, the Nintendo Switch version is still playable today.
14. Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber
This game, which was first launched in 2007 for the Nintendo DS system and then the Wii U, is a follow-up to DK: King of Swing.
Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong are the primary playable characters in this Wii U title, which is currently regarded as one of the greatest of all time.
The storyline centres on DK and Diddy racing across stages to retrieve the crystal bananas that King K. Rool has taken from them.
This game has all-new moves, minigames, and collectible, usable items, unlike its predecessor.
Additionally, there is a four-player multiplayer mode that lets you complete levels with the assistance of your buddies.
Jungle Climber was generally well-received and was hailed by critics as an improvement over King of Swing.
Fans were especially drawn to the game's vivid graphics, which make it appear far better than earlier iterations.
Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong are the primary playable characters in this Wii U title, which is currently regarded as one of the greatest of all time.
The storyline centres on DK and Diddy racing across stages to retrieve the crystal bananas that King K. Rool has taken from them.
This game has all-new moves, minigames, and collectible, usable items, unlike its predecessor.
Additionally, there is a four-player multiplayer mode that lets you complete levels with the assistance of your buddies.
Jungle Climber was generally well-received and was hailed by critics as an improvement over King of Swing.
Fans were especially drawn to the game's vivid graphics, which make it appear far better than earlier iterations.
13. Donkey Kong Land III
Originally launched on the original Game Boy, this 1997 classic was later ported to the Game Boy Colour.
Donkey Kong Land III, the portable emulation of Donkey Kong Country 3, is regarded as one of the greatest Game Boy Colour titles ever made.
In this game, which involves multiple stages of exploration, players compete to find the Lost World between Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.
The worlds and stages are entirely distinct, even if many of these levels share the same surroundings.
This installment features a large cast of playable characters, with Wrinkly Kong being the only non-playable member of the family.
Fans and reviewers greeted this game favourably upon release, with many complimenting its outstanding level design and striking graphics.
Although it was never made available outside of Japan, Japanese gamers were also given access to an updated version of the Game Boy Colour.
12. Donkey Konga 2
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In order to play this game, players must beat on a unique barrel-shaped controller in time to certain tunes.
The addition of over thirty new tunes to play along with and enhanced graphics is what turned this game into a popular favourite.
The addition of new minigames and beloved characters to Donkey Konga 2 increased its variety compared to its predecessor.
Because some of the songs' lyrics were inappropriate for younger audiences, this game also became the only one in the series to receive a T rating in North America.
Some game versions had different tracks that ended up getting an E rating because they were meant for younger players.
Both gamers and critics gave Donkey Konga 2 high marks, and even if it wasn't a big hit, it's still a really fun game.
11. Mario vs. Donkey Kong
This puzzle platformer, which came out in 2004, is among the greatest games on the Game Boy Advance ever.
Mario, who is chasing DK through a toy factory, is controlled by the player in this game, which is a spiritual successor to Donkey Kong from 1994.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong has a wide variety of locations, from lava levels to traditional building sites.
In addition, Plus levels—which are meant to be harder than those in the main game—are available for players to attempt.
Expert levels offer an even greater difficulty and can only be unlocked by defeating the main world and earning all of the starts in both the main and Plus levels.
Players appreciated that the expert levels are really difficult and that they have added more interesting content to the game.
Critics gave Mario vs. Donkey Kong positive reviews, and the game went on to sell 1.37 million copies worldwide.
Even though it's not one of the Donkey Kong series' most well-known titles, it's still among the greatest ever made.
Released in 2004, this GameCube rhythm game is designed to be played with the DK Bongos controller.
Players appreciated that the expert levels are really difficult and that they have added more interesting content to the game.
Critics gave Mario vs. Donkey Kong positive reviews, and the game went on to sell 1.37 million copies worldwide.
Even though it's not one of the Donkey Kong series' most well-known titles, it's still among the greatest ever made.
10. Konga the Donkey
Released in 2004, this GameCube rhythm game is designed to be played with the DK Bongos controller.
Many songs from the Mario and Legend of Zelda series are included in Donkey Konga.
Numerous well-known songs are also included, such as "Losing My Religion" and "We Will Rock You," albeit the tracks on various regional editions varied slightly.
Similar to its follow-up, this game featured thirty tunes that could be played, providing a respectable level of diversity.
The game's mechanics and progressively harder levels, which made it increasingly difficult over time, were praised by critics.
At the 2005 Game Developer's Conference, this game took home the Innovation Award because, at the time of its release, it was truly unique.
Additionally, in
Numerous well-known songs are also included, such as "Losing My Religion" and "We Will Rock You," albeit the tracks on various regional editions varied slightly.
Similar to its follow-up, this game featured thirty tunes that could be played, providing a respectable level of diversity.
The game's mechanics and progressively harder levels, which made it increasingly difficult over time, were praised by critics.
At the 2005 Game Developer's Conference, this game took home the Innovation Award because, at the time of its release, it was truly unique.
Additionally, in
9. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!.jpeg)
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This puzzler, the fourth in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, stands out as one of the greatest Nintendo DS games ever made.
In this game, players control wind-up miniatures through a variety of stages that require frequent construction and rebuilding.
In this game, players control wind-up miniatures through a variety of stages that require frequent construction and rebuilding.
To advance, players must move each of the three figurines in each level until they reach the finish.
There are more than 200 levels altogether, and there are plenty of answers for each one, which will keep players busy for several hours.
Critics gave Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem positive reviews; some even declared it to be the greatest Nintendo DS title.
It was praised for having a surprising amount of depth, intuitive controls, and an addictive and tough gameplay.
This game from the DK series is among the greatest for puzzle-loving players.
There are more than 200 levels altogether, and there are plenty of answers for each one, which will keep players busy for several hours.
Critics gave Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem positive reviews; some even declared it to be the greatest Nintendo DS title.
It was praised for having a surprising amount of depth, intuitive controls, and an addictive and tough gameplay.
This game from the DK series is among the greatest for puzzle-loving players.
8. Donkey Kong Country
One of the most recognisable video games ever made, Donkey Kong Country is a reinvention of the Donkey Kong series.
The goal of this game is to help DK and Diddy get their stolen bananas back from King K. Rool and his Kremling army.
One of the greatest SNES games ever made, it features 40 levels to complete in single-player mode with collects treasures in each that open up additional stages.
Additionally, there are two multiplayer modes in which two players can collaborate or compete to be the fastest.
One of the most eagerly awaited games of all time, Donkey Kong Country even received a $16 million North American marketing campaign in support of it.
With 9.3 million copies sold worldwide, it broke records to become the fastest-selling video game at the time, therefore Nintendo's strategy paid off.
It goes without saying that this game was highly praised by critics and is credited with creating new benchmarks for the video game industry.
Doney Kong Country has been re-released numerous times due to its popularity; the most recent one was in 2020 on the Nintendo Switch.
7. Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
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The goal of this game is to accompany Donkey Kong on his quest to vanquish a string of wicked rulers and take control of the jungle.
Throughout the game, players can also use a conventional GameCube controller, even though the DK Bongo controller is the recommended controller.
Players take control of DK in each side-scrolling level as he battles bosses, swings across vines, collects bananas, and vanquishes adversaries.
Both fans and critics praised this, the first major Donkey Kong game since Donkey Kong 64.
Jungle Beat was released in 2008 for the Wii, featuring revised controls and improved levels. The Wii U version of the game was released in 2016.
It became one of the greatest Donkey Kong games ever made, despite criticism from some quarters for the absence of returning previous characters.
6. Donkey Kong (Game Boy)
This game, also referred to as Donkey Kong 94, was released in 1994 on the Game Boy and is mostly based on the original arcade game.
Players assume control of Mario, who has to save Pauline from Donkey Kong, same like in the arcade version.
On certain stages, Donkey Kong Jr. also appears to obstruct Mario's advancement and assist his father.
In addition to having numerous gameplay concepts from DK, DK Jr., and Super Mario Bros. 2, this was the first Game Boy game to have improved features on the Super Game Boy.
Fans and critics have given Donkey Kong 94 a good rating ever since its release, with many applauding the game's difficult riddles and new levels.
It is usually regarded as one of the greatest games of all time and was selected the Best Game Boy Game of 1994 by Electronic Gaming Monthly.
This game is so excellent that even the pickiest critics had a hard time finding anything wrong with it.
Fans and critics have given Donkey Kong 94 a good rating ever since its release, with many applauding the game's difficult riddles and new levels.
It is usually regarded as one of the greatest games of all time and was selected the Best Game Boy Game of 1994 by Electronic Gaming Monthly.
This game is so excellent that even the pickiest critics had a hard time finding anything wrong with it.
5. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!
This was the third game in the Donkey Kong Country series, and it was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1996.
This episode, a straight follow-up to DK Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, centres on Dixie and Kiddy Kong as they have to save Diddy and Donkey Kong from King K. Rool.
Players take control of Dixie and her cousin Kiddy in this platformer, which spans eight realms and forty-eight stages.
There's also a multiplayer option and additional levels to finish for special rewards.
Both critics and fans praised the game for having a far more diversified level design than previous entries in the series.
Dixie Kong's Double Trouble received high marks for its replayability and bright, colourful graphics when it was first released.
Even though some of the gameplay was mocked for being monotonous, most players still found the game to be enjoyable overall.
Before being re-published on the Wii U in 2015, this side-scrolling platformer was first released in 2010 for the Nintendo 3Ds and the Wii.
In this game, players have control of both the giant ape and his friend Diddy in certain parts.
This game features a tonne of classic features that are back, such gathering bananas, swinging vines, and mine cart levels.
There's also a multiplayer option and additional levels to finish for special rewards.
Both critics and fans praised the game for having a far more diversified level design than previous entries in the series.
Dixie Kong's Double Trouble received high marks for its replayability and bright, colourful graphics when it was first released.
Even though some of the gameplay was mocked for being monotonous, most players still found the game to be enjoyable overall.
4. Donkey Kong Country Returns
In this game, players have control of both the giant ape and his friend Diddy in certain parts.
This game features a tonne of classic features that are back, such gathering bananas, swinging vines, and mine cart levels.
When playing Diddy Kong in multiplayer mode, a second player can take control of the character. If one player perishes, the other can revive them by shattering a DK barrel.
In less than a month after its release, Donkey Kong Country Returns sold 4.21 million copies, demonstrating its enormous success.
Critics praised the game for having amazing level design, graphics, and fast-paced gameplay, calling it one of the best platformers ever made.
It retains the classic series' retro aesthetic while yet being sufficiently updated to make gameplay unique and thrilling.
In less than a month after its release, Donkey Kong Country Returns sold 4.21 million copies, demonstrating its enormous success.
Critics praised the game for having amazing level design, graphics, and fast-paced gameplay, calling it one of the best platformers ever made.
It retains the classic series' retro aesthetic while yet being sufficiently updated to make gameplay unique and thrilling.
4. Donkey Kong Country Returns
Kong and his family must embark on a tropical getaway across five islands in this Donkey Kong Country Returns sequel in order to save their house
Similar to its predecessor, Tropical Freeze was well-received, with praise mostly focused on its soundtrack, gameplay elements, and level design.
While Donkey Kong is the main character that players control, there are other playable versions of Diddy, Dixie, and Cranky Kong in some stages.
Along with an easier Funky Mode, Funky Kong is now another playable character in the Nintendo Switch edition of the game.
Fans and critics greeted Tropical Freeze with great enthusiasm upon its release; Destructoid even gave it a perfect score of ten.
Some have even praised the game as a masterpiece of gaming mechanics and level design.
Having sold about 5.46 million copies overall, Tropical Freeze is among the most well-liked Donkey Kong Country titles.
Along with an easier Funky Mode, Funky Kong is now another playable character in the Nintendo Switch edition of the game.
Fans and critics greeted Tropical Freeze with great enthusiasm upon its release; Destructoid even gave it a perfect score of ten.
Some have even praised the game as a masterpiece of gaming mechanics and level design.
Having sold about 5.46 million copies overall, Tropical Freeze is among the most well-liked Donkey Kong Country titles.
2. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong’s Quest
1995 saw the release of this Donkey Kong Country game, which was the second installment in the series on the SNES.
In this edition, players assume control of Diddy Kong and his pal Dixie, who together need to save Donkey Kong, who has been abducted by King K. Rool.
The game takes place on Crocodile Isle and features 52 levels spread over seven different worlds with unique settings.
One of the greatest 2D platformers ever created, this game peaked at number six on the SNES sales chart when it was first released.
This game proved to be so popular that retailers in 1995 even struggled to meet the demand for it, and it ended up selling a total of 2.16 million copies in the US alone.
Diddy Kong’s Quest was later re-released for the Game Boy Advance in 2004 and the Wii in 2007.
It has also since been ported to the Nintendo Switch as of 2020, giving players the opportunity to experience this classic with modern upgrades.
1. Donkey Kong 64
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One of the greatest N64 games ever, and the first in the Donkey Kong series with 3D visuals, comes in first place.
As the title ape travels different levels to gather items and save his buddies from King K. Rool, gamers assume control of him.
A different multiplayer mode is available as well, where four players can engage in deathmatch and last-man-standing competitions.
Upon its release, Donkey Kong 64 garnered widespread praise and soared to the top of Nintendo's holiday sales charts in 1999.
Along with a host of other honours and nominations, it was named the Best Platform Game at the E3 Game Critics Awards that same year.
Donkey Kong 64 is the best game in the series because of its amazing level design, stunning graphics, and simple gameplay mechanics.
Don't worry if you weren't able to play it on the N64; it was later made available digitally for the Wii U.
Don't worry if you weren't able to play it on the N64; it was later made available digitally for the Wii U.
Q/A
Q:1 Is Donkey Kong Country 1 or 2 better?
Ans:I recently had my first playthrough of Donkey Kong Country 2, and I actually enjoyed a lot of it. The game controls were equally as good as DKC1, the levels were expertly designed, and the atmosphere was insane.
Q:2 Was Donkey Kong 64 popular?
Ans: Donkey Kong 64 was a critically acclaimed game that ended up selling 5.27 million copies worldwide, making it Nintendo's best-selling title during the 1999 Christmas season. Along with other magazine nominations and prizes, it took home the 1999 E3 Game Critics Award for Best Platform Game.
Q:3 How popular was Donkey Kong?
Ans: Donkey Kong is one of Nintendo's bestselling franchises, with more than 65 million units sold by 2021. The original game was Nintendo's first major international success and established it as a prominent force in the video game industry.
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