Move over, Mario. Despite the mustachioed plumber’s position as Nintendo figurehead, we can’t forget Donkey Kong’s influence on the Mario Bros. and the Nintendo brand as a whole. DK’s come a long way since his barrel-tossing role atop “25m.” From kart racers and barrel bongos to revolutionary 3D platformers, Donkey Kong games have had a profound influence on gaming, then AND now.
With Nintendo’s exciting Bananza Direct presentation this morning, you can’t help but feel a little sentimental, nostalgic even. To honor the vine-swingin’, mine cart-cruisin’ crew, we’re naming our top 10 Kong-centered releases from 1981 ’til now — and not just the platformers, either.
Donkey Konga (2003)
The early 2000s beget a ton of stellar rhythm games, and naturally, DK had to dabble. GameCube’s Donkey Konga piggybacked off the success of at-home rhythm game peripherals like Dance Dance Revolution‘s foldable floor mat, bringing the novelty of arcade gameplay to your living room. The bongos weren’t half-bad, either.
Limited content, however, made the game feel a little gimmicky compared to other Kong hits. It’s a cute party game, sure, but beyond that?…
Donkey Kong (1981)
Rest assured that Donkey Kong isn’t in this spot because it’s bad, but because so many other Kong games are so GOOD. However, we wouldn’t have those heavy-hitters without the ape that started it all. An arcade all-timer!
The classic entry is still a blast, albeit maddening at times, it’s limiting controls and fall damage to blame.
Donkey Kong Jr. (1982)
Arguably among Nintendo’s best, source-honoring sequels of all time, Donkey Kong Jr. followed the original arcade hit, building upon gameplay elements that made the first so remarkable. However, Mario’s the bad guy in this one, as Jr. must free Sr. from the plumber’s grasp. Donkey Kong Jr. kicks the difficulty up a notch, too, with added collectible fruits, harder-to-nail jumps, and ultra-frustrating Klaptrap-like enemies.
Also, I gotta say, I’m a big fan of the double-vine slide, too. So smooth.
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Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble! (1996)
Some of the best Kong entries are DK-tangential.
In Donkey Kong Country 3, Dixie Kong and her cousin Kiddy must rescue Donkey and Diddy from the Kremlings’ sinister robot leader, KAOS. A surefire hit for fans of the Country games, as it employs many of the same mechanics. However, these striking similarities push it from “familiar” to “repetitive,” driving it away from the top spot.
Donkey Kong 64 (1999)
♫ So they’re finally here, performing for you / If you know the words, you can join in, too ♫
Donkey Kong 64 breathed new life into the franchise. Released nearly two decades after the OG arcade game, DK 64 put players alongside the Kongs in an expansive, wholly explorable environment. The game undoubtedly modernized the franchise and paved the way for some other exciting 3D adventures, but the immersion-breaking minigames, frustratingly difficult gameplay, and borderline-tiresome backtracking made this one tough banana to peel.
I still miss my Y2k-era translucent green console and controller, though…
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest (1995)
Why is DK always in trouble? In DKC 2, Diddy and Dixie must (once again) ship out and save Donkey Kong from dastardly baddie King K. Rool. In true Country fashion, this game’s gorgeous visuals and ambient soundtrack pull you right in. Add in the playable Kongs’ varied move sets, improved agility, and interchangeability, and you’ve got a banger that lands among the best platformers ever made.
Donkey Kong Country Returns (2010)
Returns refreshes the franchise for the 21st century. Its improved camera view, co-op offerings, and impressive visuals deliver fans a modernized game that doesn’t dilute the wacky whimsy seen in its predecessors.
Donkey Kong Country Returns remains among the Nintendo Wii’s most successful games, and deservedly so.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2014)
Toggle between four individual, radically different Kongs in snazzy side-scroller Tropical Freeze, each character granting players different abilities. By switching between each Kong, players can reach hidden nooks, take down persistent enemies, and hover to hard-to-reach platforms.
Tropical Freeze is a family-friendly Kong frenzy, but that doesn’t mean it shies away from a challenge. I spent more time than I care to admit trying to clear Fugu Face-Off…
Diddy Kong Racing (1997)
Another offshoot of the Donkey Kong franchise, but it still counts! In this cartoon racer, Diddy Kong and other cute playable critters can utilize various modes of transportation — cars, planes, and some seriously slick hovercrafts — to beat the oversized and, frankly, intimidating Wizpig in a string of wacky races. This game, chock-full of character and cartoonish charm, is indisputably one of the brand’s best racing games ever.
Donkey Kong Country (1994)
While Donkey Kong Country really needs no introduction, I’m not missing a moment to wax poetic about the franchise’s magnum opus.
King K. Rool and his conniving Kremlings snagged the Kongs’ banana hoard, and Donkey and Diddy have to make it through dozens of difficult stages to get back what’s theirs. This revolutionary side-scrolling platformer introduced the Kongs to the now-beloved mine carts, collectible gold KONG tiles, minigame bonuses, and obscured areas.
To absolutely no one’s surprise, Donkey Kong Country is still one of Nintendo’s most commercially successful releases, as well as one of its most well-received. The platformer was (and still is) a certified heater that appealed to players and critics of all ages and skill levels. Approachable enough to be many a millennial’s first foray into gaming, but demanding enough to throw off even the most skilled gamer. Don’t get me started on the soundtrack, or I’ll never stop talking.
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A lifelong gamer raised on classic titles like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Croc, Stephanie brings her expertise of gaming and pop culture to deliver unique, refreshing views on the world of video games, complete with references to absurd and obscure media.
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