List of Donkey Kong video games

Donkey Kong is a video game franchise created by Shigeru Miyamoto and published by Nintendo. The franchise is centered on the anthropomorphic gorilla Donkey Kong and his clan of other apes and monkeys. Games in the franchise have been developed by a variety of developers including Nintendo, Rare, Paon and Retro Studios. While the first games were arcade releases, most Donkey Kong games have been released for Nintendo consoles and handhelds since the third generation. Most of the games in the franchise are platform games, although the series also includes spin-offs in other genres, such as racing and rhythm games. The majority of the games feature Donkey Kong as the main playable character, but other supporting characters also appear throughout the series, some of whom are playable.^[1]

A closed, orange dual-screen, handheld Donkey Kong Game & Watch system.

Donkey Kong
Logo since 2024
Genre(s)	Platform Action-adventure Puzzle Racing Rhythm Edutainment
Developer(s)	Various Nintendo R&D1 (1981–1983) Ikegami Tsushinki (1981) Coleco (1982–1984) Imaginative System Software (1982) Iwasaki Electronics (1982–1983) Roklan Corporation (1982–1983) Atari, Inc. (1983–1984) Woodside Design Associates (1983) Nintendo R&D2 (1983–1986) K-Byte (1983–1984) Softweaver (1983) Human Engineered Software (1983) SRD Co., Ltd. (1983) Syndein Systems (1984) Intelligent Systems (1984) Hudson Soft (1984) Sentient Software Ltd. (1986) Arcana Software Design (1986) International Technology Development Corporation (1988) Nintendo EAD (1994, 2004–2008) Pax Softnica (1994) Nelsonic Industries (1994) Rare (1994–2007) Namco (2003–2005) Nintendo Software Technology (2004–2015, 2024) Paon (2005–2007) Nintendo SPD (2005–2015) Capcom (2005–2006) Retro Studios (2010–2018) Monster Games (2013–2014) Ubisoft Milan (2018) Ubisoft Paris (2018) Hamster Corporation (2018–2019) Nvidia Lightspeed Studios (2019) Forever Entertainment (2025) Nintendo EPD (2025–present) 1-Up Studio (2025–present) tri-Crescendo (2025)
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Creator(s)	Shigeru Miyamoto
Composer(s)	Various Yukio Kaneoka (1981–1983) Hirokazu Tanaka (1983–1984) Taisuke Araki (1994) David Wise (1994–1997, 2005, 2014–2018) Eveline Fischer (1994–1997) Robin Beanland (1994) Graeme Norgate (1995) Grant Kirkhope (1995–1999, 2018) Junko Ozawa (2003–2005) Jesahm (2003–2005) Mahito Yokota (2004) Takashi Kouga (2005–2007) Yuichi Kanno (2007) Yoshitaka Hirota (2007) Kenji Yamamoto (2010–2014) Minako Hamano (2010–2014) Masaru Tajima (2010) Shinji Ushiroda (2010–2014) Daisuke Matsuoka (2010–2014) Riyu Tamura (2014) Naoto Kubo (2025–present)
Platform(s)	Various Arcade Game & Watch Intellivision ColecoVision Coleco Mini-Arcade Atari 2600 TRS-80 CoCo Atari 8-bit computers TI-99/4A IBM PC MSX Atari 5200 PC-6601 Sharp X1 Apple II PC-88 Commodore 64 VIC-20 MS-DOS Amiga 500 Coleco Gemini ZX Spectrum Amstrad CPC Coleco Adam BBC Micro NES Famicom Disk System Atari 7800 Game Boy Nelsonic Game Watch SNES Nintendo 64 Game Boy Color Game Boy Advance Nintendo e-Reader GameCube Nintendo DS Wii Nintendo DSi Nintendo 3DS Wii U NES Classic Edition SNES Classic Edition Nintendo Switch Nvidia Shield Nintendo Switch 2
First release	Donkey Kong July 9, 1981
Latest release	Donkey Kong Bananza July 17, 2025
Spin-offs	Mario

The franchise debuted in 1981 with the arcade game Donkey Kong, which was a sales success that brought Nintendo into the North American market.^[1] The original arcade games received ports to various third-party home consoles, which were developed by several companies.^[2] The Donkey Kong franchise has sold a total of over 83 million copies as of 2023 (counting the several ports of the arcade game).^[3] The success of the series is commonly attributed to its technical innovation and entertaining platforming sequences.^[1]

Arcade video games

Title	Details
Donkey Kong Original release date(s):[4] JP: July 9, 1981 NA: July 31, 1981	Release years by system: 1981 – Arcade, Atari 2600[4][5] 1982 – Intellivision, ColecoVision, Tabletop miniarcade[1][6][7][8] 1983 – Famicom, Commodore 64, Apple II, IBM PC, TI-99/4A, Atari 8-bit[1][9][10][11][12][13] 1986 – Nintendo Entertainment System,[1][9] Amstrad CPC[14] 1988 – Atari 7800, Famicom Disk System[15][16] 1999 – Nintendo 64 (within Donkey Kong 64) 2001 – GameCube (within Animal Crossing) 2002 – Nintendo e-Reader[17] 2004 – Game Boy Advance[18] 2006 – Wii Virtual Console[19] 2013 - Wii U Virtual Console, Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console[20][21] 2018 – Nintendo Switch Online
	Notes: The arcade version was developed by Nintendo. Shigeru Miyamoto created it to replace the failed arcade game Radar Scope and to keep Nintendo afloat as a company.[1] Donkey Kong was a huge success and sold thousands of cabinets.[1] The game introduced both Jumpman (now known as Mario) and Donkey Kong, two of Nintendo's most successful characters.[1] It was re-released in a number of home console versions, most of which were not developed by Nintendo, but instead by other third party developers.[1] Most of the home console versions cut at least one of the four levels originally seen in the arcade version.[1] Coleco manufactured the tabletop miniarcade version.[8]
Donkey Kong Jr. Original release date(s):[1][22] NA/JP: July 1982 EU: Late 1982	Release years by system: 1982 – Arcade[1][22] 1983 – Famicom, Intellivision, Atari 2600, ColecoVision, Tabletop miniarcade[8][23][24][25] 1984 – Atari 8-bit[26] 1986 – Nintendo Entertainment System[27] 1988 – Atari 7800[28] 2001 – GameCube (within Animal Crossing) 2002 – Nintendo e-Reader[29] 2006 – Wii Virtual Console[30] 2012 - Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console[31] 2013 - Wii U Virtual Console[32] 2018 – Nintendo Switch Online
	Notes: The arcade version was developed by Nintendo. Donkey Kong Junior is the sequel to the first Donkey Kong arcade game.[1] Jumpman's name was changed to Mario in this title.[33] Mario also became the antagonist in Junior rather than retain his role as the protagonist from the first game.[1] The game was re-released in a number of home console versions similar to the extent of the original Donkey Kong by third-party developers.[1] Coleco and Nintendo manufactured the tabletop miniarcade version.[8]
Donkey Kong 3 Original release date(s):[1] NA: 1983	Release years by system: 1983 – Arcade[1] 1984 – Famicom[1] 1986 – Nintendo Entertainment System 2001 – GameCube (within Animal Crossing) 2003 – Nintendo e-Reader[34] 2008 – Wii Virtual Console[35] 2018 – Nintendo Switch Online
	Notes: The arcade version was developed by Nintendo. Instead of Mario, the player controls Stanley, who has to shoot Donkey Kong from below with pesticide in order to drive him away from his garden.[1] The game is a shooting game instead of a platform game like the previous Donkey Kong games.[1]
Donkey Kong: Jungle Fever Original release date(s):[36] JP: 2005	Release years by system: 2005 – Arcade[36]
	Notes: Capcom developed the game.
Donkey Kong: Banana Kingdom Original release date(s): JP: 2006	Release years by system: 2006 – Arcade
	Notes: Capcom developed the game. Sequel to Donkey Kong: Jungle Fever.

Home console games

Title	Details
Donkey Kong Jr. Math Original release date(s):[37] JP: December 12, 1983 NA: June 1986 PAL: July 10, 1986	Release years by system: 1983 – Nintendo Entertainment System[37] 2001 – GameCube (within Animal Crossing) 2007 – Wii Virtual Console[38]
	Notes: Nintendo developed the title. The game has two modes: one is a two-player mode in which the objective is to add numbers up to what Donkey Kong is holding, and the other is a single-player mode in which the player must solve algebraic equations.[1]
Donkey Kong Country Original release date(s):[39] UK: November 18, 1994 NA: November 21, 1994 EU: November 24, 1994 JP: November 26, 1994	Release years by system: 1994 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System[39] 2000 – Game Boy Color[40] 2003 – Game Boy Advance[41] 2006 – Wii Virtual Console[42]
	Notes: The game is the first in the series developed by Rare.[1] It sold over eight million cartridges.[1]
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Original release date(s):[43] JP: November 21, 1995 NA: December 1995 PAL: December 14, 1995	Release years by system: 1995 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System[43] 2004 – Game Boy Advance[44] 2007 – Wii Virtual Console[45]
	Notes: Rare developed the game.[1] It features Diddy Kong and his girlfriend Dixie Kong instead of Donkey Kong.[1]
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! Original release date(s):[46] NA: November 18, 1996 JP: November 23, 1996 PAL: December 13, 1996	Release years by system: 1996 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System[46] 2005 – Game Boy Advance[47] 2007 – Wii Virtual Console[48]
	Notes: The game was developed by Rare.[48] It features Dixie Kong and her cousin Kiddy Kong instead of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.[1] Sales were lower due to the release of the Nintendo 64 system two months before the game's release.[48]
Diddy Kong Racing Original release date(s):[49] JP: November 21, 1997 PAL: November 21, 1997 NA: November 24, 1997	Release years by system: 1997 – Nintendo 64[49] 2007 – Nintendo DS[50]
	Notes: Rare developed the title.[49] Rare inserted two playable characters from their other games that were still in development: Banjo and Conker.[50] It was later re-released for the Nintendo DS as Diddy Kong Racing DS with extra content.[50]
Donkey Kong 64 Original release date(s):[51] NA: November 22, 1999 PAL: December 3, 1999 JP: December 10, 1999	Release years by system: 1999 – Nintendo 64[51]
	Notes: The game was developed by Rare.[51] Donkey Kong 64 is an adventure game in the vein of Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie.[52]
Donkey Konga Original release date(s):[53] JP: December 12, 2003 NA: September 27, 2004 PAL: October 15, 2004	Release years by system: 2003 – GameCube[53]
	Notes: The title was developed jointly by Namco and Nintendo.[54] Copies of the game came packaged with the DK Bongos peripheral.[53] It is a rhythm game in the vein of the Dance Dance Revolution series.
Donkey Konga 2 Original release date(s):[55] JP: July 1, 2004 NA: May 9, 2005 PAL: June 3, 2005	Release years by system: 2004 – GameCube[53]
	Notes: Namco developed the title.[56] Copies of the game came packaged with the DK Bongos peripheral.[55] It plays similar to its predecessor, but features a different track list.[56]
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat Original release date(s):[57] JP: December 16, 2004 PAL: February 4, 2005 NA: March 14, 2005	Release years by system: 2004 – GameCube[57] 2008 – Wii[58]
	Notes: The game was developed by Nintendo EAD.[59] Players can control the game with a GameCube controller or the DK Bongos peripheral.[59] Some copies of the game came packaged with the Bongos peripheral.[57] It was later re-released for the Wii with New Play Control! and widescreen support.
Donkey Konga 3: Tabe-houdai! Haru Mogitate 50 Kyoku Original release date(s):[60] JP: March 17, 2005	Release years by system: 2005 – GameCube[60]
	Notes: Namco developed the game.[61] Played with the DK Bongos peripheral. It was released exclusively in Japan.[60]
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast Original release date(s):[62] JP: June 28, 2007 NA: October 8, 2007 EU: February 25, 2008	Release years by system: 2007 – Wii[62]
	Notes: The title was developed by Paon.[62] It is a kart-style racing game. The game was originally developed for GameCube and then moved to Wii.[63]
Donkey Kong Country Returns Original release date(s):[64] NA: November 21, 2010 AU: December 2, 2010 EU: December 3, 2010 JP: December 9, 2010	Release years by system: 2010 – Wii[64] 2013 – Nintendo 3DS[64] 2019 – Nvidia Shield 2025 – Nintendo Switch[64]
	Notes: The title was developed by Retro Studios.[64] It was re-released on the Nintendo 3DS as Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, and later on the Nintendo Switch as Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. Based on the Donkey Kong Country games that were released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.[65]
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Original release date(s): JP: February 13, 2014 NA: February 21, 2014 EU: February 21, 2014 AU: February 22, 2014	Release years by system: 2014 – Wii U 2018 – Nintendo Switch
	Notes: The title was developed by Retro Studios. It is a sequel to Donkey Kong Country Returns.
Donkey Kong Bananza Original release date(s):[66] WW: July 17, 2025	Release years by system: 2025 – Nintendo Switch 2
	Notes: The title was developed by Nintendo EPD. It is the second 3D platformer in the Donkey Kong series, following Donkey Kong 64.[67]

Portable and handheld games

Title	Details
Donkey Kong (Game & Watch) Original release date(s):[68] NA: June 3, 1982	Release years by system: 1982 – Game & Watch[69] 1998 – Game Boy Color[70] 2002 – Game Boy Advance[68] 2009 – Nintendo DS
	Notes: The handheld was developed by Nintendo. Like the arcade Donkey Kong, Mario must climb a building while avoiding barrels; however, beating the game is different from the arcade version. The player must trigger a lever on the upper screen, activating a hook, which Mario must then jump on to and catch. If the player succeeds, a peg will be removed and Mario will return to the starting point, but if the player does not, Mario will fall to the ground and lose a life. Removing all available pegs in this manner will cause Donkey Kong's platform to collapse, and he will fall to the ground. Donkey Kong was released in a dual-screen format.[69] This Game & Watch version was later re-released in Game & Watch compilation games for the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance.[68][70] It was included as one of the games in Game & Watch Collection, a Club Nintendo exclusive release for Nintendo DS.
Donkey Kong Jr. (Game & Watch) Original release date(s):[68] NA: October 26, 1982	Release years by system: 1982 – Game & Watch[69] 1998 – Game Boy Color[70] 2002 – Game Boy Advance[68] 2010 – DSiWare
	Notes: The handheld was developed by Nintendo. Donkey Kong Junior was released in a widescreen format.[69] This Game & Watch version of Donkey Kong Junior was later re-released in Game & Watch compilation games for the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance[68][70] and as DSiWare download in 2010.[71]
Donkey Kong II Original release date(s): NA: March 7, 1983	Release years by system: 1982 – Game & Watch[69]
	Notes: The handheld was developed by Nintendo. Donkey Kong II, a Game & Watch sequel to Donkey Kong Junior, was released in a wide-screen format in 1983.[69]
Donkey Kong Circus Original release date(s):[72] NA: March 2, 1984	Release years by system: 1984 – Game & Watch
	Notes: The handheld was developed by Nintendo. Donkey Kong Circus was an original title developed for the Game and Watch series.[73]
Donkey Kong 3 (Game & Watch) Original release date(s): NA: August 20, 1984	Release years by system: 1984 – Game & Watch[69] 2002 – Game Boy Advance[74]
	Notes: The handheld was developed by Nintendo. A version of this game was included in Game & Watch Gallery 4 for the Game Boy Advance.
Donkey Kong Hockey Original release date(s):[72] NA: November 13, 1984	Release years by system: 1984 – Game & Watch
	Notes: The handheld was developed by Nintendo. Donkey Kong Hockey was an original title developed for the Game and Watch series.[75] It was developed by Nintendo R&D1 and released in 1984 as part of the Game & Watch Micro Vs. series. The game features one LCD display screen and two attached control pads. The hockey features Donkey Kong as one of the players and Mario as the other.
Donkey Kong (Game Boy) Original release date(s):[76] JP: June 14, 1994 NA: July 22, 1994 PAL: September 24, 1994	Release years by system: 1994 – Game Boy[76] 2011 – Nintendo 3DS[77] 2025 – Nintendo Switch[78]
	Notes: It was developed by Nintendo. The game is based on the original Donkey Kong; it features the first four arcade levels, but from there, features ninety-six more levels and becomes a hybrid between Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and Super Mario Bros. 2.[1] The game was later re-released for Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console download. On March 7, 2025, the game was re-released as part of Nintendo Switch Online's Game Boy application.
Donkey Kong (Nelsonic Game Watch) Original release date(s):[79] NA: 1994	Release years by system: 1994 – Nelsonic Game Watch[79]
	Notes: Like the arcade Donkey Kong, Mario must climb a building while avoiding barrels.
Donkey Kong Land Original release date(s):[80] NA: June 26, 1995 JP: July 27, 1995 PAL: August 24, 1995	Release years by system: 1995 – Game Boy[80]
	Notes: Rare developed the game.[1] Donkey Kong Land is a platform game in the vein of Donkey Kong Country.[1] The graphics are enhanced if played via the Super Game Boy.[1]
Donkey Kong Land 2 Original release date(s):[81] NA: September 23, 1996 JP: November 23, 1996 PAL: November 28, 1996	Release years by system: 1996 – Game Boy[81]
	Notes: The title was developed by Rare.[81] It is extensively based on Donkey Kong Country 2, but due to the limitations of the Game Boy system, it is missing several features and has radically different level designs.[81] The graphics are enhanced if the player plays via the Super Game Boy.[1]
Donkey Kong Land III Original release date(s):[82] NA: October 27, 1997 PAL: October 30, 1997 JP: January 28, 2000	Release years by system: 1997 – Game Boy[82]
	Notes: Rare developed the game.[82] The game is extensively based on Donkey Kong Country 3, but lacks the exploration aspects seen in the home console game.[1] The graphics are enhanced if the player plays via the Super Game Boy.[1] An enhanced version for the Game Boy Color, titled Donkey Kong GB - Dinky Kong and Dixie Kong was released exclusively for Japan on January 28, 2000, over two years after the US and EU releases.
DK: King of Swing Original release date(s):[83] PAL: February 4, 2005 JP: May 19, 2005 NA: September 19, 2005	Release years by system: 2005 – Game Boy Advance[83]
	Notes: Paon developed the title.[83] The character uses pegs to swing to the end of levels instead of using traditional platforming methods.[84]
Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber Original release date(s):[85] JP: August 9, 2007 NA: September 10, 2007 EU: October 12, 2007 AU: November 1, 2007	Release years by system: 2007 – Nintendo DS[85]
	Notes: The game was developed by Paon.[85] It is the sequel to DK King of Swing.[86]

Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Title	Details
Mario vs. Donkey Kong Original release date(s):[87] NA: May 24, 2004 JP: June 1, 2004 EU: November 19, 2004	Release years by system: 2004 – Game Boy Advance[87] 2024 – Nintendo Switch
	Notes: The game was developed by Nintendo Software Technology.[88] It is a spiritual successor to the Game Boy version of Donkey Kong, which was a hybrid of the arcade game Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and Super Mario Bros. 2.[88] A remake was released in 2024 for the Nintendo Switch.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis Original release date(s):[89] NA: September 25, 2006 EU: March 9, 2007 JP: April 12, 2007	Release years by system: 2006 – Nintendo DS[89]
	Notes: Nintendo Software Technology developed the title.[89] The game is a sequel to Mario vs. Donkey Kong for the Game Boy Advance.[90] It expanded on the previous game by using touch screen controls.[90]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! Original release date(s):[91] NA: June 8, 2009 EU: August 21, 2009 JP: October 7, 2009	Release years by system: 2009 – DSiWare[91]
	Notes: Nintendo Software Technology developed the title.[91] The game was released exclusively through DSiWare download.[92] The gameplay is similar to that of Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis.[92]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! Original release date(s):[93] NA: November 14, 2010 JP: December 2, 2010 EU: February 4, 2011	Release years by system: 2010 – Nintendo DS[93]
	Notes: Nintendo Software Technology developed the title.
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move Original release date(s): NA: May 9, 2013 EU: May 9, 2013 JP: July 24, 2013	Release years by system: 2013 – Nintendo 3DS eShop
	Notes: Nintendo Software Technology developed the title. The game was released exclusively through Nintendo eShop download.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars Original release date(s):[94] NA: March 5, 2015 JP: March 19, 2015 PAL: March 20, 2015	Release years by system: 2015 – Nintendo 3DS eShop[94] and Wii U eShop[95]
	Notes: Nintendo Software Technology developed the title. The game was released exclusively through Nintendo eShop download.
Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge Original release date(s): JP: January 29, 2016 NA: April 28, 2016 PAL: April 29, 2016	Release years by system: 2016 – Nintendo 3DS eShop and Wii U eShop
	Notes: Nintendo Software Technology developed the title. The game was released exclusively through Nintendo eShop download.

Cancelled games

Title	Details
Untitled Sega-developed game Cancellation date: 1984	Proposed system release: Arcade
	Notes: Sega obtained the license to develop a Donkey Kong game, but it was canceled after Sega's David Rosen and Hayao Nakayama arranged a management buyout from Gulf and Western Industries in 1984.[96][97] The game featured a playable Donkey Kong as a parking attendant who had to avoid and guide parking cars.[96]
Return of Donkey Kong Cancellation date: 1987	Proposed system release: Nintendo Entertainment System
	Notes: Return of Donkey Kong was advertised in the 1987 Official Nintendo Player's Guide, but was never released,[98] and the advertisement remains the only evidence of its existence.[99] It mentioned that Donkey Kong would have been the playable character.[98]
Untitled CD-i game Cancellation date: 1993	Proposed system release: CD-i
	Notes: A CD-i Donkey Kong game was developed by Riedel Software Productions between 1992 and 1993.[99] It was part of a deal that granted Philips the license to use Nintendo characters in CD-i games, which resulted in Hotel Mario (1993) and three The Legend of Zelda games (1993–1994). The Donkey Kong game was canceled.[99]
Donkey Kong Coconut Crackers Cancellation date: Released as It's Mr. Pants in 2004	Proposed system release: Game Boy Advance
	Notes: Donkey Kong Coconut Crackers was a Rare-developed puzzle video game that featured the ability to switch between top-down 2D graphics and a 3D isometric layout.[100] It was scheduled to be released on December 7, 2001,[101] but after the Microsoft acquisition, Rare reworked Coconut Crackers to remove Donkey Kong elements and released it as It's Mr. Pants in 2004.[100]
Diddy Kong Pilot Cancellation date: Released as Banjo-Pilot in 2005	Proposed system release: Game Boy Advance
	Notes: Diddy Kong Pilot was a Rare-developed kart racing game that was intended as a handheld sequel to Diddy Kong Racing.[102] It was scheduled to be released on March 4, 2002,[103] but remained unreleased when Microsoft acquired Rare in September 2002.[104] Diddy Kong Pilot was reworked to remove Donkey Kong elements after the acquisition and released as Banjo-Pilot in 2005.[102]
Donkey Kong Racing Cancellation date:[105] August 2002[106]	Proposed system release: GameCube[105]
	Notes: Donkey Kong Racing was developed by Rare as a console sequel to Diddy Kong Racing.[105] It was a racing game in which players rode on animals rather than vehicles.[107] Following the Microsoft acquisition, Rare attempted to rework Donkey Kong Racing as a Sabreman game for the Xbox and Xbox 360 before canceling it entirely.[107][108]
Freedom Cancellation date: 2016	Proposed system release: Nintendo Switch
	Notes: A Donkey Kong game, codenamed Freedom, was co-developed by Nintendo and Vicarious Visions for six months. It was a 3D platformer that emphasized traversal, with grinding on vines as a core mechanic. The game was canceled in 2016 after Activision Blizzard, Vicarious Visions' parent company, redirected its developers' focus to the Call of Duty franchise.[109]