Donkey Kong

Release date:

JP: 09 Jul 1981 - ドンキーコング

US: 31 Jul 1981

EU: Nov 1981

System: Arcade

Developer: Nintendo R&D1

Genre: Action

The first Donkey Kong game of any kind. This game marks the debut of Mario, originally named Jumpman, who must rescue Lady from Donkey Kong. This game was a huge hit, even internationally, and is what gave Nintendo the push needed to fully commit to videogames as an industry.

Re-Releases:

Arcade Archives (Nintendo Switch):

15 Jun 2018 (JP), 15 Jun 2018 (US), 15 Jun 2018 (EU)

Donkey Kong (Multi Screen)

Release date:

JP: 03 Jun 1982 - ドンキーコング

US: 03 Jun 1982
EU: 03 Jun 1982

System: Game & Watch (Multi Screen)

Developer: Nintendo

Genre: Action

An adaptation of the original "Donkey Kong" arcade game. This model features Nintendo's first ever D-pad (directional pad), an iconic design that's easy to use and continues to appear on Nintendo's hardware to this very day. GAME B increases the speed and difficulty of the game.

Donkey Kong Jr.

Release date:

JP: Aug 1982 - ドンキーコングJr.

US: Aug 1982

EU: 16 Nov 1982

System: Arcade

Developer: Nintendo R&D1

Genre: Action

Donkey Kong Jr is on the move to rescue his father Donkey Kong, who has been captured by Mario. This game features enemies that can be defeated by dropping fruit on their heads and a more flexible level design philosophy that allows you to take different routes to avoid certain enemies or obstacles.

Re-Releases:

Arcade Archives (Nintendo Switch):

21 Dec 2018 (JP), 21 Dec 2018 (US), 21 Dec 2018 (EU)

Donkey Kong Jr. (New Wide Screen)

Release date:

JP: 26 Oct 1982 - ドンキーコングJR.

US: 26 Oct 1982
EU: 26 Oct 1982

System: Game & Watch (New Wide Screen)

Developer: Nintendo

Genre: Action

A remake of the "Donkey Kong Jr." arcade game. In this game you control Donkey Kong's son, Donkey Kong Jr., who must rescue his father who has been captured by Mario by climbing vines and avoiding enemies. GAME B has the enemies move faster to ramp up the difficulty.

Donkey Kong II

Release date:

JP: 07 Mar 1983 - ドンキーコング2

US: 07 Mar 1983 
EU: 07 Mar 1983

System: Game & Watch (Multi Screen)

Developer: Nintendo

Genre: Action

An adaptation of the "Donkey Kong Jr." arcade game. Move between the top and bottom screens to collect the keys that appear randomly throughout the level. Collect four keys and rescue Donkey Kong from Mario! Collecting four keys in GAME A will also cause most of the enemies on screen to disappear, but they'll stick around in GAME B.

Donkey Kong Jr. (Table Top)

Release date:

JP: 28 Apr 1983 - ドンキーコングJR.

US: 28 Apr 1983
EU: 28 Apr 1983

System: Game & Watch (Table Top)

Developer: Nintendo

Genre: Action

Largely similar to the version of "Donkey Kong Jr." that was released as a "New Wide Screen" model of Game & Watch two years prior. This newer version of the game features full-colour graphics, short musical tunes and floating parasols/balloons that can be grabbed to progress to the end of the level.

Donkey Kong (NES/Famicom)

Release date:

JP: 15 Jul 1983 - ドンキーコング

US: Jun 1986
EU: 15 Oct 1986

System: NES + Famicom

Developer: Nintendo R&D1

Genre: Action

The same arcade game remade for home consoles. Control Mario and rescue his girlfriend, who has been kidnapped by Donkey Kong. Avoid obstacles such as barrels and flames by climbing ladders and jumping between platforms. Allowing people to play the original arcade game at home is a core reason as to why Nintendo created the Famicom.

Re-Releases:

Famicom Disk System:

08 Apr 1988 (JP)

Card-e Reader (Game Boy Advance):

11 Nov 2002 (US)

Classic NES Series + Famicom Mini (Game Boy Advance):

14 Feb 2004 (JP), 07 Jun 2004 (US), 09 Jul 2004 (EU)

Wii Virtual Console:

19 Nov 2006 (US), 02 Dec 2006 (JP), 08 Dec 2006 (EU)

Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console:

17 Oct 2012 (JP), 15 Aug 2013 (US), 21 Nov 2013 (EU)

Wii U Virtual Console:

15 Jul 2013 (JP), 15 Jul 2013 (US), 15 Jul 2013 (EU)

NES + Famicom - Nintendo Switch Online:

19 Sep 2018 (EU), 19 Sep 2018 (US), 19 Sep 2018 (EU)

Donkey Kong Jr. (NES/Famicom)

Release date:

JP: 15 Jul 1983 - ドンキーコングJR.

US: Jun 1986
EU: 15 Jun 1987

System: NES + Famicom

Developer: Nintendo R&D1

Genre: Action

The same arcade game remade for home consoles. Donkey Kong's son, Junior, goes to rescue his father who has been captured by Mario. You can move up and down vines and attack using fruit.

Re-Releases:

Famicom Disk System:

19 Jul 1988 (JP)

Card-e Reader (Game Boy Advance):

16 Sep 2002 (US)

Wii Virtual Console:

02 Dec 2006 (JP), 04 Dec 2006 (US), 22 Dec 2006 (EU)

Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console:

18 Apr 2012 (JP), 14 Jun 2012 (US), 23 Aug 2012 (EU)

Wii U Virtual Console:

15 Jul 2013 (JP), 26 Apr 2013 (US), 27 Apr 2013 (EU)

NES + Famicom - Nintendo Switch Online:

15 May 2019 (JP), 15 May 2019 (US), 15 May 2019 (EU)

Donkey Kong Jr. (Panorama Screen)

Release date:

JP: 07 Oct 1983 - ドンキーコングJR.

US: 07 Oct 1983
EU: 07 Oct 1983

System: Game & Watch (Panorama Screen)

Developer: Nintendo

Genre: Action

A direct remake of "Donkey Kong Jr." made for the "Table Top" models of Game & Watch. The colour visuals and gameplay are the largely the same as before.

Donkey Kong 3

Release date:

JP: Oct 1983 - ドンキーコング3

US: Oct  1983
EU: 1983

System: Arcade

Developer: Nintendo R&D1

Genre: Shooting

An action shooting game set in a greenhouse, in which you control new protagonist Stanley and repel Donkey Kong and the bees that he is angering.

Re-Releases:

Arcade Archives (Nintendo Switch):

05 Apr 2019 (JP), 05 Apr 2019 (US), 05 Apr 2019 (EU)

Donkey Kong Jr. Math

Release date:

JP: 12 Dec 1983 - ドンキーコングJrの算数遊び

(Donkey Kong Jr. no Sansuu Asobi)

US: 18 Oct 1985
EU: 10 Jul 1986

System: NES + Famicom

Developer: Nintendo R&D2

Genre: Education and Learning

To rescue Donkey Kong, his son Donkey Kong Jr. must solve basic maths problems that involve addition, subtraction, multiplication and division by jumping between vines to collect numbers.

Re-Releases:

Wii Virtual Console:

27 Mar 2007 (JP), 20 Apr 2007 (EU), 03 Dec 2007 (US)

Wii U Virtual Console:

28 Aug 2014 (US), 22 Jan 2015 (EU), 15 Apr 2015 (JP)

NES + Famicom - Nintendo Switch Online:

04 Jul 2024 (JP), 04 Jul 2024 (US), 04 Jul 2024 (EU)

Donkey Kong 3 (NES/Famicom)

Release date:

JP: 04 Jul 1984 - ドンキーコング3

US: Jun 1986
EU: 15 Sep 1987

System: Arcade

Developer: Nintendo R&D1

Genre: Shooting

The same arcade game remade for home consoles. Defeat Donkey Kong and the bees that are attacking the greenhouse. Use the bug spray to trick Donkey Kong into climbing into a beehive to beat a level.

Re-Releases:

Card-e Reader (Game Boy Advance):

21 Apr 2003 (US)

Wii Virtual Console:

14 Jul 2008 (US), 23 Jul 2008 (JP), 09 Jan 2009 (EU)

Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console:

27 Mar 2013 (JP), 05 Dec 2013 (US), 12 Dec 2013 (EU)

Wii U Virtual Console:

26 Sep 2013 (US), 24 Oct 2013 (EU), 06 Nov 2013 (JP)

NES + Famicom - Nintendo Switch Online:

17 Jul 2019 (JP), 17 Jul 2019 (US), 17 Jul 2019 (EU)

Donkey Kong 3 (Micro VS. System)

Release date:

JP: 20 Aug 1984 - ドンキーコング3

US: 20 Aug 1984
EU: 20 Aug 1984

System: Game & Watch (Micro VS. System)

Developer: Nintendo

Genre: Action

A multiplayer adaptation of the "Donkey Kong 3" arcade game. One player controls Donkey Kong and the other player controls Stanley. Both players use bug spray to scare bugs into attacking the opposing player's side of the screen. GAME A starts a single-player game against an AI opponent, while GAME B starts a multiplayer game.

Donkey Kong Circus

Release date:

US: 06 Sep 1984
EU: 06 Sep 1984

System: Game & Watch (Panorama Screen)

Developer: Nintendo

Genre: Action

A remake of the "Mickey Mouse" game for "Panorama Screen" models of Game & Watch. Control Donkey Kong who moves left and right on a barrel to juggle pineapples while avoiding fireballs.  Nintendo seems to have prepared this game ahead of time for when their license to the "Mickey Mouse" characters expired, as the model numbers for the two games (DC-95 and MK-96) appear to be mixed up.

Donkey Kong Hockey

Release date:

JP: 13 Nov 1984 - ドンキーコングホッケー

US: 13 Nov 1984
EU: 13 Nov 1984

System: Game & Watch (Micro VS. System)

Developer: Nintendo

Genre: Sports

Mario faces off against Donkey Kong in a match of field hockey! Both players must hit the puck back and forth while avoiding the wandering referee. If the puck makes contact with the referee, he'll hit it back in the opposite direction!? GAME A starts a single-player game against an AI opponent, while GAME B starts a multiplayer game.

Donkey Kong Classics

Release date:

US: Oct 1988
EU: 1990

System: NES

Developer: Nintendo EAD

Genre: Action

A compilation that includes "Donkey Kong" and "Donkey Kong Jr.". Both games function basically the same as they do separately, with the only new addition being a new title screen where you choose between the two games.



Donkey Kong (Game Boy)

Release date:

JP: 14 Jun 1994 - ドンキーコング

US: 22 Jul 1994
EU: 24 Sep 1994

System: Game Boy

Developer: Nintendo EAD and Pax Softnica

Genre: Action

A more drastic remake of the original "Donkey Kong" arcade game. Mario must clear over 100 stages to rescue Pauline, who has been kidnapped by Donkey Kong. The first few levels of the game are from the original game, and if this game is played on a Super Game Boy, the border used is the same design as the arcade machine's bezel.

Re-Releases:

Game Boy Nintendo Power Service:

01 Mar 2000 (JP)

Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console:

15 Jun 2011 (JP), 16 Jun 2011 (US), 16 Jun 2011 (EU)

Game Boy - Nintendo Switch Online:

07 Mar 2025 (JP), 07 Mar 2025 (US), 07 Mar 2025 (EU)