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Donkey Kong Country
Action series started in 1994
The most influential part of the Donkey Kong franchise. This series was developed by Rare until the mid-2000s when they were acquired by Microsoft. From there, Retro Studios have helmed the series. This part of the series debuted Donkey Kong's modern design, designed by Kevin Bayliss, and heavily features jungle creatures and aesthetics.
Donkey Kong Country
Release date:
EU: 18 Nov 1994
US: 21 Nov 1994
JP: 26 Nov 1994 - スーパードンキーコング (Super Donkey Kong)
System: Super NES + Super Famicom
Developer: Rare
Genre: Action
Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong embark on an adventure to retrieve bananas stolen by King K. Rool and his Kremlin Krew. The 3D-esque graphics of this game created a huge buzz in the videogame scene. They were achieved by creating and posing 3D models, and then drawing those posed models as 2D sprites.
Re-Releases:
Super Famicom Nintendo Power Service:
30 Sep 1997 (JP)
Wii Virtual Console:
08 Dec 2006 (EU), 12 Dec 2006 (JP), 19 Feb 2007 (US)
Wii U Virtual Console:
16 Oct 2014 (EU), 26 Nov 2014 (JP), 26 Feb 2015 (US)
New Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console:
04 Mar 2016 (JP), 24 Mar 2016 (US), 24 Mar 2016 (EU)
Super NES + Super Famicom - Nintendo Switch Online:
15 Jul 2020 (JP), 15 Jul 2020 (US), 15 Jul 2020 (EU)
Donkey Kong Land
Release date:
US: 26 Jun 1995
JP: 27 Jul 1995 - スーパードンキーコングGB
(Super Donkey Kong GB)
EU: 24 Aug 1995
System: Game Boy (Compatible with the Game Boy Color)
Developer: Rare
Genre: Action
The impressive 3D-esque graphics of "Donkey Kong Country" are shockingly reproduced using the Game Boy's weaker hardware and monochrome screen. Despite appearing similar to the original "Donkey Kong Country", the level themes and designs are all new. Play as Donkey Kong or Diddy Kong through 34 unique levels.
Re-Releases:
Game Boy Nintendo Power Service:
01 Mar 2000 (JP)
Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console:
02 Apr 2014 (JP), 16 Oct 2014 (EU), 26 Feb 2015 (US)
Game Boy - Nintendo Switch Online:
22 Nov 2024 (JP), 22 Nov 2024 (US), 22 Nov 2024 (EU)
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Release date:
JP: 21 Nov 1995 - スーパードンキーコング2
ディディー&ディクシー
(Super Donkey Kong 2: Diddy & Dixie)
US: 04 Dec 1995
EU: 14 Dec 1995
System: Super NES + Super Famicom
Developer: Rare
Genre: Action
Diddy Kong and his girlfriend Dixie Kong go on a quest to rescue Donkey Kong from Captain K. Rool. This game increases the number of Animal Friends from the original game's 4 to 7, replacing Expresso and Winky with Rattly, Squitter, Glimmer, Clapper and Quawks.
Re-Releases:
Super Famicom Nintendo Power Service:
30 Sep 1997 (JP)
Wii Virtual Console:
16 May 2007 (EU), 21 May 2007 (US), 23 Oct 2007 (JP)
Wii U Virtual Console:
23 Oct 2014 (EU), 26 Nov 2014 (JP), 26 Feb 2015 (US)
New Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console:
24 Mar 2016 (EU), 06 Apr 2016 (JP), 14 Apr 2016 (US)
Super NES + Super Famicom - Nintendo Switch Online:
23 Sep 2020 (JP), 23 Sep 2020 (US), 23 Sep 2020 (EU)
Donkey Kong Land 2
Release date:
US: 23 Sep 1996
JP: 23 Nov 1996 - ドンキーコングランド (Donkey Kong Land)
EU: 28 Nov 1996
System: Game Boy (Compatible with the Game Boy Color)
Developer: Rare
Genre: Action
An adaptation of "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest". Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong go on an adventure to rescue Donkey Kong, who has been kidnapped by Captain K. Rool. The stage names and level themes are almost all the same as the original SNES/SFC game, but the actual level layouts are different.
Re-Releases:
Game Boy Nintendo Power Service:
01 Mar 2000 (JP)
Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console:
16 Apr 2014 (JP), 23 Oct 2014 (EU), 26 Feb 2015 (US)
Game Boy - Nintendo Switch Online:
26 Nov 2024 (JP), 26 Nov 2024 (US), 26 Nov 2024 (EU)
Donkey Kong Country 3:
Dixie Kong's Double Trouble
Release date:
JP: 18 Nov 1996 - スーパードンキーコング3 謎のクレミス島
(Super Donkey Kong 3: Nazo no Kremis Shima)
US: 23 Nov 1996
EU: 13 Dec 1996
System: Super NES + Super Famicom
Developer: Rare
Genre: Action
The adorable Dixie Kong and her baby cousin Kiddy Kong set out to the Northern Kremisphere to search for Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, who have suddenly gone missing. This game features Ellie and Parry as new Animal Friends, along with mainstays Enguarde, Squitter, Squawks and Quawks.
Re-Releases:
Super Famicom Nintendo Power Service:
30 Sep 1997 (JP)
Wii Virtual Console:
24 Dec 2007 (US), 25 Dec 2007 (EU), 21 Oct 2008 (JP)
Wii U Virtual Console:
30 Oct 2014 (EU), 26 Nov 2014 (JP), 26 Feb 2015 (US)
New Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console:
09 May 2016 (JP), 02 Jun 2016 (US), 02 Jun 2016 (EU)
Super NES + Super Famicom - Nintendo Switch Online:
18 Dec 2020 (JP), 18 Dec 2020 (US), 18 Dec 2020 (EU)
Donkey Kong Land III
Release date:
US: 27 Oct 1997
EU: 30 Oct 1997
System: Game Boy (Compatible with the Game Boy Color)
Developer: Rare
Genre: Action
An adaptation of "Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble", although the levels tend to deviate and be more unique than "Donkey Kong Land 2". Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong have suddenly set off to find the legendary Lost World, leaving Dixie Kong and her baby cousin Kiddy Kong to go and chase after them.
Re-Releases:
Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console:
30 Oct 2014 (EU), 26 Feb 2015 (US)
Game Boy - Nintendo Switch Online:
04 Dec 2024 (US), 04 Dec 2024 (EU)
Donkey Kong 64
Release date:
US: 22 Nov 1999
EU: 06 Dec 1999
JP: 10 Dec 1999 - ドンキーコング64 (Donkey Kong 64)
System: Nintendo 64
Developer: Rare
Genre: Action
In order to retrieve the golden bananas stolen by King K. Rool, players will need to use 5 playable Kong characters with different abilities to complete levels. Alongside Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, there's the nimble Tiny Kong, the stretchy Lanky Kong and the super strong Chunky Kong.
Re-Releases:
Wii U Virtual Console:
02 Apr 2015 (JP), 02 Apr 2015 (EU), 16 Apr 2015 (US)
Donkey Kong GB: Dinky Kong & Dixie Kong
Release date:
JP: 28 Jan 2000 - ドンキーコングGB
ディンキーコング&ディクシーコング
System: Game Boy Color
Developer: Rare
Genre: Action
A version of "Donkey Kong Land III" that's only compatible with the Game Boy Color but otherwise has identical content. This is the only version of the game released in Japan, while the West only ever got the original Game Boy release with colour compatibility.
Re-Releases:
Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console:
07 May 2014 (JP)
Game Boy - Nintendo Switch Online:
04 Dec 2024 (JP)
Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color)
Release date:
EU: 16 Nov 2000
US: 23 Nov 2000
JP: 21 Jan 2001 - ドンキーコング2001 (Donkey Kong 2001)
System: Game Boy Color
Developer: Rare
Genre: Action
"Donkey Kong Country" remade for the Game Boy Color, this game adds minigames that can be played via a link cable. This game also adds DK Sticker Packs, which are hidden collectibles that add stickers to a Sticker Book. These can then be printed off using the Game Boy Printer.
Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance)
Release date:
EU: 06 Jun 2003
US: 09 Jun 2003
JP: 12 Dec 2003 - スーパードンキーコング (Super Donkey Kong)
System: Game Boy Advance
Developer: Rare
Genre: Action
A faithful remake of the original Super NES + Super Famicom game. Two new minigames, Candy's Dance Studio and Funky's Fishing, have been added. This game also features a "Time Attack" mode and "Hero Mode" where only play as Diddy Kong without any Continue Barrels.
Donkey Kong Country 2
Release date:
EU: 25 Jun 2004
JP: 01 Jul 2004 - スーパードンキーコング2 (Super Donkey Kong 2)
US: 15 Nov 2004
System: Game Boy Advance
Developer: Rare
Genre: Action
The original Super NES + Super Famicom game remade, this version adds new bosses that are original to the GBA version. Much like the previous GBA remake, this game also features a "Time Attack" mode and three new Bonus Games: Expresso Racing, Funky's Flights and Bag a Bug.
Donkey Kong Country 3
Release date:
EU: 04 Nov 2005
US: 07 Nov 2005
JP: 01 Dec 2005 - スーパードンキーコング3 (Super Donkey Kong 3)
System: Game Boy Advance
Developer: Rare
Genre: Action
Based on the original SNES/SFC game, a ninth world called Krematoa and six Bonus Games have been added. Due to issues with porting the game's soundtrack (composed by Eveline Novakovic) to GBA, this game has an new soundtrack composed by David Wise, who was originally too busy to work on the original game's soundtrack.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Release date:
US: 21 Nov 2010
EU: 03 Dec 2010
JP: 09 Dec 2010 - ドンキーコング リターンズ
(Donkey Kong Returns)
System: Wii
Developer: Retro Studios and Nintendo SPD3
Genre: Action
To restore peace to the jungle and retrieve the stolen bananas, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong must chase after the Tiki Tak Tribe. For the first time in the series, this game supports two-player cooperative play, allowing Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong to adventure together.
Re-Releases:
Wii U Virtual Console:
21 Jan 2015 (JP), 22 Jan 2015 (EU), 22 Sep 2016 (US)
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
Release date:
US: 24 May 2013
EU: 24 May 2013
JP: 13 Jun 2013 - ドンキーコング リターンズ 3D
(Donkey Kong Returns 3D)
System: Nintendo 3DS
Developer: Monster Games, Retro Studios and Nintendo SPD3
Genre: Action
A Nintendo 3DS port of the Wii game "Donkey Kong Country Returns". A new world with 8 new levels has been added, along with two playable modes: "Original Mode", which plays like the original Wii version, and "New Mode" which adds an extra heart to your health meter and overall makes the game easier.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Release date:
JP: 13 Feb 2014 - ドンキーコングトロピカルフリーズ
(Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze)
US: 21 Feb 2014
EU: 21 Feb 2014
System: Wii U
Developer: Retro Studios, Monster Games and Nintendo SPD3
Genre: Action
After being blown away from his home by an ice dragon belonging to the Snowmads, Donkey Kong and his friends embark on an adventure across 6 islands. Partner up with Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong or Cranky Kong, who all have different characteristics that change the way you jump from platform to platform.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
(Nintendo Switch)
Release date:
JP: 03 May 2018 - ドンキーコングトロピカルフリーズ
(Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze)
US: 04 May 2018
EU: 04 May 2018
System: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Retro Studios and Monster Games
Genre: Action
This game is a port and largely has the same content as the Wii U version, but adds a mode where you can play as Funky Kong, who has a large amount of health, a double jump, slower fall speed and can breathe infinitely underwater. It's still possible to succeed and be funky, even if you're not good at videogames.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
Release date:
JP: 16 Jan 2025 - ドンキーコング リターンズ HD
(Donkey Kong Returns HD)
US: 16 Jan 2025
EU: 16 Jan 2025
System: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Forever Entertainment
Genre: Action
A remake of the Wii game, but the content is largely the same. The main changes are graphical improvements and changes to the controls. Motion controls are now back after being removed from the Nintendo 3DS version, but are now optional, as their forced inclusion in the Wii version was quite controversial.
