Summary
- Donkey Kong’s influence in gaming shouldn’t be overlooked.
- Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for Switch is a fantastic remaster that maintains the original’s charm.
- Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is visually stunning and an excellent modern platformer in the series.
Donkey Kong doesn’t get as many games these days as other gaming icons, such as Mario and Sonic. However, the Ape’s influence shouldn’t be overlooked. After all, Mario debuted in the Donkey Kong series. Plus, various DK games have been influential to the platforming genre and gaming as a whole.
Related
The Best Nintendo Switch Games Of All Time
The Nintendo Switch has dominated since its launch in 2017, and now we have a vast selection of fantastic games to take on the go.
This is why he remains a famous character. His fame is helped by the fact that Nintendo still releases games featuring DK on the Nintendo Switch. Most of them are either remakes or ports of classic Donkey Kong titles. The following collection includes the best ones you can play on the console.
8
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
- Released
-
January 16, 2025
- Developer(s)
-
Forever Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
- ESRB
-
E for Everyone – Mild fantasy violence
The original Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii is one of the best Donkey Kong games ever, so it’s no surprise that the remaster for the Nintendo Switch is also amazing. After all, it doesn’t actually change much from the original.
The visuals have been improved, and it arguably feels smoother to play. What it has kept is the litany of entertaining and diverse levels that Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong have to make their way through.
7
Arcade Archives: Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong
- Released
-
July 31, 1981
- Developer(s)
-
Nintendo R&D1, Ikegami Tsushinki
- ESRB
-
e
The first ever Donkey Kong game from the arcade is available to play on the Nintendo Switch as part of the Arcade Archives series. It’s the classic game in all its glory.
This means that you play as Jumpman, who would later be renamed Mario, and attempt to save the princess from Donkey Kong’s clutches. You do so by jumping your way up to them while avoiding obstacles. As it’s a very old game, it feels a bit clunky to play. Yet, there is still some charm to this classic platformer.
6
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country
- Released
-
November 24, 1994
- ESRB
-
e
The Donkey Kong Country games are often considered the best to feature the famous ape. This all started with the original game, which also served as the debut of Diddy Kong, as he joined Donkey Kong on a platforming adventure.
Related
The Best 2D Platformers On Nintendo Switch
Get lost in these fantastic 2D platformers perfectly fit to play on the Switch.
When it was released, the game was seen as a big step forward for side-scrolling platformers. It’s easy to see why, as it’s still an excellent game today, due in part to its collection of unique and well-designed levels.
5
Donkey Kong Land 2
Donkey Kong Land 2
- Released
-
September 23, 1996
- ESRB
-
e
Like with the rest of the Donkey Kong Land titles, Donkey Kong Land 2 was originally released on the GameBoy. Yet, you can now play the title on the Switch, thanks to Nintendo Switch Online.
Because it was originally a handheld game from the ’90s, the visuals aren’t very impressive. The core platforming gameplay is still pretty strong, though. You play as both Diddy and Dixie as you complete levels similar to those seen in the second Donkey Kong Country game.
4
Mario Vs. Donkey Kong
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (2024)
- Platform(s)
-
Switch
- Released
-
February 16, 2024
- ESRB
-
E For Everyone
2024’s Mario Vs. Donkey Kong is a remake of a 2004 game. There are several differences between the two titles, but the core adventure is the same. You play as Mario, and you must save mini-Marios from Donkey Kong. So, DK takes the villainous role once again, like he did in his original game.
This is a very different game, though, as there is a bit more of a puzzle element involved. Yes, you still need to do the customary platforming, but you also need to use your brain a bit more in this one to figure out how to progress in each level. The result is a game that is fairly unique for both of the titular characters.
3
Donkey Kong Land 3
Donkey Kong Land 3
- Released
-
October 27, 1997
- ESRB
-
e
Donkey Kong Land 3 bears some resemblance to Donkey Kong Country 3 in terms of environments and themes. Yet, the story is a bit different. In this one, Dixie teams up with Kiddy Kong to find The Lost World before DK and Diddy.
Related
Every Game Boy Game On Nintendo Switch Online, Ranked
From Nintendo’s original handheld, to its current one, these are the best Game Boy titles on Nintendo Switch Online.
So, you play as Dixie and Kiddy across six worlds containing all sorts of platforming levels. Not playing as either DK or Diddy makes this title feel a bit different from most others in the series. Both of the protagonists in this game have some unique abilities that make them a joy to control.
2
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest
- Released
-
November 21, 1995
- ESRB
-
e
In the second Donkey Kong Country 2, Donkey Kong takes a backseat, as he’s been kidnapped by King K. Rool. Therefore, Diddy teams up with Dixie instead, forming a new dynamic duo.
Diddy is faster, while Dixie can jump higher, so they complement each other well, and you’re free to switch between them while playing. It actually serves as Dixie’s first appearance in the series, and she does a good job in DK’s place. It helps that the game is so polished and still feels very good to play.
1
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
- Released
-
February 21, 2014
- Developer(s)
-
Retro Studios
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
- ESRB
-
E For Everyone due to Mild Cartoon Violence
Outside of remakes, remasters, and ports, Tropical Freeze is one of the most recent releases in the Donkey Kong series. As such, it’s one of the best-looking Donkey Kong games ever. More than that, it’s generally just an excellent platformer.
The story of the game is that Donkey Kong Island has been frozen by some villains, and the Kongs must save it. Donkey Kong is the main playable character, but there are secondary ones that can assist him in his adventure. Plus, the Nintendo Switch version includes a new playable character named Funky Kong, which is a unique kind of easy mode, likely due to the high difficulty of the base game.
