Items28The creator’s order
  1. 1Donkey Kong Bananza (2025)Donkey Kong Bananza (2025) 9.2/10 on IGDBReleased Jul 17, 2025Pick this if you want to see a ledge and decide to tunnel through the mountain below it. Donkey Kong can punch into the terrain and carry chunks away, while Pauline’s songs give him ways to get around that brute force alone can’t. This is the Switch 2 game to start with if the open-ended search…0
  2. 2Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2018)Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2018) 7.7/10 on IGDBReleased May 3, 2018Mine carts and crumbling stages feel best once you know when to keep moving. Pick the Switch edition if you want the option to slow down and learn the layouts. Funky Kong’s surfboard lets him hover and land safely on spikes, so losing one jump can stop costing you the whole run.0
  3. 3Donkey Kong Country (1994)Donkey Kong Country (1994) 8.6/10 on IGDBReleased Nov 18, 1994The original Super NES game is a good place to get a feel for how a roll carries into a jump. Donkey Kong and Diddy make different partners, and choosing when to switch changes the way a stage feels. Expect to lose the rhythm the first few times a mine cart comes around a corner.0
  4. 4Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (1995)Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (1995) 8.9/10 on IGDBReleased Nov 21, 1995Diddy and Dixie take the lead through a pirate world. Dixie’s spinning ponytail slows her fall, which gives you time to find a landing or steer toward something you nearly missed. Come here after the first Country if you want the detours and hidden rewards to ask as much of you as the route to the…0
  5. 5Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! (1996)Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! (1996) 8.0/10 on IGDBReleased Nov 18, 1996Dixie’s partner is Kiddy this time. The region map makes it appealing if you like revisiting an area after noticing somewhere else to go, and Kiddy’s bulk changes how you look at obstacles. This is a good choice when exploring for shortcuts and secrets is your favorite part of Country.0
  6. 6Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (2025)Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (2025) 8.2/10 on IGDBReleased Jan 16, 2025A good next step if you like the rhythm of the Super NES games and want a modern version to play on Switch. The HD edition brings together the Wii adventure and extra levels introduced on 3DS. The mine carts and rocket barrels keep the pace high, and a free update added Dixie as a playable option.0
  7. 7Donkey Kong 64 (1999)Donkey Kong 64 (1999) 7.4/10 on IGDBReleased Nov 22, 1999Play this when you are happy to spend a long time in the same world and revisit areas as different Kongs. Diddy’s jetpack and Tiny’s shrinking ability change what you can reach. It is in the Nintendo 64 Classics library for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members.0
  8. 8Arcade Archives: Donkey Kong (2018)Arcade Archives: Donkey Kong (2018) 8.3/10 on IGDBReleased Jun 14, 2018Start with this edition to see how much tension fits on a single arcade screen. As Mario climbs toward Pauline, you have to read the barrels and decide when to leave the safety of a ladder. It is good for short runs where getting a little farther feels like progress.0
  9. 9Arcade Archives: Donkey Kong Jr. (2018)Arcade Archives: Donkey Kong Jr. (2018)Released Dec 21, 2018Junior can go up faster with a vine in each hand, then drop quickly while holding one. The need to switch grips changes how you read a screen, and the reversal of having to rescue Donkey Kong from Mario gives the arcade sequel its own character.0
  10. 10Arcade Archives: Donkey Kong 3 (2019)Arcade Archives: Donkey Kong 3 (2019)Released Apr 5, 2019Play as Stanley for the arcade outlier. You use a sprayer to drive Donkey Kong upward and protect the plants from insects at the same time. Choose it if you would rather aim and react to a busy screen than work out the safest jump.0