The 10 Best Donkey Kong Games (That You Can Play on Your Switch 2)
It’s been a year since Donkey Kong Bananza smashed its way onto the Nintendo Switch 2, reminding everyone why Nintendo’s favourite ape remains one of the company’s most enduring icons. Donkey Kong first burst onto the scene in the original 1981 arcade game, before evolving with almost every new Nintendo generation. Now, with Donkey Kong 64 finally joining Nintendo Switch Online, I thought it was the perfect excuse to revisit the series and rank the very best Donkey Kong games you can play on your Nintendo Switch 2. There’s no time for monkey business, so let’s swing right in.
10. Donkey Kong Jr. (NES)
It isn’t every day that Nintendo makes Mario the villain, but that’s exactly what Donkey Kong Jr. does. After Mario captures Donkey Kong, it’s up to his son to climb vines, dodge enemies, and rescue his father in one of the most unique platformers of its era. Even today, the climbing mechanics help it stand apart, tasking you to carefully time your movements between vines and chains rather than simply running and jumping from platform to platform. While later Donkey Kong games would evolve into sprawling platforming adventures, Donkey Kong Jr. remains an important chapter in the franchise’s history. It experimented with its characters and gameplay, laying the foundations for a series that would continue to reinvent itself for decades. I actually owned Donkey Kong Jr. on the NES as a kid and spent plenty of afternoons trying to rescue Donkey Kong. I loved the climbing mechanics, even if the game was far tougher than I expected. I never made it very far, but it’s one of those games I still enjoy revisiting because it reminds me just how challenging Nintendo’s early arcade experiences could be.
9. Donkey Kong Land (GB)
At first glance, Donkey Kong Land looks like a portable version of Donkey Kong Country, but it’s much more than that. Rather than simply recreating the SNES classic, Rare built an original adventure packed with clever platforming, memorable levels, and all the charm cthat made the series so popular. It’s an impressive achievement for the humble Game Boy and shows just how much developers could squeeze out of Nintendo’s little handheld. This game holds a special place for me because I never owned a Super Nintendo growing up. I borrowed Donkey Kong Land from my cousin for a family road trip, making it the closest I could get to experiencing Donkey Kong Country. I can still remember clipping one of those magnifying lights onto my Game Boy when it started getting dark so I could keep playing. It wasn’t until the Wii Virtual Console years later that I finally got to experience the original Donkey Kong Country, but Donkey Kong Land gave me my first taste of the series.
8. Mario vs. Donkey Kong (GBA)
While most Donkey Kong games are all about swinging through jungles and stomping enemies, Mario vs. Donkey Kong takes a completely different approach. Trading traditional platforming for clever puzzle-solving, each level challenges you to think just as much as you jump, with switches, keys, and hazards all standing between Mario and his rival. It was a refreshing change of pace that proved Donkey Kong didn’t have to be limited to one genre. I think this game deserves a place on the list because it successfully expanded the franchise in a new direction without losing the playful rivalry between Mario and Donkey Kong. It also laid the foundation for a sequel dropping on the Switch just a couple of years ago. I do hope we see more entries in this series!
7. Donkey Kong (NES)
You can’t have a list of the best Donkey Kong games without including the one that started it all. Donkey Kong introduced the world to the barrel-throwing ape, a carpenter named Jumpman who would later become Mario, and Pauline, making it one of the most important games in Nintendo’s history. While it may seem simple by today’s standards, dodging barrels, climbing ladders and reaching the top had arcades and home consoles captivated. Donkey Kong’s arcade-style gameplay remains surprisingly addictive, especially if you’re the type of player who enjoys chasing high scores. It’s proof that great game design doesn’t always need to be complicated. Unlike some of the later entries on this list, I didn’t spend countless hours with the original Donkey Kong growing up. Instead, I’ve come to appreciate it more over the years, especially through Nintendo Switch Online. Sometimes it’s fun to go back to where it all began and experience the game that launched not one, but three of Nintendo’s biggest icons.
6. Donkey Kong ’94 (GB)
What begins as a faithful recreation of the original arcade Donkey Kong quickly turns into something much bigger. After the familiar opening levels, Donkey Kong ’94 surprises you with dozens of brand-new stages that blend platforming and puzzle-solving into an adventure that constantly introduces fresh ideas, and that’s exactly why it earns a spot on this list. It took the simple concept of Mario chasing Donkey Kong and transformed it into one of the Game Boy’s most creative adventures. It also paved the way for games like Mario vs. Donkey Kong, proving there was plenty of life left in the series beyond the arcade formula. For me, this is the most criminally underrated game in the entire Donkey Kong franchise as it took the simple concept of Mario chasing Donkey Kong and transformed it into one of the Game Boy’s most inventive adventures, yet it rarely gets mentioned alongside the series’ biggest names. Even today, I’m surprised there isn’t more buzz around such a fantastic game, especially now that it’s so easy to play through Nintendo Switch Online.
5. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest
If the original Donkey Kong Country laid the foundation, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest refined almost every part of the formula. With Donkey Kong captured, Diddy and Dixie Kong take centre stage in a pirate-themed adventure filled with inventive level design, memorable bosses, and one of the best soundtracks Nintendo has ever published. The addition of Dixie’s helicopter spin also brought a whole new dimension to platforming, making exploration feel even more rewarding. There are plenty of Donkey Kong fans who would argue this deserves the number one spot, and I completely understand why. Everything Rare learned from the original game comes together here, creating a tighter, more polished adventure that’s still regarded as one of the greatest 2D platformers ever made. The only reason it sits at number five for me is because of just how strong the games above it are.
4. Donkey Kong 64
From the moment Grant Kirkhope’s unforgettable “DK Rap” kicks in, you know Donkey Kong 64 is going to be something special. Building on the collectathon formula Rare had already perfected with Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong’s first full 3D adventure delivered huge worlds to explore, five playable Kongs with unique abilities, and enough secrets to keep players busy for countless hours. It was an ambitious step forward for the series and one of the Nintendo 64’s biggest adventures. What I love most about Donkey Kong 64 is its sense of scale. Every level feels packed with things to discover, and while collecting everything can be a challenge, simply exploring these colourful worlds is an adventure in itself. It’s a game that captures Rare at the height of its creativity, delivering a memorable journey that still feels unlike anything else in the franchise. I’m so glad Donkey Kong 64 has finally made its way to Nintendo Switch Online, because every Donkey Kong fan deserves the chance to experience this incredible adventure. Whether you’re returning for another playthrough or jumping in for the very first time, it’s a game that’s more than earned its place in Donkey Kong history.
3. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Donkey Kong Country Returns deserves enormous credit for bringing the series back into the spotlight, and with multiple versions now available on Nintendo Switch, it’s still a fantastic platformer in its own right. But Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze took that winning formula and ran with it, refining almost every aspect of the experience. With stunning visuals, incredibly tight controls, inventive level design, and a phenomenal soundtrack, every world feels packed with fresh ideas that keep you engaged right through to the credits. Every jump, barrel blast, and mine cart sequence has been carefully crafted, while each new world introduces memorable mechanics and spectacular set pieces that never outstay their welcome.It constantly reminds you why Nintendo is considered one of the best in the business when it comes to platformers. I loved Tropical Freeze when it first launched on Wii U, and I was thrilled to see it find a much bigger audience on Nintendo Switch. Even today, I still consider it one of the greatest 2D platformers ever made, and if you only play one modern side-scrolling Donkey Kong game, this is the one I’d recommend.
2. Donkey Kong Country
Few games have had the impact that Donkey Kong Country did when it arrived on the Super Nintendo. Rare took a character many people still associated with the arcade and transformed him into one of Nintendo’s biggest stars. Its groundbreaking pre-rendered visuals turned heads, David Wise’s unforgettable soundtrack gave the series its musical identity, and the vibrant world, colourful cast, and expressive animations gave Donkey Kong a personality that players instantly connected with. Rare deserves enormous credit for creating a game that brought Donkey Kong to the masses and redefined what the franchise could be. For me, this is where Donkey Kong truly found his identity. While later games would refine the formula, the original Donkey Kong Country introduced so many of the elements fans still love today. Barrel cannons, animal buddies like Rambi, hidden bonus rooms, and those unforgettable mine cart levels all combined to create one of the defining platformers of the SNES era. It wasn’t until the Wii Virtual Console that I finally understood what all the excitement was about. Even after all those years of hype, it completely lived up to my expectations, and it’s still one of the finest platformers Nintendo has ever produced.
1. Donkey Kong Bananza
It takes something truly special to claim the top spot in a franchise with more than 40 years of history, but Donkey Kong Bananza isn’t just the best Donkey Kong game I’ve ever played… it feels like the perfect evolution of everything that came before it. Nintendo took the personality, creativity, and sense of adventure that have defined Donkey Kong for decades and built something completely fresh. The ability to smash through environments, uncover hidden secrets, and experiment with the world around you creates a level of freedom that makes every area feel like a playground. Whether you’re exploring, searching for collectibles, or discovering a new transformation, Bananza constantly rewards curiosity and exploration. Bananza manages to respect Donkey Kong’s past while confidently moving the franchise forward. It doesn’t rely purely on nostalgia, but it still understands what makes DK special. It has the charm of the classic games, the creativity of Rare’s adventures, and the polish you’d expect from a modern Nintendo masterpiece. Even after finishing the main adventure, Donkey Kong Bananza continued to grow with the addition of the DK Island & Emerald Rush expansion, giving players another reason to return to this incredible world. This is hands down not only the best Donkey Kong game ever made, but one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 titles available today. It’s a phenomenal adventure that I can’t recommend highly enough.
With so many incredible games now available on Nintendo Switch 2 through modern releases and Nintendo Switch Online, there’s never been a better time to revisit Donkey Kong’s history or experience these adventures for the first time. Of course, this is my personal ranking, and I want to hear yours. Do you agree with my choices? Which Donkey Kong game is your favourite? Whether you’re a fan of the arcade classics, the Rare era, or the modern adventures, let’s celebrate one of Nintendo’s most iconic franchises together. Let me know your favourite Donkey Kong game in the comments!
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