Nintendo's barrel-throwing ape, from the 1981 arcade classic to tight 2D platformers and a brand-new 3D adventure.
The best 2D Donkey Kong ever made and it runs on Switch — gorgeous, inventive, and the ideal place to begin.
Retro Studios' 2014 masterpiece (re-released on Switch in 2018): the most beautiful and inventive 2D Donkey Kong, with brilliant level design.
2 releases & editions
The 2025 Switch remaster of Country Returns, with updated visuals and a more forgiving Modern mode.
A polished Switch remaster of the great 2010 platformer — the easiest way into classic-style DK after Tropical Freeze.
The 2025 Switch 2 game and Donkey Kong's first full 3D adventure since 1999: smash through fully destructible worlds with earth-shattering punches.
DK's first 3D adventure in 25 years and a Switch 2 showpiece — the modern, full-3D take if you have the hardware.
The SNES classic that reinvented Donkey Kong as a fast, beautiful jungle platformer and made the series a household name.
The 1994 game that redefined the series and stunned players with its pre-rendered look — still a great play and easy to access on Switch Online.
6 releases & editions
The fan-favorite sequel, starring Diddy and Dixie Kong, with sharper level design and one of gaming's most beloved soundtracks.
Widely considered the high point of the SNES trilogy — play it right after the first if you enjoy that one.
6 releases & editions
The single-screen arcade game that started everything — vital history, but not how you'd want to spend your first hours with the series.
A clever role-reversal sequel, but another single-screen arcade game best visited for curiosity.
A brilliant hidden gem, but it's a 1994 Game Boy title that's awkward to access today — save it for when you're a fan.
The third SNES entry is strong but a step behind the first two — play it once you've fallen for the series.
A beloved N64 kart racer, but a spin-off — come back once you've played the platformers.
A huge N64 collect-a-thon that has aged unevenly — fascinating for fans, but a tough first impression.
A rhythm spin-off that needs a special bongo controller — a fun curiosity, not a starting point.
A wild, cult-favorite platformer originally controlled with bongos — worth seeking out once you love DK.
The start of a long puzzle spin-off series — fun, but a different style from the main platformers.
A polished Switch remake of the GBA puzzler — pleasant, but still a side dish to the main platformers.