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8. Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (GCN)
The first 'mainline' DK game following the end of Rare's stewardship of the character, and an under-appreciated gem from director Yoshiaki Koizumi and the EAD Toyko team that would go on to make Super Mario Galaxy, Nintendo is at its best when it's doing something no one else would do — and a platformer you play with a pair of bongos is something you're unlikely to find elsewhere. Yes, you control Donkey Kong Jungle Beat using arguably the best/silliest official controller ever made. You can play with a standard GameCube pad if you want, but it's best to keep the neighbours awake with this one.
You move DK by hitting the drums or clapping, which is detected by the bongos' in-built mic, bounding through the 2.5D levels collecting bananas, bashing baddies, and building combos to score 'beats'. It's short, but brilliant fun and is superior to the (still excellent) Wiimote-controlled New Play Control! version because bongos beat motion controls. Always.
7. Mario vs. Donkey Kong (GBA)
Mario vs. Donkey Kong kicked off an entire series that pitted the plumber and the ape against each other for old times' sake. Originally, it was planned as a sequel to the excellent Game Boy version of Donkey Kong and this is the only game in the series that gives you direct control of Mario rather than his Lemming-like Minis. You still guide the Mini-Mazzas here and there, but for the most part you control the plumber in a lovely little platform puzzler which really carries the spirit of the original Donkey Kong with it. It's a good 'un, and there's good reason Nintendo saw fit to bring it back nearly 20 years later with a Switch remake.
6. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! (SNES)
Rounding off the Super NES DKC trilogy nicely, Dixie and Kiddie's adventure is still a pleasure today. It arguably can't quite reach the highs of the second chapter in Rare's trio of DK delights, but Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! looks better than ever and gives you some choice with a non-linear map to explore and options should you hit a roadblock on your adventure.
5. Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
Rare's first foray into the world of DK and his cronies. Despite the visuals not wowing like they did back in 1994, the template put down in Donkey Kong Country would influence every DK title to come. The redesigned DK looked brilliant, the music was incredible, and every aspect of the game demonstrated a stunning attention to detail. While not quite as polished as you remember, DKC is still a classic that should be tracked down and played — which is much easier now that it's included as part of the Nintendo Switch Online Super NES offering.
4. Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)
This revival of Rare's treasured Donkey Kong Country series came after developer Retro Studios had successfully reinvented Nintendo's Metroid as an exploratory first-person shooter, so we shouldn't have been surprised that the team was able to recapture the spirit of that 16-bit platformer series three console generations later with Donkey Kong Country Returns. However, just how good the 2010 game turned out still came as a big shock.
The 3DS port is equally impressive, but you really can't go wrong with whatever version you can get your hands on. When it comes to resurrections, it seems Retro is your go-to studio and DKC returned in fabulous form on Wii.
3. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Switch)
After beginning life on Wii U in 2014, we were treated to a 'Deluxe' port on Switch just four years later. Not the longest hiatus, then, but we couldn't wait to replay one of the best platformers we've ever encountered and the Switch version plays like an absolute dream in full HD. Looking and playing better than Donkey Kong ever has, veteran DKC composer David Wise returned with this sequel and caused us to have several 'moments' during our first playthrough. It was a glistening cherry on a cake so deliciously sweet we worried we'd lose a foot.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze isn't just a great platformer, it's one of the great platformers. Even if Donkey Kong isn't normally your thing, you owe it to yourself to give Tropical Freeze a go. It's totally bananas in the very best of ways. Any fan of 2D platformers simply has to get this game.
2. Donkey Kong (GB)
It's exceedingly rare that the echo triumphs over the voice, but if we had to pick between playing arcade DK or the Game Boy port, there's really no choice. Donkey Kong on Game Boy — Donkey Kong '94 as it's often called — is far more than just a simple sequel or port. After finishing the first four levels, you might assume that's it, but with over 101 levels in total, there's a whole other game awaiting you. In fact, it laid the groundwork for the gameplay of the Mario vs. Donkey Kong spin-off series.
Adding a metric ton of new features while still managing to keep the ‘arcadey’ feel of the original, the visuals and music are outstanding and complement this impressively expanded take on an icon. It's one of the Game Boy's finest games, and another wonderful portable title featuring Mr. D. Kong.
1. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES)
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (not Diddy Kong's Quest) is a beautiful secret-filled game with a gorgeous soundtrack that helps create an atmosphere that sticks in the memory. You end up returning to this simply to enjoy your surroundings and have 'that feeling' again. We've found this to be a feature of many Rare games and the second SNES entry in the DKC series is a prime example. Debate will rage as to which of DKC games is best, but this is up there with the very, very best.
Disagree with our ranking of DK's games? It was certainly tough to put together - especially in the middle. Let us know how you'd tweak it for your own personal ranking in the comments section below.
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Comments 48
Great list, that you also could recommend to newcomers.
Tropical Freeze is my personal favourite.
I hope we'll get a new Donkey Kong Country game soon.
I'd add the Mario Rabbids Donkey Kong dlc near the top. It's amazing and all DK
Top 3 is spot on, couldn't agree more
As much nostalgia as I have with the original DKC as my favorite, I’d say Tropical Freeze is technically the best DK game yet. Everything about that game is polished to a T. Gameplay, visuals, levels and especially the music are top notch.
I don’t understand why DK ’94 tops almost all the Countries. I played it and liked it, but I don’t think it should be so high compared to the Countries, and Mario vs. DK was actually the childhood game I have more attachment to.
DKC2 is definitely excellent, yet there are a few things I can nitpick. There’s random spikes in difficulty. I don’t like that we have to either beat the boss again or pay Funky banana coins just to leave a world. There’s no entirely underwater levels. Still a fantastic game, but I almost even prefer three. I love its northern mountainous atmosphere, Kiddy doesn’t bother me at all, it has actual underwater levels, and I can freely explore in and out of the world map. It might be basic compared to later games and the bosses are almost all just giant versions of enemies besides K. Rool, but when it comes to the overall presentation, I still personally prefer the original Country.
Donkey Kong Country 2 has never been beaten for me. I wish they had remade Donkey Kong 94 as it would look nice with some colour.
We need a new 2D Donkey Kong game.
Donkey Kong 64 11th yeah right. Such an underrated gem.
King of Swing is criminally underrated. It is in my top 10 GBA games, easy.
I want to love DK94, but I can't. Mediocre platforming and mediocre puzzling do not combine to make a great hybrid. As was said about Mario vs. DK in its recent review, DK94 is "fine."
@quinnyboy58 Yeah, too high.
For those of us with zero nostalgia for DKC2, is it really crème de la crème as I often see in Nintendo nostalgia rankings?
Where is Mini Mario and Friends amiibo Challenge?
I'll be honest, I've never played a DK country game. The only DK game that I have ever played was at the same time my first console game ever: DK64, and the nostalgia is huge with that one, I love it no matter what anyone says about it.
But I have been tempted to give Tropical Freeze a try for a long time, and considering how weak this 2024 year in gaming looks right now for all platforms, this may be the year.
If Tropical Freeze isn't the number 1 then its just wrong. Its the objectively best game. Probably one of the best games ever made. I rest my case!
Barrel Blast was called Jet Race here and honestly I didn't mind that game but my overall my favourite game here is to nobody's surprise Diddy Kong's Quest.
As long as number 1 wasn't DK64...the list is pretty good. I enjoyed the returns games a lot more than the country games. If you play them now I believe the snes country games just don't hold up anymore. I know it is sacrilege
I think we have to remove the nostalgia goggles because DKC Tropical Freeze is by far the best Donkey Kong game. It is actually the best 2D platformer I've ever played, and I've been playing since SMB 3.
DKC2 was very innovative at the time and the music is great, but the controls are a bit janky and unresponsive. You will also encounter some cheap deaths in some levels and the saving mechanic is very annoying.
This is what happens everytime with these lists. The top game ends up being whatever people are most nostalgic for lol
Tropical Freeze is easily my favorite. I do like the SNES games quite a lot, but both DKCR and TF are two of my favorite platformers of all time
Simple. The original Donkey Kong Country trilogy. Retro's entries aren't as inspired and controls are heavier.
As much as I love DKC2, for me the original is the best game. I reckon Tropical Freeze is the best of them all though.
It's a real shame we never got a new one for Switch. My only new DK experience this gen has been Arcade Archives DK.
It seems to be fashionable to hate on the new Mario vs DK for Switch, but no way is it a worse game than all of the Mario vs DK games that followed it (the minis games). And Barrel Blast and DK 64 should be a little higher on the list as well.
DKC 1-3 are THE DEFINITIVE platforming games of the SNES era. Yes, DKC2 trumps SMW, in my opinion.
Can't argue with number 1.
I had no idea Donkey Kong on gameboy was considered such a classic. Guess I overlooked it all these years assuming it was just a port of the og arcade game.
@Diowine it’s honestly the best platformer out there. Amazing challenge, the secrets levels are really hard but amazing if you manage to beat them. Except from the hidden levels you gain extra difficulty if you beat all the levels and can play only with a single king with no checkpoints. There is so much to do and the challenge is so much fun, that Tropical Freeze of s miles better to me than Mario Wonder, Rayman Legends or any other. I do t think it will be easily beaten.
Objectively DKTF is the best but i really wish they had gone for King K Rool as the nemesis. May just be nostalgia taking over but I just found the bosses a bit boring. For me tho the 3 DKC games are my top picks. The first one holds a special place in my heart as we were never a well off family with me being the youngest of 5 children. I bellyached for ages for DKC for christmas and i was told it was too expensive and would give me just 1 present. My parents along with my older brothers and sisters all clubbed together so i had it under the tree, along with other gifts. I remember crying and hugging them all. I was so happy that christmas. Now my parent are no longer here, every time i boot up a game with the ape in it i just think of that christmas and how lucky i was as a kid. Things we all take for granted until we get older,look back and wonder where the yime has gone. Kids and adults, never miss an opportunity to hug your parent and tell them you love them. Sorry for the life story 😂
@milliag Agree. I’ve been playing the Mario vs Donkey Kong remake and honestly at having a blast with it. Should be much higher on the list IMO.
@Kidfunkadelic83 Poor man, I send you a...
Wait a minute...
Kidfunkadelic83 wrote:
Personally, I'd put DK'94 at number one. It's the best DK game by a long shot. I'm also a little confused by the placement of the Mario vs DK Switch remake? Why is it so low?
@Znake great recommendation thanks. I have been looking for a nice 2D platformer Challenge for a while, something in the Celesteish style for example, or similar, and though Mario Wonder looks beautiful, the lack of challenge mentioned by mostly everyone made me look elsewhere.
@Diowine i can defenately say TF will challenge you, especially if your going for the collectables too. I remember having to step away from a couple of levels before i embedded my controller in to my TV😂
I'm glad to see DKC2 at the top. It's going on 30 years that it has remained in my top 10 games of all time, and I'm not a very nostalgic person. I've long since kicked out most "classic" games in favor of objectively better modern games, but DKC2 is like fine wine for me.
Even as much as I like the Retro Studio DK games, I think they pale in comparison to DKC2 (and even DKC3).
DK '94 is fun but overrated. I think that is an example of a game being highly rated due to very rose-tinted nostalgia glasses. I loved it back when I was 9 (when it came out) but returning to it now is a couple hours of bite sized fun that makes little lasting impression.
Tropical Freeze will be forever placed in my personal "Mount Rushmore" of platformers (and possibly games in general). That game never stopped being such a blast. It NEVER felt like a slog and/or "gotta get through this part so I can get to something better". It did such an amazing job of challenging me and making me pumped up for the next level. Once I 100% all the levels I was actually bummed out it was all over. And that doesn't happen very often.
The DKC games are all some of the best platformers ever made.
DKC2 is among the greatest video games ever created.
So the best game on this list only gets an 8.9 from users? I prefer lists made by people who know what they're talking about.
Nr one for me is still Tropical Freeze, and second the DK dlc for Mario Rabbids and third is DK country (og)
The right game won. Good.
For me, the OG Donkey Kong Country and Returns are my favorites, but all the Country series is great.
Haven't played the Mario vs DK games yet. I'll probably get the one on Switch at some point.
@Ganner Couldn't agree more!
No no no this is very bad list.
I always liked the first Donkey Kong Country better than the other two for the simple fact that you can’t play as Donkey himself in the sequels.
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but i found Mario and DK on 3ds as well as King of Swing to be excellent games, and ranking them so low seems wrong.
This list should have 1, perhaps even 2, more Donkey Kong games on it. Nintendo leaving Donkey Kong out in the cold for TEN years is absolutely the worst thing they've done this generation.
Switch has undoubtedly been a huge success by any measure, software included, but Nintendo's complete and utter mismanagement of Donkey Kong casts a significant shadow over it.
Jungle Beat has so much depth that most people probably never even scratched the surface of. It’s not a great game if you’re just trying to get to the end if the level, but if you’re a perfectionist trying to keep a combo going it’s arguably the best game ever with DK. So fun
Great list. I think you guys did DKC3 dirty, though. Fantastic game on par with DKC2 but probably less played due to timing vis a vis N64.
Tropical Freeze should be number 1.
@ManaOwls Tropical Freeze is such a fantastic game. The levels, the level design, The difficulty (it gets pretty dang hard but thats a very good thing for me it keeps me passionate about beating the game) and the music especially the Rocket Barrel stages omfg that Orchestra fast paced big band jazz that keeps getting more and more epic legit gives me goosebumps and the hair on my arms raise up. Just a fantastic game Iv been replaying it for the first time since I beat it on Wii U in like 2015 and just wow I need to replay this game atleast once a year. Its spectacular.
@Arcata Well sad and I wholeheartedly agree.
@Arcata Amen, brother (or sister or anything in between). Amen.
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