Donkey Kong History

Pauline, Donkey Kong, and Donkey Kong Jr. pose with Mario, Luigi, and Peach. (Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten, 1994)

Pauline, Donkey Kong, and Donkey Kong Jr. pose with Mario, Luigi, and Peach. (Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten, 1994)

Donkey Kong reaches the end of Mini-Game Island and is greeted by Toad and a red Koopa Troopa. (Mario Party, N64, 1998)

Donkey Kong reaches the end of Mini-Game Island and is greeted by Toad and a red Koopa Troopa. (Mario Party, N64, 1998)

Rextro mentions that he has been waiting for his friends since 1997 - perhaps hinting at a connection between him and the dinosaurs of Dino Domain. His text box reads, "Since about 1997! Friends go to play on-a-line. Rextro sure they be back soon." (Yooka-Replaylee, Switch 2, 2025)

Rextro mentions that he has been waiting for his friends since 1997 - perhaps hinting at a connection between him and the dinosaurs of Dino Domain. (Yooka-Replaylee, Switch 2, 2025)

Redneck Kong stands with Donkey, Diddy, Dixie, Candy, and Cranky Kong, along with K. Rool and Krunch, moments before being selected for a race. (Diddy Kong Pilot, GBA, unreleased)

Redneck Kong stands with Donkey, Diddy, Dixie, Candy, and Cranky Kong, along with K. Rool and Krunch, moments before being selected for a race. (Diddy Kong Pilot, GBA, unreleased)

Mario prepares to throw a barrel back at Donkey Kong to rescue Pauline in the streets of Big City. (Donkey Kong, Game Boy, 1994)

Mario prepares to throw a barrel back at Donkey Kong to rescue Pauline in the streets of Big City. (Donkey Kong, Game Boy, 1994)

Donkey Kong encounters a balloon while navigating the rooftops of Big Ape City. (Donkey Kong Land, Game Boy, 1995)

Donkey Kong encounters a balloon while navigating the rooftops of Big Ape City. (Donkey Kong Land, Game Boy, 1995)

Yooka and Laylee encounter some familiar red girders while adventuring in the Royal Stingdom. (Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, Switch, 2019)

Yooka and Laylee encounter some familiar red girders while adventuring in the Royal Stingdom. (Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, Switch, 2019)

Pauline and Link gaze lovingly at one another following Donkey Kong’s defeat. (NES Remix, Wii U, 2013)

Pauline and Link gaze lovingly at one another following Donkey Kong’s defeat. (NES Remix, Wii U, 2013)

Mario navigates girders in Twilight City. (Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Switch, 2024)

Mario navigates girders in Twilight City. (Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Switch, 2024)

An homage to the level 25m from the original Donkey Kong game. (Slime-san, Switch, 2017)

An homage to the level 25m from the original Donkey Kong game. (Slime-san, Switch, 2017)

Dixie Kong about to enter “Red Wharf” a level named after the TV Show, Red Dwarf. (Donkey Kong Land 3, Game Boy, 1997)

Dixie Kong about to enter “Red Wharf” a level named after the TV Show, Red Dwarf. (Donkey Kong Land 3, Game Boy, 1997)

Funky Kong does a trick on his surfboard during his first visit to Hyrule. (Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Switch, 2023)

Funky Kong does a trick on his surfboard during his first visit to Hyrule. (Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Switch, 2023)

Donkey Kong Jr. begins the process of being turned into an eReader card. (Game Boy Advance eReader commercial, 2002)

Kartos, the minecart, speculates about his future while chatting to Yooka and Laylee in Galleon Galaxy. (Yooka-Laylee, Switch, 2017)

Terrified children react to Donkey Kong bursting through a wall. (Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D promo, 2013)

Terrified children react to Donkey Kong bursting through a wall.(Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D promo, 2013)

(Mark Stevenson, Playtonic Twitter account, 2017)

Yooka, Chunky Kong and King K. Rool race around Timber’s Island. (Mark Stevenson, Playtonic Twitter account, 2017)

Donkey Kong visits Lumiose City. (Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, 3DS, 2014)

Donkey Kong visits Lumiose City. (Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, 3DS, 2014)

Lanky Kong is disgraced in the DK Rap. We see him dancing as the words "he has no grace" appear on the screen. (Donkey Kong 64, N64, 1999)

Lanky Kong is disgraced in the DK Rap. (Donkey Kong 64, N64, 1999)

Diddy appears to ride on Donkey Kong’s back, much as he would regularly do in the future. It's the level Elevator Antics, and the two of them are on a platform moving downwards, which creates the illusion that Diddy is on Donkey's back. (Donkey Kong Country, SNES, 1994)

Diddy appears to ride on Donkey Kong’s back, much as he would regularly do in the future. (Donkey Kong Country, SNES, 1994)

Donkey Kong experiences a fit of uncontrollable laughter at the notion of fighting Cat Mario. (The Super Mario Bros. Movie, 2023)

Donkey Kong experiences a fit of uncontrollable laughter at the notion of fighting Cat Mario. (The Super Mario Bros. Movie, 2023)

Donkey Kong Jr. (in his SNES form) ready to race. Above a picture of Donkey Kong Jr. (SNES) there is text that says "High-End!" and "Got it!" and beneath him there is his name, followed by information about Triple Bananas, his favoured item, that says "Triples bananas provide a worth shield... or ammo to lob at opponents." (Mario Kart Tour, Mobile, 2020)

Donkey Kong Jr. (in his SNES form) ready to race. (Mario Kart Tour, Mobile, 2020)

Mario, Donkey Kong, and Donkey Kong Jr. watch Glass Joe in a boxing match. (Punch-Out!!, Arcade, 1984)

Mario, Donkey Kong, and Donkey Kong Jr. watch Glass Joe in a boxing match. (Punch-Out!!, Arcade, 1984)

Gruntilda makes reference to Donkey Kong during her battle with Banjo and Kazooie at the top of Cauldron Keep, asking the question "Who is on the front of the Banjo-Tooie box?" with the answers being "Banjo, Kazooie, and Donkey Kong" (which is currently selected), "Banjo, Kazooie, and Gruntilda" and "Banjo, Kazooie, and Mumbo". (Banjo-Tooie, N64, 2000)

Gruntilda makes reference to Donkey Kong during her battle with Banjo and Kazooie at the top of Cauldron Keep. (Banjo-Tooie, N64, 2000)

Krunch the Kremling experiences fear moments before Banjo flies a plane into his face. (Diddy Kong Racing, N64, 1997)

A Goomba prepares to fire Bullet Bills at Donkey Kong as the Koopa Troop steals his Banana Hoard. (Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Wii, 2008)

A Goomba prepares to fire Bullet Bills at Donkey Kong as the Koopa Troop steals his Banana Hoard. (Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Wii, 2008)

Badges based on Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Wario, Waluigi, Daisy, a DK Barrel, a regular barrel, a single banana, and a bunch of bananas. (Nintendo Badge Arcade, 3DS, 2015)

Badges based on Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Wario, Waluigi, Daisy, a DK Barrel, a regular barrel, a single banana, and a bunch of bananas. (Nintendo Badge Arcade, 3DS, 2015)

Donkey Kong and Pauline hang out with Squawks near one of his old Animal Buddy crates. (Donkey Kong Bananza, Switch 2, 2025)

Donkey Kong and Pauline hang out with Squawks near one of his old Animal Buddy crates. (Donkey Kong Bananza, Switch 2, 2025)

Dixie finds Donkey Kong tied up at the top of K. Rool’s Keep. (Donkey Kong Land 2, Game Boy, 1996)

Dixie finds Donkey Kong tied up at the top of K. Rool’s Keep. (Donkey Kong Land 2, Game Boy, 1996)

Pauline walks around in a boxed off area while Mario carries a pabel over his head to break her free using a pinball. Unfortunately, the ball has fallen to the ground. (Pinball, NES, 1984)

Mario failing to rescue Pauline inside a giant pinball machine. (Pinball, NES, 1984)

Gnawty standing with a Jiggy in his home. (Banjo-Kazooie, N64, 1998)

Gnawty standing with a Jiggy in his home. (Banjo-Kazooie, N64, 1998)