All Donkey Kong Games in Order of Release

Video game history is flush with epic games and favorite consoles that hold fast to gamers’ hearts long after the final credit has rolled and the cooling fan gasped its last breath. There are few video game characters that have held onto the cultural zeitgeist as well as Mario, but another Shigeru Miyamoto brainchild can. Since the first incarnation of the infamous ape appeared on arcade cabinet screens hurling barrels at Jumpman – Mario’s original name – Donkey Kong has been a staple of gaming.

The King Kong–inspired Lord of the Jungle has been in nearly 40 original games with countless rereleases, and guest appearances to pad out his already bursting resume. From his first appearance in 1981 to his most recent outing, these are all of Donkey Kong’s adventures in order of release.

The original Donkey Kong (1981)

The original Donkey Kong was started out as a collaboration between Nintendo and the cartoon Popeye. When plans fell apart, Nintendo tapped fledgling game designer Shigeru Miyamoto to create characters to the three-character base. Taking inspiration from Popeye’s love triangle, Beauty and the Beast, and King Kong, they designed Donkey Kong, a not-so-creepy and mostly misunderstood gorilla kidnapper madly in love with a human woman. Though the game was originally only available to play through the arcade cabinet, its popularity demanded several remakes and it was rereleased in 1982, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2013.

Donkey Kong Jr. (1982)

Turning the established archetype of the first game on its head, the artist formerly known as Jumpman takes over the role of kidnapper. After defeating the original Donkey Kong, Mario imprisons the ape, leaving no other option but for Donkey Kong Jr. to rescue his old man. The game was just as successful as the first, spawning a tie in cereal and even landing its own Saturday morning cartoon. It was re-released in 1984, 1986, 1988, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2012, and 2013.