We’ve done practically every other Nintendo franchise with at least 10 entries at this point (actually probably not even close, but whatever), it’s time for Donkey Kong! One of Nintendo’s oldest living franchises, Donkey Kong is still cranking out the hits. Sure, the franchise spawned the Super Mario games, which went on to become much more successful than the Donkey Kong games ever did, but don’t write off the big ape! There are many great Donkey Kong games in the Nintendo library to check out, maybe even more than you realize!

And hey, after you check out this list, why not check out some of our other top 10 franchise games according to Negative World? Mario, Metroid, Zelda, Kirby, Mega Man and more can be found here!

Exactly like last time you will see a few numbers in the header for each game in the list. The first is the average score (out of 10) for that game calculated from all member ratings, and the number in parenthesis is the amount of members who have scored this game (IE the amount of ratings that went into the calculation.) I only included games with 10 or more user ratings.

So that’s our list. If you’re wondering where Donkey Kong 64 is, it fell in number 12, behind Donkey Kong Jr. 12 might even be too high for that collect-a-thon abomination.

What do you think of our list? Agree, disagree? Why not sign up and tell us?

PS. Dear God what is this monstrosity?!


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That's a solid top ten. I got Jungle Beat from the bargain bin years later but didn't give it much of a chance before...selling it? I don't own it anymore, that's all I know. Kinda wish I'd given that another shot.

Retro did something pretty special with DKC Returns and Tropical Freeze, for sure. Actually, the team's success at making a great 2D platformer makes me want to see what they'd do with a 2D Metroid...

LOL DKC AT #6 WTF

Other than that, the list is fine. I'd have DKC at #4 at worst. I'd argue it and TF deserve the top two spots. DKC2 wasn't quite as good as the original IMO.

This is a good list. I'd rank Donkey Kong Jungle Beat a bit higher, but the top 5 looks good as it is. Donkey Kong '94 is surprisingly robust. I haven't beaten it, but it's a very fun game. I love how it opens up with the classic Donkey Kong levels and then pulls back the curtains revealing a much bigger game. It's a clever opening, and the levels are clever, too.

Donkey Kong Country Returns is fantastic, but Retro went above and beyond with Tropical Freeze. I think the leap Rareware made from Donkey Kong Country to Donkey Kong Country 2 is similar.

The top 6 are my top 6, slightly out of order. Would probably bump Returns in front of DKC 2. Jungle Beat versus DKC is a tough fight, depends on what mood I'm in.

The rest are pretty close too, though I'd take out Mario vs Donkey Kong and add in Minis on the Move. Probably replace DKC 3 with DK Jr. as well, love playing that in the arcades while I don't have much of a connection to DKC 3.

@Zero

DKC is such an important game to the Donkey Kong franchise that I would put it in the first half of my top 10. It's a great game, but I think it has been bested by Rareware themselves and Retro. I'd put Jungle Beat above it because it can hang with the best Donkey Kong Country games with its own style of gameplay.

I recently played DK: King of Swing and thought it was enjoyable. It's got a little Donkey Kong Country in it, but it comes up with its own fun take on the franchise. I'd put that game somewhere on the bottom half of my top 10 list.

I'd put Returns over DKC2, at the least.

Nintendo's embarrassing lack of a modern port of the original DK arcade game skews this Top 10. The NES version of Donkey Kong is not the same as the original arcade game. I suspect the original game would be a bit higher, if it was possible for anyone to actually put it in their collection and rate it.

Zero said:

I have a feeling that those without a Wii U are reading this thinking “What? No way is Tropical Freeze better than Donkey Kong Country 2!

I have a Wii U, and I can't believe Tropical Freeze ranked better than Returns, much less DKC 2. It is a great game though.

Nice top ten! The top 4 in particular are all magnificent, while 5 and 6 are great too. IMO it sort of falls off a bit after that, but all in all, that tie has been a part of some memorable adventures. My rankings:

10. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble
9. Donkey Konga
8. Diddy Kong Racing (EDIT: Looks like the top ten deliberately left this one out! Eh, I guess you could argue it's not a DK game)
7. Donkey Kong
6. Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat
5. Donkey Kong Country
4. Donkey Kong Country Returns
3. Donkey Kong ('94)
2. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
1. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Retro deserves special credit for keeping DK relevant and impressive in the modern day. Tropical Freeze is my number 1 Wii U title.

@kriswright

You can always get DK64 on the eShop and then play until the arcade segment! *cough*

I wonder if we'll even get another 2D DK any time in the future. I mean I'd be totally surprised if we had a third, and even a bit disappointed if Retro was "stuck" on that, but I also wouldn't wanna wait an entire generation or so for the next game.

Many years is too long, and any time soon is too soon :p

I had more fun with Jungle Climber than I did with any of those Minis games but, apart from that, great list.

I still have not played DKC2 or DK'94. I should sort that out.

Tropical Freeze is perfection.

@kriswright

I actually have the original arcade version of Donkey Kong on my 3DS.

Holy shit at DKC TF > DKC2. I mean... it's close, but DKC2 is untouchable IMO. DKC and DKC3 need to be higher up.

Trying for another hit like the Metroid list I see. ;)

Donkey Kong Jr above Donkey Kong 64 is a travesty. Heck, DK Jr above anything is a travesty. I'm glad I live in a much better age of gaming.

I don't think I could decide which is better between DKC2 and Tropical Freeze. Both are great games, but I feel they have different approaches to their level design that makes it tough to compare which is better. They also both have good music, but seem a bit different in style there as well. I don't see a point in deciding though, as it isn't like I can't have 'em both.

I own Jungle Beat but I don't have the bongos. I played some of the game and it seemed interesting, but, I felt like it was missing a little something using a regular controller. I stopped playing in the hopes I'd get a bongo controller sometime, but I still have not.

@Mop it up

Ouch, the Donkey Kong Jr. hate!

That's actually my favorite of the original trilogy, and one of my favorite retro games that I like to play...when I'm in a retro-like mood.

Oh, I am playing Donkey Kong 64 right now, all the way through, for the first time, and it is awesome. Collectathon, maybe, but it's still fun as heck.

DK Jr. is my favorite of the original trilogy, too! It was so much fun playing as a kid. And I did pretty well playing it in Chicago at the barcade! Or was that in Montreal? I can't remember!

DK Jr. is very good. It's similar in design to DK (arcade) but the levels feel more dynamic and intricate. I genuinely like it quite a bit!

Now DK Jr. Math, that's just nonsense.

I still think DK64 is pretty good, even though I made a Top Ten list of its problems. It's one of those rare (Nopon intended) games where it'd be noticeably improved simply by cutting more stuff. Because there're a fair amount of Golden Bananas that are good fun to get!

DK64 was one of the most disappointing games of all time for me, and there was no way I could admit it as a kid.
I just couldn't do with the awful atmosphere and music, especially compared to not only their previous games like Banjo, but the earlier DK games. Drastic step down.

Not to mention I always found the art and graphics pretty gross. Gameplay wise it was good I guess, but it felt wayyyy too fetch questy. I actually never played Banjo Tooie for basically all the same reasons. I forget if I even finished the game or not, I found it pretty forgettable.

Maybe if I gave it a chance today and ignored those expectations I'd enjoy it more.

DKC2 is amazing but I feel like it's a little too annoyingly hard. I kinda got stuck when I got it on Wii VC long ago, somewhere in one of the swamp levels. It's got a wonderful atmosphere and for better or worse, is quite drab. I think DKC had a better palette overall. DKC2 kinda feels like a brown shooter in comparison lol.

And I have barely played DKC3. Rented it one time when it came out and I didn't play much of it. Something felt very off when I played it. It seemed very generic compared to the two games before it.

@Super_Conzo
Whoa, wow! You haven't played DKC2??? Oh man, get on that ASAP! That's an uber classic with an amazing soundtrack!

@carlosrox One of the best soundtracks ever.

The version of Donkey Kong included in Donkey Kong 64 is actually the first time I ever played the game. I had some fun with it, and it's certainly one of the better arcade games around, but I'm just not a fan of "high score" type games.

@carlosrox Banjo-Tooie toned down the collecting quite a bit, it's my fave platformer from Rare and that's part of why. I'd suggest giving it a try sometime, if you have the opportunity.