Donkey Kong

Action Platformer Arcade Arcade

Released by Nintendo in 1981, this legendary arcade game is a milestone in video game history.

Emulator Arcade

Published 2025-12-31 21:48

Game Collections Donkey Kong

Language English

Game Details:

Donkey Kong was personally directed by the renowned producer Shigeru Miyamoto, and its design philosophy upended the shooter-dominated arcade market of its time. The game features a looping level system, with each major stage composed of four distinct single-screen levels: the slanted girders, the complex conveyor belts, the elevators, and finally, the rivet stage. Players must precisely time their jumps and make strategic use of the hammer power-up to fight back. As the levels progress, the trajectories of the falling barrels and the movement speed of enemies become more unpredictable, and its highly challenging difficulty curve made it a real "coin-eater" in the arcades.

Strategy Guide:

Jump Accuracy: Mario's jump distance is fixed, and you cannot change direction mid-air. Therefore, you must leave enough space before jumping. Especially on the first level when facing rolling barrels, try to jump vertically the moment a barrel gets close to you to earn a 100-point jump bonus.
The Hammer's Double-Edged Sword: Picking up the hammer allows you to smash barrels and fireballs, but you will lose the ability to jump and cannot climb ladders. While using the hammer, be mindful of objects falling from above, as it only protects a small area in front of and above you. Blindly chasing enemies will often get you stuck between ladders.
Ladder Baiting Tactic: Enemies in the game (like fireballs) have a certain tracking behavior. You can "bait" them into changing their path by moving up and down on ladders, thereby clearing a way forward. Remember, you cannot climb ladders that are not fully extended (broken ladders).
Key to Winning the Final Stage: In the fourth level, your goal is not to reach the top, but to walk over all the yellow rivets. It's recommended to start from the bottom level and clear the rivets one by one in a U-shaped pattern. Once all the rivets are removed, Donkey Kong will fall, and the stage will be complete. Pay attention to where the fireballs spawn and stay in the central area to make it easier to dodge to either side.