Play Donkey Kong Online Free for Game Boy.
Donkey Kong hits different when it boots instantly in your browser. Released on the Game Boy, this retro classic from its publisher is ready the second you press start — no downloads, no setup.
The player controls the Italian plumber Mario, who must rescue his girlfriend Pauline from the gorilla Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong, commonly referred to as Donkey Kong '94, is a 1994 puzzle-platform game developed by Nintendo and Pax Softnica for the Game Boy.
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| Action | Keyboard | Controller |
|---|---|---|
| D-Pad Up | ↑ | D-Pad up |
| D-Pad Down | ↓ | D-Pad down |
| D-Pad Left | ← | D-Pad left |
| D-Pad Right | → | D-Pad right |
| A | Z | Right face |
| B | X | Left face |
| Start | Enter | Start |
| Select | V | Select |
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The Story Behind Donkey Kong
It features the Donkey Kong gameplay with new puzzles and pre-rendered graphics. Donkey Kong was released in Japan on June 14, 1994, in North America in June 1994, and in Europe in September 1994. Parish wrote that Donkey Kong Country visuals made Donkey Kong seem outdated in comparison, compounded by the Game Boy hardware being regarded as obsolete.
Donkey Kong quickly became a bestseller for the Game Boy; in the UK, it was the bestselling Game Boy game between October and November 1994. It is often referred to as Donkey Kong '94 to distinguish it from the 1981 game. According to Parish, Donkey Kong "languish[ed] in obscurity on a fading portable system as [the franchise] was visibly redefined by an outside studio's efforts mere months later".
How Donkey Kong Plays
The player accesses levels from a world map. Cutscenes after boss encounters depict abilities the player will use to clear upcoming levels, after which the player saves their progress. The player jumps to cross platforms and avoid obstacles, and collects a hammer power-up to destroy enemies.
Up to three save files can be stored per cartridge. The journalist Jeremy Parish described it as partly a remake of and partly a sequel to the original Donkey Kong (1981) arcade game; it also incorporates elements from Donkey Kong Jr. (1982). The levels contain three collectibles (a hat, a parasol, and a purse); collecting all sends the player to an end-of-level minigame for extra lives.
Why Players Still Load It Up
Game Players, GamePro, Total!, and Video Games enjoyed the sound, which Game Players and GamePro described as nostalgic and recognizable, though Game Players said it could have benefitted from modernizing. Famitsu reviewers were less positive: one said the focus on puzzle-solving could disappoint players expecting the original Donkey Kong gameplay, and others felt the gameplay was too difficult with Mario's new abilities, which they found too complicated to execute within the time limit. Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) and Video Games: The Ultimate Gaming Magazine named it the best Game Boy game of 1994.
Donkey Kong received positive reviews from critics, who considered it a solid revival of the long-dormant franchise. While Game Players found Donkey Kong entertaining, they said it lost some appeal upon completion. Video Games called it addictive, Super Play favorably compared it to Miner 2049er (1982), and EGM and Hyper were impressed by the amount of content.
Donkey Kong — Frequently Asked Questions
Can I save my progress in Donkey Kong?
It does — with a free account you can snapshot the game at any point using save states, then pick it up later from exactly that spot.
How many players does Donkey Kong support?
Donkey Kong supports 1 player(s) in this browser version.
Can I play Donkey Kong online for free?
Absolutely. The full game loads in the player at the top of this page and runs right in your browser — no installs, no plugins, no waiting.
Do I need a controller to play Donkey Kong?
No. Keyboard controls work out of the box (see the controls panel), and any USB or Bluetooth gamepad is detected automatically.