Donkey Kong (Arcade)
Introduction
Donkey Kong is Nintendo’s original 1981 arcade platformer, the coin-operated cabinet that later inspired the NES home conversion, built around four distinct single-screen stages that each represent 25 meters of a construction site Mario, then called Jumpman, must climb to rescue Pauline from the giant ape Donkey Kong. The first stage has players navigating crooked girders and ladders while dodging barrels and oil drums hurled from above; the second sends them up a five-story tower of conveyor belts carrying cement pans; the third involves riding elevators while avoiding bouncing springs; and the fourth and final stage requires knocking out eight rivets holding up the platform Donkey Kong stands on, sending him crashing down and reuniting Mario with Pauline. Every element of the arcade original, from its scoring system to its now-iconic barrel-jumping mechanics, was built around the tight constraints of early-80s arcade hardware, yet its clear stage goals and readable hazards made it instantly approachable in a way many contemporaries weren’t. As Nintendo’s first true platformer and the game that introduced the character who would become Mario, the arcade version of Donkey Kong holds a foundational place in gaming history well beyond its own considerable commercial success.
Donkey Kong (Arcade)
How to Play Donkey Kong (Arcade) Online
Press Start Game above to load the arcade emulator, insert a coin with Select and press Start. The original Donkey Kong cabinet has a joystick and a single jump button, so the arrow keys and one key are all you need. You can check which key is jump, or change it, in Control Settings inside the emulator menu.
Controls
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| Joystick left / right | Walk |
| Joystick up / down | Climb ladders |
| Jump button | Jump over barrels and fireballs |
The Four Stages
- 25m, the girders: Donkey Kong rolls barrels down sloped girders. Jump them or smash them with the hammer.
- 50m, the conveyor factory: moving conveyor belts carry cement pans and fireballs toward Mario. This stage is missing from the NES version, so the arcade game is the only place to play it here.
- 75m, the elevators: ride moving platforms while bouncing springs fall from above.
- 100m, the rivets: walk over all eight rivets to remove them and bring Donkey Kong down.
Tips for a High Score
- Learn barrel behaviour. Barrels may roll down ladders at random, so wait at a safe spot until you see which way they go.
- Do not hold the hammer near ladders. Mario cannot climb or jump while holding it.
- Collect Pauline’s hat, parasol and purse for bonus points.
- Finish fast. The bonus timer is added to your score at the end of every stage, and when it hits zero you lose a life.
- Short falls only. Mario dies if he drops more than a small height.
History
Nintendo released Donkey Kong in arcades in 1981. Designed by Shigeru Miyamoto, it introduced Jumpman, the character soon renamed Mario, and became one of the defining games of the golden age of arcades. Its high-score race later became famous through the 2007 documentary The King of Kong. Play the home version in Donkey Kong (NES) or the compilation Donkey Kong Classics.
