Play Donkey Kong [a1] Online

Game Overview

Donkey Kong on the Atari 2600 is one of those games that feels both nostalgic and a little rough around the edges—but in a way that’s weirdly charming. You’re Jumpman (yep, before he was Mario), scrambling up ladders and dodging barrels to save Pauline from that giant, grumpy ape. The graphics are blocky, and it’s missing a couple of the arcade’s levels, but the tension is still there when a barrel comes rolling straight at you.

It’s definitely simpler than the arcade version, but back in ’83, just having something close to Donkey Kong at home was kind of a big deal. The fireballs still mess you up, the controls take a second to get used to, and yeah, you’ll probably lose a few lives figuring out the timing. But there’s something satisfying about finally nailing that perfect jump past the last barrel before the level ends.

If you’re into retro gaming, this is a neat little time capsule—just don’t expect it to be as polished as the original.