Play Donkey Kong on GB Online

Donkey Kong on Game Boy came out in 1994, developed and published by Nintendo. It was one of those games that felt bigger than the hardware, a full reimagining of the arcade hit that took advantage of the portable's limitations in a clever way. At a time when many Game Boy titles were simpler or scaled-down ports, this one stood out for its ambition and depth.

You control Mario across more than a hundred stages, each a self-contained puzzle platforming screen. The goal is to rescue Pauline from Donkey Kong, but getting there means navigating obstacles, dodging enemies like fireballs and snapping critters, and using hammers to smash barrels and clear a path. The level design is methodical, often requiring precise jumps and timing, and the difficulty ramps up steadily without feeling unfair. It feels satisfying to solve each screen and see the next challenge waiting.