Two of Nintendo's early arcade games share one cartridge in Donkey Kong Classics, a 1988 NES release combining the console versions of Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. Both originally arrived on the Famicom in 1983, and this compilation made them easier to find for North American NES owners later in the decade.
In Donkey Kong, Mario, then known as Jumpman in the arcade, climbs girders and ladders while dodging rolling barrels to rescue Pauline from the giant ape. The NES version includes the barrel, elevator and rivet stages but omits the arcade's cement factory level because of memory limits. Donkey Kong Jr. reverses the roles: the young ape climbs vines and chains to free his father, now caged by Mario. Jr. moves faster on two vines than one and drops fruit on enemies below. Both games loop through their stages with rising speed, and the score chase is the main draw.
Tips for Donkey Kong Classics
In Donkey Kong, the hammer clears barrels, but you cannot climb while holding it.
In Donkey Kong Jr., grab two vines at once to climb faster, and use one vine to slide down quickly.
Drop fruit onto groups of Snapjaws for bonus points.
How to Play Donkey Kong Classics
Click Play Now to launch Donkey Kong Classics directly in your browser — no downloads or plugins needed. Arrows move and climb, and Z jumps. Shift selects the game and mode, and Enter starts. You can also connect a USB or Bluetooth gamepad for a more authentic feel.
Save states let you save your progress at any point. Create a free account to sync saves across devices. Press F11 for fullscreen mode.
Playing Donkey Kong Classics is easy: press "Play Now" above and the game starts right in your browser window. Our emulator handles everything — no extra software needed.
Is Donkey Kong Classics free to play?
Donkey Kong Classics is free to play here on RetroVault.GG. We believe classic games should be accessible to everyone, so there's no cost to jump in.
What console is Donkey Kong Classics for?
Originally a NES game, Donkey Kong Classics can now be played directly in your browser here on RetroVault.GG with no setup needed.
What genre is Donkey Kong Classics?
Donkey Kong Classics is a platformer game. It was made for the NES.
Can I play Donkey Kong Classics on my phone?
Yes, RetroVault.GG works on mobile browsers. Visit the game page on your phone or tablet and tap Play Now to start playing Donkey Kong Classics.