Donkey Kong is a 1981 platform arcade game by Nintendo, designed by Shigeru Miyamoto.
Quick Facts
| Title | Donkey Kong |
| Year | 1981 |
| Manufacturer | Nintendo |
| Designer(s) | Shigeru Miyamoto |
| Genre | Platform |
| Hardware | Hardware details not documented in our records. |
| Ports | 4 ports, including Game & Watch, Coleco Home Console, and Famicom/NES — see Ports section |
History
Donkey Kong began as an attempt to salvage a failure. Nintendo’s American arm was sitting on thousands of unsold Radar Scope cabinets shipped over from Japan, and the company needed a way to convert that surplus hardware into something sellable. The assignment went to Shigeru Miyamoto, then a junior in-house artist working on his first major project, who pitched a game built around a licensing deal for the Popeye characters that ultimately fell through. Miyamoto adapted the concept into an original story instead, casting a giant ape against a carpenter trying to rescue a kidnapped girlfriend, structured across four distinct construction-site scenes.
The resulting game is widely credited as one of the first arcade titles built around a coherent narrative rather than an abstract scoring challenge, and it helped establish jumping-based platforming as its own genre. Donkey Kong sold roughly 100,000 arcade cabinets in the United States, a windfall reported at around $280 million that pulled Nintendo of America back from the edge of financial collapse. Universal Studios later sued Nintendo in 1982 over alleged similarities to King Kong, a case Nintendo won. In 2017 the Strong National Museum of Play inducted Donkey Kong into the World Video Game Hall of Fame, recognizing its lasting influence on the platform genre.
Gameplay
Players control Mario as he climbs a series of girder-filled construction-site stages, working his way toward the top where Donkey Kong is holding Pauline captive. Barrels, fireballs, and other hazards roll or drift across each stage, forcing the player to time runs and jumps across gaps and ladders to avoid losing a life. A hammer power-up appears periodically and can be picked up to smash oncoming barrels and enemies for a limited time, though it also prevents Mario from jumping while held. Points are awarded for jumping over hazards, collecting items such as parasols, purses, and umbrellas tied to Pauline, and for clearing each stage with time remaining, with faster completions earning larger bonuses.
- Climbing and jumping across ladders and girders to reach the top of each stage
- Rolling barrels and other hazards that must be dodged or jumped over
- A temporary hammer power-up that destroys obstacles but disables jumping
- Time-based scoring bonuses for completing stages quickly
Cabinet & Hardware
Specific board, CPU, and control-panel documentation for the Donkey Kong cabinet is not available in our records at this time; this section will be updated as verified hardware details are sourced.
Ports & Re-releases
| Platform | Year |
|---|---|
| Game & Watch | 1982 |
| Coleco Home Console | 1982 |
| Famicom/NES | 1983 |
| Game Boy | 1994 |
The Famicom/NES version helped make Donkey Kong one of Nintendo’s signature early console launch titles, and the game has since resurfaced in numerous compilations and digital re-releases on Nintendo platforms. Check the NES, ColecoVision, and Game Boy platform pages for details on those specific ports.
Where to Play Legally Today
- Official compilation and digital releases on Nintendo Switch Online and other Nintendo digital storefronts
- MAME, run only with legally owned ROM dumps from a cabinet or licensed source you own
- Arcade museums and retro arcade venues that keep a working Donkey Kong cabinet on their floor
Collector Value
Original Donkey Kong cabinets are among the most sought-after upright machines from the golden age of arcades, with well-preserved units commanding strong prices due to their historical significance as Mario’s debut and Nintendo’s first arcade breakout hit. Standalone PCBs circulate separately from cabinets for collectors restoring compatible enclosures, while early home ports such as the Coleco Home Console and Famicom/NES releases remain widely available and relatively affordable, offering a lower-cost way to own a piece of the game’s history without a full-size cabinet.
FAQs
Who made Donkey Kong?
Donkey Kong was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and manufactured by Nintendo.
What year did Donkey Kong come out?
Donkey Kong was released in 1981.
What genre is Donkey Kong?
Donkey Kong is a platform arcade game, one of the earliest and most influential titles in establishing the genre’s jumping-based mechanics.
Was Donkey Kong Nintendo’s first big hit?
Yes, Donkey Kong was Nintendo’s first major international commercial success, generating a reported $280 million windfall that helped rescue Nintendo of America from financial crisis.
Has Donkey Kong been ported to home consoles?
Yes, Donkey Kong has been ported to at least four platforms, including the Game & Watch and Coleco Home Console in 1982, the Famicom/NES in 1983, and the Game Boy in 1994.
See also the related Donkey Kong Jr. and Mario Bros. arcade pages, and browse the Golden Age of Arcade Games hub for more classic platform titles.
Sources
Facts on this page last verified 2026-07-15.