Donkey Kong cover art

Game entry

Donkey Kong

1981 · Platformer, Arcade · Arcade · Nintendo

Donkey Kong is ranked no. 1,017 among the best video games of all time by GameForever voters, with an ELO score of 1,579 and 51% of duels won. The pairing that comes up most often sets it against Portal: 4 duels settled, 0 to 4. In its strongest family it holds position no. 17 out of 155 (1980s).

World rank

no. 1,017

ELO score

1,579

Wins

51%

Duels played

161

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About Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong is not only Nintendo's first real smash hit for the company, but marks the introduction for two of their most popular mascots: Mario (originally "Jumpman") and Donkey Kong. The game is a platform-action game that has Mario scale four different industrial themed levels (construction zone, cement factory, an elevator-themed level, and removing rivets from girders) in an attempt to save the damsel in distress, Pauline, from the big ape before the timer runs out. Donkey Kong is also notable for being one of the first complete narratives in video game form, told through simplistic cut scenes that advance the story.

ELO progression

Score moved from 1,500 to 1,579 ELO points over the last 170 days.

Head-to-head

Direct record on the most played match-ups.

In the same genre

All Platformer games →
  1. 25 Super Mario Galaxy 22010 · Platformer 1,884
  2. 46 Super Mario World1990 · Platformer 1,871
  3. 48 Super Mario Bros.1985 · Platformer 1,867
  4. 75 Limbo2010 · Platformer 1,848
  5. 90 Cuphead2017 · Platformer 1,842

Keep exploring

All-time best platformer games Greatest Arcade games Best games of the 1980s Every Donkey Kong game, ranked

Around this spot

The games Donkey Kong sits between in the world ranking.

  1. 1,014 Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles 1,580
  2. 1,015 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat 1,579
  3. 1,016 Path of Exile 2 1,579
  4. 1,017 Donkey Kong 1,579
  5. 1,018 Project Zomboid 1,579
  6. 1,019 The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons 1,579
  7. 1,020 Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 1,579

More games from Nintendo

Released in 1981

The standing

Where Donkey Kong ranks

The world rank mixes every family of games. Here is where Donkey Kong stands in each of the ones it belongs to. Its best standing, all families considered: 17 out of 155 (1980s).

Where Donkey Kong ranks
Ranking Position Games competing
World ranking 1,017 5,035
Platformer 120 620
1980s 17 155

The community

The debate

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