Donkey Kong
Nintendo ARCADE PLATFORMER — Shigeru Miyamoto, 1981. Player controls JUMPMAN (later MARIO) climbing girders + ladders to rescue LADY (Pauline) from DONKEY KONG. Introduces MARIO to world; establishes PLATFORMER genre; sparks Nintendo's video game empire. Famous 'Kill Screen' at Level 22. Iconic speedrun/high-score competitive scene (Billy Mitchell + Steve Wiebe rivalry documented in 'The King of Kong' 2007).
What is Donkey Kong?
Donkey Kong is NINTENDO ARCADE PLATFORMER — designed by SHIGERU MIYAMOTO, released JULY 1981 in Japan. NINTENDO'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS + one of most historically important video games. Introduces MARIO (called 'Jumpman' originally) to world. Also introduces DONKEY KONG + PAULINE (originally 'Lady'). GAMEPLAY: player controls JUMPMAN climbing 4 distinct LEVELS to rescue LADY from DONKEY KONG (giant ape). Levels: (1) BARREL GIRDERS — climbing girders while Kong throws barrels; (2) CEMENT PIES — moving up conveyor belts; (3) ELEVATORS — jumping between moving platforms; (4) RIVETS — removing rivets from structure to make Kong fall. Boards LOOP with increasing difficulty. AT LEVEL 22 (M22) = KILL SCREEN — game essentially becomes unplayable due to code bug: player dies after ~4 seconds of game start. World record scores approach kill screen but cannot exceed. HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE: (1) Launched Nintendo's video game business; (2) Introduced Mario (later best-selling game character ever); (3) Introduced PLATFORMER GENRE (jumping + climbing); (4) Nintendo's first STORY-DRIVEN game; (5) Established DAMSEL RESCUE narrative template. LEGAL BATTLE: Universal Studios sued Nintendo 1982 claiming Donkey Kong infringed KING KONG — Nintendo WON (Universal didn't own King Kong copyright). COMPETITIVE SCENE: THE KING OF KONG (2007 documentary) chronicled BILLY MITCHELL (arcade legend claiming perfect scores) vs STEVE WIEBE (physical education teacher chasing WR) — one of most famous video game rivalries. Records disputed, records set/broken repeatedly. WORLD RECORD: 1,272,000+ pts (multiple holders). Direct sequels: DK JR. 1982, DK 3 1983, DONKEY KONG COUNTRY 1994 SNES, DKC RETURNS 2010.
Quick facts
Category
Video Games
Type
Individual
Players
1–2
Duration
~45 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
arcade cabinet or emulator
Country of origin
🇯🇵 Japan
Estimated origin
July 1981 (Japan release); designed by Shigeru Miyamoto; failed pinball prototype rescued Nintendo's US arcade division
Olympic
No
Popularity
global
How it works
Objective
Rescue Lady (Pauline) from Donkey Kong through 4 levels; maximize score across looping levels.
Rules
Basic rules
Move JUMPMAN (Mario) left/right + climb ladders
Jump over obstacles + barrels.
4 DIFFERENT LEVELS: barrels, cement pies, elevators, rivets
Each has unique layout + hazards.
Complete level by reaching top (Lady) or removing all rivets
Save Lady each round; Kong grabs her again + next round.
Bonus items (parasol, hat, purse) for extra points
Various point values.
HAMMER pickup temporarily lets Mario destroy barrels
Strategic use.
3 LIVES; extra life at 7000 pts (some versions)
Standard arcade lives system.
LEVEL 22 = KILL SCREEN (game code bug)
Game essentially ends here; world record capped at ~1.2M+ pts.
Scoring
Maximize score across looping levels; kill screen at Level 22.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Barrel jumped over | 100 pts |
| Hammer destruction of barrel | 800 pts |
| Bonus item (parasol, hat, purse) | 300-800 pts |
| Rivet removed | 300 pts (level 4) |
| Level complete | Bonus points remaining (up to 5000 pts) |
| Kill screen | Cannot exceed; game unplayable |
| Verified world records | 1,272,000+ pts (Billy Mitchell, Steve Wiebe, others) |
Win condition · No natural end — maximize score until level 22 kill screen or losing all lives.
Playing area
Called
arcade cabinet or emulator
Dimensions
1 screen per level; 4 distinct level layouts
Vertical platforming layouts with girders, ladders, obstacles.
Equipment
Original arcade cabinet (collectible: $2000-15000)
Historic hardware; rare + valuable.
Home port versions (NES 1986, GBA, Nintendo Classic Mini, Nintendo Switch Online)
€0-30 various Nintendo platforms
Emulators (MAME) for modern PC play
Free
Strategies
Barrel timing — jump early vs late affects survival
Kong's barrel throw pattern predictable but requires precise timing.
HAMMER use — smash barrels for 800 pts but can't jump while wielding
Risk/reward decision.
Bonus item collection route optimization
Detour for high-value bonuses when possible.
Rivet level (level 4) — plan optimal rivet removal route
Kong follows player + rivet removal timing matters.
Approach kill screen — final 30 seconds of world record attempts extremely tense
Score maximization before unplayable Level 22.
Terminology
- Donkey Kong
- Giant ape antagonist; game title.
- Jumpman
- Original name of Mario in Donkey Kong (before renamed Mario in DK Jr., after Nintendo's US warehouse landlord).
- Pauline / Lady
- Damsel character; introduced with Mario.
- Kill screen
- Level 22 game-ending bug.
- King of Kong
- 2007 documentary; iconic Donkey Kong subculture film.
Major competitions
Twin Galaxies-verified world record submissions
ongoing · worldwide · since 1981
The King of Kong (2007 documentary event coverage)
historical · USA · since 2005
Kong Off tournaments (Portland, Oregon)
annual · USA · since 2011
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Twin Galaxies (video game record verification)
Founded 1981 · USA
Official site ↗Guinness World Records (video game categories)
Founded 1955 · UK
Nintendo (game developer + publisher)
Founded 1889 · Kyoto, Japan
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Billy Mitchell (US) — Multiple claimed world records (disputed history)
- Steve Wiebe (US) — 'King of Kong' documentary protagonist; verified world record holder
- Wes Copeland (US) — Multiple verified world records (2010s)
- Robbie Lakeman (US) — Current world record holder (2020s)
- Hank Chien (US) — Multiple verified world records
- Shigeru Miyamoto (Japan) — Original designer
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Play Donkey Kong on Nintendo platform — Switch Online, NES Classic, or emulator
Nintendo re-releases regularly.
- 2
Learn 4 level patterns
Understand each level's rhythm.
intermediate
- 1
Study King of Kong documentary + world record videos
Learn from champions' techniques.
- 2
Practice consistent 200,000+ pt games
Solid intermediate performance.
advanced
- 1
Attempt to reach Level 22 (kill screen)
Requires perfect play across many looping levels.
- 2
Submit verified performance to Twin Galaxies
Official world record ratification.
- 3
Attend Kong Off tournaments (Portland, Oregon)
Live competitive scene.
Frequently asked
What is Donkey Kong?+
NINTENDO ARCADE PLATFORMER — Shigeru Miyamoto, 1981. Player controls JUMPMAN (later MARIO) climbing 4 different levels (girders, cement pies, elevators, rivets) to rescue LADY (Pauline) from DONKEY KONG. Introduced MARIO to world. Established PLATFORMER GENRE. Launched Nintendo's video game empire (Nintendo previously toy + card company). Famous KILL SCREEN at LEVEL 22 (code bug). Competitive scene documented in THE KING OF KONG (2007 documentary) — Billy Mitchell vs Steve Wiebe rivalry. Current world record ~1.2M+ pts.
How did Donkey Kong launch Nintendo's video game empire?+
Before Donkey Kong (1981), NINTENDO was CARD + TOY company + failed video game supplier. Nintendo's US warehouse had UNSOLD RADAR SCOPE arcade cabinets. Miyamoto was given task of REPURPOSING those cabinets — designed DONKEY KONG using existing hardware. Game became MASSIVE HIT ($100M+ in first 2 years). Nintendo used Donkey Kong profits to invest in HOME CONSOLE market (Famicom/NES 1983-85). Mario (introduced in DK as 'Jumpman') became BEST-SELLING VIDEO GAME CHARACTER EVER via Super Mario Bros. (1985) + subsequent decades. Directly: DONKEY KONG SAVED NINTENDO.
What is the 'Kill Screen' in Donkey Kong?+
LEVEL 22 (M22) contains CODE BUG that gives player only ~4 SECONDS of TIME BONUS at level start. Player dies rapidly. Cannot complete Level 22. This effectively CAPS possible world record scores. Reaching kill screen was long-standing goal — proves player can consistently clear 21 levels. Billy Mitchell claimed FIRST kill screen 1982; Steve Wiebe famously reached it in 2003 (chronicled in KING OF KONG). Modern world records include multiple kill-screen playthroughs pushing score toward theoretical maximum ~1.3M pts. Kill screen is unique cultural marker of elite Donkey Kong play.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Donkey Kong— Wikipedia
- Nintendo — Donkey Kong— Nintendo