This July marks the 45th anniversary of Donkey Kong, which first hit arcades in July 1981. While Mario and Link often dominate the conversation regarding Nintendo’s most iconic IPs, the great ape has built a massive, multi-decade legacy that deserves a closer look. Despite the lack of a major anniversary event from Nintendo beyond the modest "DK challenge," the franchise’s influence remains undeniable.
From Arcade Icon to Global Phenomenon
In the early 80s, Nintendo distributed approximately 132,000 arcade machines globally, cementing the original game as a pillar of the pre-console era. While original cabinets are now rare, the 2007 documentary The King of Kong helped reignite interest in the competitive arcade scene, which remains active today through speedrunning communities.
That initial success paved the way for a massive financial run. To date, the franchise has grossed billions of dollars, with over 80 million games sold. This total puts the series ahead of other heavy hitters like Street Fighter, God of War, Metal Gear, Kirby, and Star Fox.
A History of Record-Breaking Design
The series is no stranger to scale. Donkey Kong 64 famously holds the record for the most individual collectibles in a game, with a count of 3,821. While recent data-mining suggests that number might actually be 2,142, it still dwarfs the 900 Korok seeds in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or the 900 musical notes found in Banjo-Kazooie.
The platforming pedigree is equally impressive. Across the Donkey Kong Country series—from the original SNES classics to the modern Tropical Freeze—there are 247 levels in total. These levels are home to some of gaming’s most memorable challenges, such as the punishing "Klobber Karnage" from DKC2 or the striking visual design of "Sunset Shore" in Donkey Kong Country Returns.
More Than Just a Platformer
Donkey Kong’s reach extends far beyond his own core series. He has made over 100 appearances in other games and films, including every title in the Mario Party, Super Smash Bros., and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series. He has appeared in nearly every Mario Kart game, with the notable exception of the original, which featured Donkey Kong Jr. instead.
His cameo appearances are just as varied. He serves as a secret boss in the Wii version of Punch-Out!!, appeared in Skylanders: SuperChargers, and has non-playable roles in Tetris DS and Paper Mario: The Origami King. Most recently, the character reached a wider audience via the Super Mario Bros. Movie, voiced by Seth Rogen.
As we approach the one-year anniversary of Donkey Kong Bananza—a title that stands as a Nintendo Switch masterpiece—the future for the franchise looks stronger than it has in decades. After 26 years without a 3D platformer starring the ape, the current era of the franchise is proving that the great ape is more relevant than ever.