Over the past three weeks, Nintendo has been steadily rolling out the Donkey Kong Land trilogy for Nintendo Switch Online, bringing the classic handheld classics to the Nintendo Switch for the first time. Lucky for us, last night’s addition of Donkey Kong Land 3 officially completes the trilogy with all three titles officially available!
Donkey Kong Land 3 available on Nintendo Switch Online – Here’s how you can play it in color
With the Game Boy trilogy officially complete, Donkey Kong fans now have access to a treasure trove of DK adventures on Nintendo Switch Online. This includes Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest, and Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble! It’s an incredible lineup, but a few key titles are still sadly missing from the service. Let’s take a closer look at two fan favorites we’re hoping Nintendo adds soon — starting with one of my all-time favorite Nintendo 64 games: Donkey Kong 64.
For those unfamiliar, Donkey Kong 64 is a 3D platforming adventure that swung onto the Nintendo 64 back in 1999. Developed by Rare, this game follows the DK Crew: Donkey Kong, Diddy, Tiny, Lanky, and Chunky. Like the Banjo-Kazooie series, DK64 is a collect-a-thon filled with hundreds of items to gather. However, DK64 added its own unique twist by requiring players to swap between characters to solve puzzles and collect items specific to each member of the DK Crew. While some found this mechanic frustrating, fans of the collect-a-thon like me thought it was a little slice of heaven!
For years, fans worried DK64 might never appear on the service due to Rare now being owned by Microsoft. However, several Rare titles have made it to the Switch over the past year, giving us some hope that Donkey Kong 64 could follow suit. I mean, come on! It was on the Wii U!
But let’s not forget another often-overlooked gem missing from Nintendo Switch Online: Donkey Kong for Game Boy, affectionately known as Donkey Kong 94.
At first glance, Donkey Kong 94 might look like a simple port of the classic arcade game. But once you dive in, you’ll quickly realize it’s so much more. The game starts with familiar arcade-style levels, complete with ladders to climb and Pauline to save. But after those early stages, Donkey Kong 94 transforms into a sprawling puzzle-platformer. Mario gains new moves, including higher jumps, acrobatics, and the ability to swing from bars, carry items, and solve intricate, time-based puzzles. With over 100 levels, the game offers an expansive and challenging experience.
Many consider Donkey Kong 94 the precursor to the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, sharing its puzzle-focused gameplay but without the minis. It’s a massive, innovative title that deserves a spot on Nintendo Switch Online.
Adding Donkey Kong 64 and Donkey Kong 94 would make Nintendo Switch Online the ultimate hub for every classic Donkey Kong adventure. So, come on, Nintendo — let’s make this a true Donkey Kong December!
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Written by Jason Ganos
Nintendo super fan since birth, Jason is the creator of Amiibo News and editor-in-chief at Nintendo Wire. One of his life goals is to provide the latest Nintendo news to fellow gamers with his natural know-how.
