Outside of Mario and Pac-Man, the ape mascot Donkey Kong is quite possibly the most well known and significant icon in gaming. This is thanks in large part to Nintendo's breakthrough arcade hit from 1981, which has since been ported to various consoles.

Though the hype surrounding this beloved gorilla saw a renaissance in the mid-90s, after Britsh developers Rareware came out of nowhere with one of the greatest 2D platforming series ever. Donkey Kong Country made a huge splash in the industry with its pretty aesthetics, zany charm, and smooth, appealing gameplay. The baton has since been passed to Retro, who's retained much of the franchise's former quality.

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With that said, let's take a barrel blast to the past as we take cover and rank each main entry in the enduring DKC series.

8 Donkey Kong Land III

This 3rd iteration of Game Boy's Donkey Kong Land series goes a touch beyond the first DK Land in that it fleshes out the gameplay and graphics at a decent level (for Game Boy). Yet, it has the misfortune of emulating one of the weaker entries in the franchise, Donkey Kong Country 3.

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It also somehow manages to feel and look slightly worse than its predecessor on Game Boy, despite coming out a year later. Many of the environments are uninspired, the gameplay has bouts of blandness, and Kiddie Kong is just as annoying to control as ever.

7 Donkey Kong Land

While the DKC series was taking off on the SNES, the Nintendo handheld space was still confined to the small, yellow and green box of the Game Boy. Enter Donkey Kong Land - a sort of archaic compromise to the more lavish, fleshed-out SNES platformers.

The DKC games would eventually be released closer to their natural state on GBA. Yet, for fans growing up in the 90s, this stripped-down version would have to do.

Donkey Kong Land feels somewhat distinct, but still retains some of that feel and spirit of the SNES games. And despite much of the experience being a carbon copy of the original, there are at least a few cool unique settings; particularly Big Ape City, pictured above.

6 Donkey Kong Land 2

This game might look and feel pretty "old hat" nowadays, yet in '96, it was actually pretty impressive, considering the old 8-bit hardware it ran on.

Much like the first DK Land, this sequel to the DKC spin-off mostly feels like a cheaper, more shallow version of its 16-bit equivalent. And while it adheres to its SNES counterpart a little too much (even more than DK Land), it's tough to complain given the quality of DKC2. Given the somewhat stiff controls and mechanics, the addition of being able to play with the more versatile Dixie Kong definitely adds value.

5 Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!

"Double Trouble" indeed - this platformer is something of a mixed bag.

This is the point at which Rare had somewhat overstepped on the gimmicky "bells-and-whistles" front. They toss in all sorts of weird, quirky elements like Kremlings using DK coins as shields, convoluted world maps, and annoying door-opening contraptions. The addition of the clunky Kiddie Kong is also a notable step down compared to Dixie and her hair-twirling flying move.

That said, the game still offers some innovative design elements, cool environments, and is chock-full of detail. At the end of the day, it's still a pretty good platformer - though series newcomers may want to start elsewhere.

4 Donkey Kong Country Returns

Much like the anticipated return of classic Mario with NSMB Wii, fans were overjoyed when hearing of the revisiting of this similarly iconic 90s platformer. Still, while Retro had fast built a nice track record with the Metroid Prime games, some were unsure how they'd handle this beloved 2D series.

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Thankfully, most of our doubts were put to rest. While this fun little callback doesn't always capture the spirit of the originals, there's still much to love about this Wii game. The colorful pirate-themed settings, the charming, innovative gameplay, and thrilling simultaneous co-op make this a barrel o' fun.

3 Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Switch)

Though this still falls a touch short when compared to the old classics, Tropical Freeze on Switch shines as the strongest version of Retro-era DKC. The performance is smooth, the vibrant HD visuals looks prettier than ever - and you can now play on-the-go, which fits the gameplay tremendously.

Not only do you have the amusing addition of the cane-hopping Cranky Kong, but you've also got the satisfying "Funky Mode." This more accessible mode allows you to plow through as the cool, shades-sporting ape, giving you a chance to kick back and really take in the rich surroundings.

2 Donkey Kong Country

This is the breakthrough that kickstarted Rare's rise to 90s glory, and helped redefine the 2D platformer, adding a cool, zany flair that's both detailed and accessible. There's a reason for DKC's success; it's still excellent.

Related: 10 Things You Never Knew About The First Donkey Kong Country

Sure, it may seem a bit simple now, but Donkey Kong Country's whimsical, laid-back style is part of what we loved about it. There's something joyous about charging with Rambi the Rhino through the lavish settings as you plow through Kremlings and reveal secret entrances. The game's presentation is on point - subdued ambient tunes, fluid animation, and gorgeous sprites that still largely hold up today.

1 Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

This is it - the best of the best, the coup-de-gras of the Donkey Kong Country series. Rare ran with an already successful formula and refined it to perfection here. The game has it all - deeper, more thrilling gameplay, more collectibles, imaginative new environments, and a host of cool animal buddies like a spring-loaded snake and a web-flinging spider.

The diversity of gameplay is consistently entertaining - ranging from thrilling roller coaster races to ominous graveyards. The graphics are prettier and more vibrant than ever, and the soundtrack is at its rich, melodic best.

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