<P> The games of the first genre are mostly single - screen platform / action puzzle types , featuring Donkey Kong as the opponent in an industrial construction setting . Donkey Kong first made his appearance in the 1981 arcade machine called Donkey Kong , in which he faced Mario , now Nintendo 's flagship character . This game was also the first appearance of Mario , pre-dating the well - known Super Mario Bros. by four years . In 1994 , the series was revived as the Donkey Kong Country series , featuring Donkey Kong and his clan as protagonists in their native jungle setting versus a variety of anthropomorphic enemies , usually against the Kremlings , a clan of crocodiles , and their leader King K. Rool . These are side - scrolling platform games . Titles outside these two genres have included rhythm games ( Donkey Konga ) , racing games ( Diddy Kong Racing ) , and edutainment ( Donkey Kong Jr . Math ) . </P>
<P> The games of the first genre are mostly single - screen platform / action puzzle types , featuring Donkey Kong as the opponent in an industrial construction setting . Donkey Kong first made his appearance in the 1981 arcade machine called Donkey Kong , in which he faced Mario , now Nintendo 's flagship character . This game was also the first appearance of Mario , pre-dating the well - known Super Mario Bros. by four years . In 1994 , the series was revived as the Donkey Kong Country series , featuring Donkey Kong and his clan as protagonists in their native jungle setting versus a variety of anthropomorphic enemies , usually against the Kremlings , a clan of crocodiles , and their leader King K. Rool . These are side - scrolling platform games . Titles outside these two genres have included rhythm games ( Donkey Konga ) , racing games ( Diddy Kong Racing ) , and edutainment ( Donkey Kong Jr . Math ) . </P>
when was the first donkey kong game released
when was the first donkey kong game released
1981
1981