Top 10 Donkey Kong Country Levels

A blast is right. A head-spinning first entry to our list, this dizzying level had Diddy and Dixie Kong navigating their way through a nasty bramble maze. What makes this so intense is that movement is not how it conventionally plays out, as the player must solely rely on blasting between barrels to make progress. Furthermore, these barrels consistently shift degrees and directions making careful timing and precision a must to make it to this end of this stage in one piece.

If you have ever wanted to recreate the famous scene from “The Lion King” where Simba gleefully leaps from plants and wildlife in a lively dance; this is your level. A very bouncy and musical stage, the player must guide Donkey Kong across the landscape as the many creatures and wildlife sway and swerve to the rhythm of the beat. The gorgeous graphics are something to marvel at, providing some spectacular sights as the colors pop and shine, perfectly complementing the already soothing musical score.

Donkey Kong must really love those bananas if he will go through a level like this for them. Similar to Bramble Blast, there is a fun twist to how the player navigates through this treacherous area. The catch this time, is that the Kongs must rely on a moving platform to move forward. However, the platform in question has a very small fuel supply, requiring the Kongs to gather Fuel barrels along the ride to keep things in order. Adding to the challenge is a relentless barrage of oncoming zingers and neckies flying towards you. So yeah, are those bananas really worth it D.K?

Hang onto your hats, this one’s one heck of a rush...of wind that is. Taking place inside of a massive, twirling and dusty tornado as it storms through a wide open savannah terrain; the player will have to fight their way through the usual suspects of chasms to cross and enemies to eliminate all while dodging the full force of mother nature. The intensity of the storm only escalates as your advance further, with lightning strikes and winds that reach such a break-neck speed that the level is torn apart before your eyes. Quite the frantic fields, indeed. At least it’s funny to see penguins flying in the storm.

Slicing itself into the next spot on our list is this pulse pounding stage which demands the player keep up a blistering pace of upwards momentum to avoid a massive saw tearing everything down. You’ll clench your controller with each jump as danger is never far behind. This fast paced level also encourages replayability, as its frenetic speed can be very addictive and furthermore, you’ll want to go back to collect all those bananas and coins you missed the first go around. Leave it to this series to make near death experiences a really fun time.

Don’t be fooled by all the snow, this level is no time to chill out. Really hammering home the subtitle of the game, the player must plow through harsh conditions while ascending a massive mountain trail. This perilous uphill battle is filled with death defying leaps as DK soars through the air, all while a destructive avalanche shakes the world around you. One of the shining features of Retro Studio’s rendition of DKC are their silhouette stages: we first see their beauty with Sunset Shore, and Amiss Abyss puts it to unique use underwater. But the epic avalanche of Cliffside slide is a sight beyond words.

We hope you brought lifejackets. Part of the “Beach” world in the game, this level in particular stands out for the gargantuan tidal waves which rush towards the screen. These bursts of water are constantly splashing over the level, so it is absolutely imperative that you keep an eye out for shelter otherwise you’ll be going for a swim. This danger applies to anything else in the level too, so the player can use the waves to their advantage to clear a path before moving forward. This direct interaction with the level provides a unique gameplay experience and earns a spot on our list.

For this entry, the Kongs must traverse through a factory themed level. It contains the usual set of obstacles: enemies to dodge, barrels to burst and gaps to cross. Should be no biggie at this point, right? How about the addition of not being able to see. The lights will flicker on and off throughout the factory leaving you momentarily in complete darkness, so watch your step! We feel bad for DK’s lack of vision in this scenario, however for us, it's plain to see why this quest through the dark is awesome.

Yet another level which provides an additional element to the gameplay to spice things up from the standard platforming sections, the gimmick this go around is a floor that is constantly rising. As you climb higher and higher through these castle walls, you will have to be careful not to get sandwiched between ceilings and the always rising floor. Never having a dull moment, each tight squeeze requires fast reflexes and precise platforming, providing a hefty challenge and tons of excitement. You are also able to transform into Rambi to knock anything out of your way, and later Squaks to make a frantic race for the DK coin.

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions…
Coral Capers
“Donkey Kong Country” (1994)
Topsail Trouble
“Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest” (1995)
Crack Shot Croc
“Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble” (1996)
Sawhill Mill
“Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze” (2014)

Snow Barrel Blast
“Donkey Kong Country” (1994)

There have been quite a few cart themed levels in this video game series, with an excellent example being that of Mine Cart Carnage from the original Donkey Kong Country. However, this entry edged it out for encompassing every aspect of what makes the Donkey Kong series so enjoyable. A total thrill ride from start to finish, Rickety Race has it all. You’re also racing 9 enemies who are on the same track, and beating them rewards to you with a DK Coin. Of course, you’ll really have to gun it if you wanna get there.
There are sooo many great levels in the DKC series that even we couldn’t fit all of our favourites on this list. So let us know what some of your favourites are, and for more swinging Top 10 lists published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.