Donkey Kong Land 2 Classic
Game Boy · Platformer
Donkey Kong Land
Certified classic
| System | Game Boy |
|---|---|
| Released | 1995 |
| Genre | Platformer |
| Developer | Rareware |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | An evening or two (Roughly 1–6 hours to see it through) |
| Series | Donkey Kong |
| ESRB | KA |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 13 |
Released for the Game Boy in 1995, Donkey Kong Land is a platformer developed by Rareware and published by Nintendo.
It landed about 6 years into the Game Boy's life. Other notable Game Boy releases from 1995 include Kirby's Dream Land 2, Kirby's Block Ball and Street Fighter II. Among the 164 Game Boy platformers in our database, it ranks #13 by legacy score.
It is part of the Donkey Kong series; on the Game Boy you can also try Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Land 2 and Donkey Kong Land III. The series also appears on other systems with Donkey Kong 64 (N64) and Donkey Kong Country (SNES). Rareware also made Wizards & Warriors X: The Fortress of Fear, WWF Superstars and Monster Max for the Game Boy.
This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.
Pick it if…
- you want to run, jump and explore
- you have time for an evening or two (roughly 1–6 hours to see it through)
- you want to experience one of the Game Boy's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you get frustrated by precise jumps and limited lives
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing Donkey Kong Land is like
Platformers are all about movement: running, jumping and timing your way across levels full of gaps, enemies and secrets. The best ones feel great to control within seconds and then slowly teach you to master every leap.
Tip for newcomers: Retro platformers often have limited lives and few checkpoints. Learn one level at a time, look for hidden 1-ups, and don't be shy about using a save feature when it is available.
Donkey Kong Land cheats & codes
39 codes on file (Game Genie, GameShark, Other codes). Here are a few Game Genie codes to start with:
| Lose All Your Lives When You Die | C3D-A0B-E61 |
|---|---|
| If You Get Hit You Don't Change Characters Until You Are Back At The Map Screen | C9D-FDB-4C1 |
| Invincible | 3E0-81B-4CA |
| Change Soundtrack | 002-1FB-3BE |
| Start With 1 Life | 00E-899-F7E
00E-958-F7E |
| Start With 9 Lives | 08E-899-F7E
08E-958-F7E |
Donkey Kong Land walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Donkey Kong Land.
If you like Donkey Kong Land, the Matrix also picks…
Donkey Kong Land III Classic
Donkey Kong Country Classic Co-op
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Classic Co-op
Donkey Kong 64 Classic
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! Classic Co-op
Super Mario Land Classic
Playing Game Boy games today
Game Boy games were designed for short bursts on the go, which makes them ideal for a coffee break today. Many are available through Nintendo Switch Online, and original carts play on any later Game Boy model.
Donkey Kong Land FAQ
When did Donkey Kong Land come out on the Game Boy?
Donkey Kong Land was released for the Game Boy in 1995.
Who made Donkey Kong Land?
It was developed by Rareware and published by Nintendo.
Is Donkey Kong Land multiplayer?
No. Donkey Kong Land is a single-player game.
How long does Donkey Kong Land take to play?
As a platformer, Donkey Kong Land typically falls into the "An evening or two" category: roughly 1–6 hours to see it through. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Donkey Kong Land on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.