To play classic Donkey Kong games on a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2, open the Nintendo Switch Online software or the applicable Nintendo Classics app, choose the library that contains the game, and launch it. A standard Nintendo Switch Online membership covers the NES, Super NES, and Game Boy collections. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack adds the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo 64 libraries, which is the tier needed for titles such as Mario vs. Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong 64.
This guide uses Nintendo of America’s US catalog as checked on October 13, 2026. Nintendo’s lineup can differ by country and can change, so verify the current catalog for your Nintendo Account region before subscribing or promising that a particular game is available.
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Membership and game availability at a glance
The membership tier determines which Nintendo Classics app and Donkey Kong titles you can use. The table below lists the US examples currently identified by Nintendo’s catalog pages.
| Membership | Classic libraries included | Donkey Kong examples | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Nintendo Switch Online | NES, Super NES, and Game Boy | Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Donkey Kong 3, Donkey Kong Jr. Math, the Super NES Donkey Kong Country trilogy, Donkey Kong Land, Donkey Kong Land 2, and Donkey Kong Land III | Enough for the NES, Super NES, and Game Boy titles listed in this article. |
| Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack | Everything in standard membership, plus select Game Boy Advance and Nintendo 64 libraries | Mario vs. Donkey Kong on Game Boy Advance and Donkey Kong 64 on Nintendo 64 | Required for these Expansion Pack examples; it also includes the standard membership benefits. |
Nintendo describes the standard classic libraries on its classic-games access page. The individual US catalogs are the authoritative places to check the current lineup for NES, Super NES, and Game Boy.
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What you need before you start
- A Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 console. Nintendo’s classic-games information covers both systems, although individual Expansion Pack benefits can be platform-specific.
- A Nintendo Account signed in on the console and an active Nintendo Switch Online membership. The standard tier is sufficient for the NES, Super NES, and Game Boy examples; Expansion Pack is needed for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo 64 examples.
- An internet connection for the initial availability check and periodic membership verification. The games are not permanent purchases tied to your console.
- Enough console or microSD storage to install the applicable Nintendo Classics app. The exact app depends on the system library you want to use.
- A controller. The built-in Joy-Con or another compatible controller is the straightforward default. Nintendo’s NES wireless controller 2-pack is optional, not a requirement for NES classics; the controller note appears on the NES catalog page.
Check your Nintendo Account country before searching. The catalog described here is Nintendo’s US lineup, and a title shown on a US page may not appear in another country’s Nintendo Classics app.
How to launch a Donkey Kong classic
Route 1: Open Nintendo Switch Online from the HOME menu
- From the Switch or Switch 2 HOME menu, open the Nintendo Switch Online software.
- Choose the classic-games area or the library that matches the title: NES, Super NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, or Nintendo 64.
- Browse the library, or use its search function if the app provides one, and enter the game’s title.
- Select the Donkey Kong game and choose the on-screen launch command.
- If the title is unavailable, check the membership tier, the app you opened, and your Nintendo Account region before assuming that the game has been removed.
Nintendo’s instructions describe this as one of the two supported ways to access classic games. The important distinction is that the titles are launched from the Nintendo Switch Online or Nintendo Classics software, rather than being found only by searching the ordinary game list. See Nintendo’s classic-games access instructions.
Route 2: Download the applicable Nintendo Classics app
- Open Nintendo eShop on the console.
- Find the Nintendo Classics app for the library you need, such as the NES, Super NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, or Nintendo 64 collection.
- Download and open the app while signed in to the Nintendo Account that has the qualifying membership.
- Browse or search the library, then select the Donkey Kong title to start it.
The app itself is the gateway to the subscription library. Downloading an app does not turn its games into individually owned purchases; access continues only while the associated Nintendo Switch Online membership is active.
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Which Donkey Kong games are in each US classic library?
NES: four early Donkey Kong releases
Nintendo’s US NES catalog lists these four titles:
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- Donkey Kong
- Donkey Kong 3
- Donkey Kong Jr.
- Donkey Kong Jr. Math
These are available through the standard Nintendo Switch Online tier because that membership includes the NES collection. Open the NES Nintendo Classics app, not the Super NES or Game Boy app, when looking for them. Confirm the current listing on Nintendo’s NES catalog page.
Super NES: the Donkey Kong Country trilogy
The Super NES collection lists the complete three-game trilogy:
- Donkey Kong Country
- Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong-Quest
- Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!
All three are standard-membership examples because Super NES classics are part of Nintendo Switch Online. Launch them from the Super NES Nintendo Classics app. Nintendo’s current US list is on the Super NES catalog page.
Game Boy: four portable Donkey Kong games
Nintendo’s Game Boy catalog lists:
- Donkey Kong
- Donkey Kong Land
- Donkey Kong Land 2
- Donkey Kong Land III
Any Nintendo Switch Online membership provides access to the Game Boy library according to Nintendo. Select the Game Boy Nintendo Classics app and search there. The catalog is maintained on Nintendo’s Game Boy page.
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Game Boy Advance: Mario vs. Donkey Kong
The Game Boy Advance collection includes Mario vs. Donkey Kong. It requires Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, not the standard tier. Open the Game Boy Advance Nintendo Classics app after confirming that the Expansion Pack is active. Nintendo’s current Game Boy Advance listings are at the Game Boy Advance catalog.
Nintendo 64: Donkey Kong 64
Donkey Kong 64 is an Expansion Pack title. Nintendo announced its addition for Expansion Pack members on June 3, 2026, so the Nintendo 64 library and the announcement are the relevant references when checking availability: Nintendo’s Donkey Kong 64 announcement. It is not unlocked by a standard Nintendo Switch Online subscription alone.
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| If you want to play | Membership needed in the US lineup described here | App to open |
|---|---|---|
| Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong 3, Donkey Kong Jr., or Donkey Kong Jr. Math | Standard Nintendo Switch Online | NES Nintendo Classics |
| Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong-Quest, or Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble! | Standard Nintendo Switch Online | Super NES Nintendo Classics |
| Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Land, Donkey Kong Land 2, or Donkey Kong Land III | Standard Nintendo Switch Online | Game Boy Nintendo Classics |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong | Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack | Game Boy Advance Nintendo Classics |
| Donkey Kong 64 | Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack | Nintendo 64 Nintendo Classics |
Nintendo’s Expansion Pack overview explains the additional libraries and benefits. The upgrade makes sense for someone who specifically wants the Game Boy Advance or Nintendo 64 entry, or who will use the other Expansion Pack libraries; it is unnecessary solely for the NES, Super NES, and Game Boy games listed above.
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Switch and Switch 2 differences to keep in mind
Nintendo supports classic-game access on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. However, Nintendo cautions that some Expansion Pack benefits are platform-specific, so do not assume that every extra feature or benefit behaves identically on both consoles. The membership tier still determines access to the relevant classic library, while the console determines which platform-specific features are available. Check Nintendo’s Expansion Pack information and the classic-games FAQ and access page for the current wording.
Offline play, membership checks, and what ownership means
Nintendo allows classic games to be played offline after the applicable software is available on the system, but the membership must remain active. The console also has to connect to the internet periodically so Nintendo can verify the subscription. If verification has not occurred recently, reconnect the console, open the Nintendo Switch Online software while online, and try the game again.
This arrangement is subscription access, not a permanent purchase. Removing the membership or allowing it to expire can prevent the classic library from launching even if the app and game data remain installed. Nintendo explains this condition in its classic-games FAQ.
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Common problems and practical fixes
The Donkey Kong title does not appear
- Open the library that matches the original system. For example, the Super NES trilogy is not listed in the NES app, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong is in the Game Boy Advance app.
- Check the membership tier. A standard subscription cannot unlock the Expansion Pack examples Mario vs. Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong 64.
- Check the Nintendo Account country and the local catalog. The lists in this guide are US-specific.
- Recheck Nintendo’s current catalog page. Nintendo can add, remove, or otherwise change a service library over time.
The Nintendo Classics app is missing
- Confirm that the console is signed in to the Nintendo Account with the active membership.
- Open Nintendo eShop and search for the applicable Nintendo Classics app.
- Use the standard library apps for NES, Super NES, and Game Boy; use the Expansion Pack libraries only when the account has that tier.
- If the app still cannot be found, verify the account region and consult Nintendo’s access instructions.
The game worked before but now will not start offline
- Reconnect the console to the internet and allow the Nintendo Switch Online software to verify the active membership.
- Confirm that the subscription has not expired or been changed to a tier that does not cover the library.
- Launch the title again from its Nintendo Classics app rather than from a stale shortcut or an unrelated game list.
You want a more traditional NES controller
The optional NES wireless controller 2-pack can provide a retro-style control layout, but Nintendo does not require it. Standard system controls remain the default way to play. Check the controller note on the NES catalog page and verify current availability in your region before buying.
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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a separate Switch game
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD should not be confused with the Super NES classic Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo lists Returns HD as a separately sold physical Nintendo Switch game released January 16, 2025. It is not supplied by a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
| Question | Classic Donkey Kong titles | Donkey Kong Country Returns HD |
|---|---|---|
| How you get it | Access through the applicable Nintendo Classics app while membership is active | Separate game purchase |
| Where it runs | Through the NES, Super NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, or Nintendo 64 service app, depending on the title | Nintendo Switch game |
| Local players | Varies by individual classic and the service’s supported features | One or two players on one system, including local co-op, according to Nintendo |
| Product page | Use the relevant library catalog listed above | Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Country Returns HD page |
Choose Returns HD if you want a current, separately owned Switch release with local co-op. Choose the Nintendo Classics route when you specifically want the original-era NES, Super NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, or Nintendo 64 versions included in your membership library.
A simple decision path
- Write down the exact Donkey Kong title you want, because similarly named games belong to different system libraries.
- Match it to the table above. If it is an NES, Super NES, or Game Boy title, standard Nintendo Switch Online is the relevant tier in the US lineup described here.
- If it is Mario vs. Donkey Kong or Donkey Kong 64, select Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
- Install or open the matching Nintendo Classics app, then search its library.
- Keep the membership active and connect the console periodically if you plan to play offline.
- If you instead want Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, treat it as a separate Switch purchase rather than a subscription classic.
Regional and catalog qualifications
Every title list in this guide is based on Nintendo of America pages for the United States, checked October 13, 2026. Nintendo does not guarantee that every country has the same games, release timing, app lineup, or platform benefits. Before subscribing, upgrading, or advising another player, open the Nintendo site and Nintendo eShop associated with the person’s Nintendo Account region and confirm the title is currently listed.
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