Donkey Kong Walkthrough NES: Where to Find Stage-by-Stage Help
Free written and video walkthroughs exist for the NES version of Donkey Kong. This guide shows which ones to use and how to follow them level by level.
In this article
You can find a Donkey Kong walkthrough for the NES on GameFAQs, which lists 18 guides and walkthroughs for that version, including a 2023 guide by DEngel [1]. With that many options, the choice mostly comes down to whether you want written steps or video. You may also find this useful: Which Donkey Kong Game to Play First?
If you like to see the moves before you try them, NintendoForever offers a walkthrough with images and video for the NES version [2]. The NES version has only three levels, and that walkthrough covers all of them [2].
This guide will help you choose a walkthrough that fits how you play, then follow it through the levels one at a time. Along the way, you'll learn when text is enough and when a video is worth opening.
Which NES walkthrough should you pick?
The IGN text walkthrough is the simplest pick if you want one written guide to follow. Its author, Fecal-Lord, last updated it on Feb 7, 2013 [3]. Choose it when you want a quick written route without extra media.
Option | Format | Best for |
|---|---|---|
IGN FAQ | Written text | One guide to follow start to finish |
StrategyWiki | Wiki page with stage links | Jumping to a single stage |
NintendoForever | Text, images, and video | Seeing each move as well as reading it |
The FAQ author allows hosting only on GameFAQs, IGN, and GameSpot, so copies on other sites may be out of date [3]. If you land on a copy elsewhere, switch to one of those three sites instead. That keeps you on the version the author maintains.
StrategyWiki has a Donkey Kong walkthrough page on its wiki [4]. Its contents list links to each stage, so you can jump straight to the one you are stuck on. Use it when you want a stage-specific hint rather than a full run-through. For a closer look, read Donkey Kong Country SNES Walkthrough.
NintendoForever pairs its written walkthrough with images and video [2]. That makes it the better fit if the text alone has not made a stage clear. Pick it when you want to watch the route as well as read it.
In short, IGN is the text pick, StrategyWiki is the best option for stage links, and NintendoForever is the one with pictures and video. Your choice depends on whether you want a full guide, a quick hint, or visual help.
How is the NES walkthrough organized by level?
The NintendoForever walkthrough is organized by level, and this NES version has only three of them [2]. Each level comes with images and video, so you can match the written route to what is on screen. Work through the levels in the order the walkthrough gives them.
- Open the walkthrough and find the route for Level 1. Play that level from start to finish before reading any further.
- When Level 1 is clear, move to the Level 2 route. Stay on Level 2 until you finish it.
- Play Level 3 last, following its route in the order the guide lists it.
Skipping ahead is tempting when a level stops you cold. If you jump to a later route, you may follow timing or positioning you have not practiced yet, and that can make the tips harder to use.
Because there are only three levels, you can track your progress by level number alone. Note which level you are on so you can return to the right route after a break. Keeping each route in its place makes it easier to see where you went wrong.
When does a video walkthrough help more than text?
A video walkthrough helps most when your problem depends on timing, such as when to leave a ledge or how long a jump needs to be. A written guide is faster when you only need one hint, so start there and switch to video only when you need it.
When text is the faster choice
The IGN walkthrough is a text FAQ with a table of contents that labels each section with a letter. The walkthrough itself sits under section (E) [3]. If you only need help with one spot, jump straight to that part instead of watching a whole level.
Text also lets you skim. You can scan the headings, find the stage you're on, and read a single tip in under a minute, without pausing the game to look for the right moment in a video.
When video makes the difference
NintendoForever pairs images with video for the NES version of Donkey Kong [2]. Watching a jump happen is much clearer than reading about it, especially when the timing is the hard part. A video shows you the exact rhythm of a move, which a sentence like "jump after the barrel passes" can't always convey.
Use them together
Read the written guide first, then open the video only for the part you're stuck on. For example, if you can clear the first stretch but keep falling on one jump, watch just that jump and go back to playing. This keeps you in the game rather than watching the whole walkthrough.
What should you do next to get past the stuck spot?
Pick one walkthrough and follow its first level before you read any further. Choose the written text if you want quick hints, or the video if you learn better by watching.
If you get stuck again, switch to the video for that level only. Watch just the part where you keep losing a life, then go back to playing.
Bookmark the source you choose so you can return to it on the next level. That way you can pick up the route without searching again.