Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Mario vs. Donkey Kong[lower-alpha 2] is a 2004 puzzle-platform game developed by Nintendo Software Technology and released for the Game Boy Advance. The game is the spiritual successor to Donkey Kong, which was released in 1994 for the Game Boy.

The game concept revolves around a combination of platform and puzzle elements, challenging Mario to find keys, reach a locked door, and rescue mini-Marios.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong was a return to the earlier arcade-style games that incorporated many elements from the Game Boy version. While its style was that of other games, the Rare design for Donkey Kong carried over. Donkey Kong, originally a villain, returns to this role in the game: wanting a Mini Mario clockwork toy, he finds that they are sold out at a local toy store. Enraged, he terrifies the Toads at the factory and steals the toys. This sets up the game's plot, where Mario chases Donkey Kong until he can take the Mini Marios back from Donkey Kong.

The game has hidden e-Reader support.[2][3] Nintendo held a competition in Japan in which cards were distributed to 1,000 participants. Five level cards were released by CoroCoro Comic and another card was given away at the 20th World Hobby Fair.[4][5] The game can save up to 12 extra levels.[2]

A remake of the original game was announced on September 14, 2023 in a Nintendo Direct and is set to release on Nintendo Switch on February 16, 2024. This comes after an eight-year hiatus from the series.[6]

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis![lower-alpha 3] is the sequel to the Game Boy Advance game Mario vs. Donkey Kong, a follow-up to the Game Boy Donkey Kong game, though it is more puzzle-oriented, now that the player controls several Mini Marios with the touch screen instead of Mario himself. The game also features the return of Pauline, whose last appearance was in the 1994 Donkey Kong 94 for the Game Boy; a 100 level sequel, to the original Donkey Kong. It features Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The DS Download Station Series 3 set of games features a short demo of the game. This is the sixth Mario game for the Nintendo DS.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again![lower-alpha 4] is a puzzle video game for the Nintendo DSi. It is the third game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. It was released via the Nintendo DSiWare download service in North America on June 8, 2009,[7] in Europe on August 21,[8] and in Japan on October 7. It is the first DSiWare game to feature a level editor in which players can create custom-made levels and send them to players on other devices via a wireless Internet connection.[9]

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem![lower-alpha 5] is a puzzle video game developed by Nintendo Software Technology and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. The game was released in North America on November 14, 2010. It is the fourth game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars[lower-alpha 6] is a puzzle video game for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U and the sixth game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. It was released in March 2015 on the Nintendo eShop for all regions, although it was also available at retail in Japan. This is the first Nintendo-published title to support a cross-purchase concept.

A possible entry for the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series for the Wii U was displayed as a demo at GDC 2014. It was developed with Nintendo Web Framework to show their capabilities. Like the other entries, the goal of each level is to guide the Mini Marios to the exit, creating paths through the positioning of platforms and other interactions with the setting made through the Wii U GamePad. The first level shows the basic capabilities of the program, but the second has more complex lighting effects and animations.[10] The game was released as downloadable Wii U eShop title.[11]

Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move[lower-alpha 7] is a puzzle video game for the Nintendo 3DS and is the fifth game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. Unlike in previous entries, Donkey Kong no longer has an antagonistic role and instead serves as one of the game's hosts along with Mario and Pauline. Using the touch screen, players must place blocks on a grid to guide the Mini characters to the end of each course. It was released exclusively via the Nintendo eShop download service on May 9, 2013, in Europe and North America and July 24 in Japan.[12][13][14]

Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge, a free downloadable game for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, was released on April 28, 2016. This game has similar gameplay to the previous Mario vs. Donkey Kong games, and allows players to unlock various characters—including Mini versions of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Donkey Kong, Bowser, Bowser Jr., Diddy Kong, Yoshi, and Rosalina—by scanning their respective Amiibo figures.[15]