A terrifying interpretation of Donkey Kong. (Donkey Kong, ZX Spectrum, 1986)

A whiteboard detailing the secrets of Stop ‘n’ Swop, alongside a mysterious boarded up door. (Grabbed by the Ghoulies, Xbox, 2003)

In 2019, Banjo and Kazooie met Castlevania’s Simon Belmont. Two years later, their indie counterparts, Yooka and Laylee, met Miriam, the star of the Bloodstained series, Castlevania’s own indie counterpart. (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Switch, 2019) (Mighty Fight Federation, Switch, 2021)

Mario’s sprite in Tennis appears to be a modified and re-coloured version of his Donkey Kong sprite. (Donkey Kong, NES, 1983) (Tennis, NES, 1984)

A disturbing group of extra-terrestrials who observed Stanley’s conflict with Donkey Kong. (Donkey Kong 3: Dai Gyakushū, PC, 1984)

Google’s AI hallucinates a bizarre Donkey Kong creepypasta. (“Donkey Kong Funeral” Google SERP, 2026)

The 1881 wine kegs which conceal secret passages that Banjo and Kazooie found in Mad Monster Mansion are nearly identical to the wine kegs in the Atic Atac castle, which also hide secret passages. (Banjo-Kazooie, N64, 1998) (Atic Atac, ZX Spectrum, 1983)

“Mr. X” is a mysterious unused Kremling character who was the precursor to Kackle. (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest character render, circa 1995)

Young Link, the initial protagonist of Ocarina of Time, fights alongside Krystal, the initial protagonist of Rare’s Ocarina of Time-inspired game, Dinosaur Planet (later Star Fox Adventures). (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Switch, 2019)

Freddy Kruger on the title screen of Rare’s Nightmare on Elm Street. (A Nightmare on Elm Street, NES, 1990)

Donkey Kong was once playable in two mobile games, but as of October 2026, neither remain available. (Dr. Mario World, Mobile, 2019) (Mario Kart Tour, Mobile, 2019)

Cranky Kong makes reference to the fact that he raised Donkey Kong, suggesting a father-son type relationship. (Donkey Kong Country, SNES, 1994)

Tropical Freeze is bookended by plane wrecks, with both the first and last levels based around them. (Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Switch, 2018)

The evil space pigs of the Nintendo 64. (Star Fox 64, N64, 1997) (Diddy Kong Racing, N64, 1997)

A statue of Banjo and Kazooie on display in Costalot’s Store. (Viva Piñata, Xbox 360, 2006)

The new version of the Spiral Mountain music on Grant Kirkhope’s album, Banjo-Kazooie: Re-Jiggyed, pays tribute to Yooka-Laylee by incorporating the ukulele elements of its theme song into the track. (Yooka-Laylee, Switch, 2017) (Banjo-Kazooie: Re-Jiggyed, Grant Kirkhope, 2021)

Possibly the earliest example of the Kongs using balloons to float. (Table Top Donkey Kong Jr. Game & Watch box art, 1983)

Bowser pleads with Donkey Kong to avenge him after being soundly defeated by Waluigi. (Mario Party 3, N64, 2001)

Every non-Donkey Kong Rare game since the release of Donkey Kong Country to either reference the DK series, or include elements introduced in it.

The Crystal Coconuts in Donkey Kong 64 are based on the singular Crystal Coconut from the DKC TV series. (Donkey Kong Country TV show intro, 1996) (Donkey Kong 64, N64, 1999)

Unlike Link, Donkey Kong has no trouble climbing on rainy days. (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Switch, 2017) (Donkey Kong Bananza, Switch 2, 2025)

A portrait of Brentilda lies beside a box of old Banjo-Kazooie stuff. (Banjo-Tooie, N64, 2000)

Fans jokingly speculated that this strange frog creature could have produced Banjo and Kazooie’s seemingly immortal goldfish, Roysten. (Everwild Eternals trailer, 2020)

As of August 2026, Brown Birdos have only ever appeared as Donkey Kong’s football teammates. (Mario Smash Football, NGC, 2005)

A poster for an Inkling-based Donkey Kong game developed by Ancho-V Games. (Splatoon 2, Switch, 2018)

A popular fan theory suggests that Lil Gator could be a young Kremling (due to the Playtonic/Rare connection). (Lil Gator Game, Switch, 2022) (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Switch, 2018)

Kameo dresses as Joanna Dark. (Kameo: Elements of Power, Xbox 360, 2005)

Every video game appearance of Donkey Kong Jr. as of August 2026.

All three of Dixie Kong’s different colour schemes in the original DKC trilogy. (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest, SNES, 1995) (Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!, SNES, 1996)

A side-by-side comparison of the mermaid in Donkey Kong 64 and one of the mermaid statues in Banjo-Tooie. (Donkey Kong 64, N64, 1999) (Banjo-Tooie, N64, 2000)