67
iRank85
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DSci-Fi
IGDB85· 1
Year 1993Dev CapcomOn iOS
39 Games like Donkey Kong 3 that you should try
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More about this game →Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentHow this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.
Donkey Kong 3 is hard to replace: few games combine precision platforming and single-player focus in quite the same way. We compared Donkey Kong 3 against over 6,700 titles across 4 gameplay attributes and found 39 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Mega Man X, Earthworm Jim and Metroid II: Return of Samus lead the list, with Mega Man X reaching a 67/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Donkey Kong 3 special.
iRank60/ 100
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Quick answer
The closest game to Donkey Kong 3 is Mega Man X — scoring 67/100 on our similarity scale. Earthworm Jim and Metroid II: Return of Samus follow close behind.
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Top games similar to Donkey Kong 3
39 similar games foundUpdated May 2026
Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Donkey Kong 3. Each one has been evaluated across 4 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DSci-Fi
IGDB76· 2
Year 1994Dev Shiny Entertainment · Tec Toy
✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, shooter and single-player focus
≠ Its own twist: setting scifi
Released 11 years after Donkey Kong 3.
Genre100Game mode100Visuals100
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DSci-Fi
IGDB60· 1
Year 1991Dev Nintendo R&D1 · Nintendo
67
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DDarkHorrorSci-Fi
Year 1993Dev BlueSky Software · Sega
✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, shooter and single-player focus
≠ Stands apart with survival mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting
Released 10 years after Donkey Kong 3.
Genre100Game mode100Visuals100
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DSci-Fi
IGDB50· 1
Year 2000Dev Value Wave · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PC
✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, shooter and single-player focus
≠ Where it differs: brings setting scifi
Released 17 years after Donkey Kong 3.
Genre100Game mode100Visuals100
67
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DSci-FiCyberpunk
Year 2004Dev Capcom Production Studio 1 · CapcomOn PlayStation 3 · PC
✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, shooter and single-player focus
≠ Where it differs: brings setting scifi and setting cyberpunk
Released 21 years after Donkey Kong 3.
Genre100Game mode100Visuals100
67
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DSci-Fi
Year 1994Dev Capcom
67
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DSci-FiCyberpunk
Year 2001Dev Capcom Production Studio 3 · CapcomOn PC
✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, shooter and single-player focus
≠ Stands apart with setting scifi and setting cyberpunk
Released 18 years after Donkey Kong 3.
Genre100Game mode100Visuals100
67
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DSci-Fi
Year 1997Dev CapcomOn PC
✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, shooter and single-player focus
≠ Its own twist: setting scifi
Released 14 years after Donkey Kong 3.
Genre100Game mode100Visuals100
#10Mega Man 6
67
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DSci-Fi
Year 1993Dev Capcom · Playtronic
#11Mega Man X3
67
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DSci-FiCyberpunk
Year 1995Dev Capcom
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DMeleeCasual
Steam👍 98%· 696
Year 2017Dev Viridino StudiosPlaytime ~3hOn PC
✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, single-player focus and visual 2d
≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, vibe casual and melee combat, while skipping shooter
Pinkman is a fast-paced, action platformer about a lost man with pink skin and an incredible skill to fart. Pinkman is set in deadly fantasy world called "The Mind", where many traps will try to cut your body in half when you struggle to discover what happened, and keep yourself alive.
Released 34 years after Donkey Kong 3.
Genre100Game mode100Visuals100
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DDarkHorror
IGDB90· 1
Year 1995Dev Konami · St. GIGA
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DMeleeCasualCartoon
Steam👍 88%· 7.8KIGDB75· 13
Year 2013Dev Capcom · Disney InteractiveOn PlayStation 3 · PC · Android
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DMelee
Steam👍 86%· 14IGDB70· 1
Year 1994Dev Eurocom Entertainment Software · Virgin Interactive Entertainment (Europe) Ltd.On PC
Complete list of Donkey Kong 3 alternatives
The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Donkey Kong 3, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.
52
Super Mario Run
Platformer · Adventure
52
Super Ghouls'n Ghosts
Platformer · Adventure
52
Jetpack Joyride
Platformer
52
Kirby's Adventure
Platformer
52
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia
Platformer · Adventure
52
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
Platformer
52
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I
Platformer · Adventure
52
Out of This World
Platformer · Adventure
52
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Platformer
52
Donkey Kong
Platformer
52
Hudson's Adventure Island
Platformer · Adventure
52
Mega Man 2
Platformer · Adventure
52
Disney's Toy Story
Platformer
52
Cool Spot
Platformer
52
Super Mario Land
Platformer
52
Ghouls 'n Ghosts
Platformer
52
Kirby's Dream Land
Platformer
52
Pitfall!
Platformer · Adventure
52
Donkey Kong Junior
Platformer
52
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Platformer
52
Happy Wheels
Platformer · Racing
52
Yoshi's Story
Platformer · Adventure
52
Tiny Toon Adventures
Platformer
52
Flashback: The Quest for Identity
Platformer · Adventure
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the best game similar to Donkey Kong 3?
- The closest game to Donkey Kong 3 is Mega Man X, scoring 67/100 on our similarity scale. They share 4 gameplay attributes, including precision platforming, shooter and single-player focus. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
- What are the top games like Donkey Kong 3?
- The three closest games to Donkey Kong 3 are: 1. Mega Man X (67/100, 4 shared attributes) 2. Earthworm Jim (67/100, 4 shared attributes) 3. Metroid II: Return of Samus (67/100, 4 shared attributes). All share Donkey Kong 3's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 39 candidates across 4 dimensions.
- Is Earthworm Jim similar to Donkey Kong 3?
- Yes — Earthworm Jim scores 67/100 similarity to Donkey Kong 3. They share 4 attributes, including precision platforming and shooter. There are some notable differences in pacing or mechanics.
- What Platformer games are similar to Donkey Kong 3?
- The best Platformer games similar to Donkey Kong 3 are Mega Man X, Earthworm Jim, Metroid II: Return of Samus and Jurassic Park. All share the Platformer genre alongside other key Donkey Kong 3 attributes like precision platforming, shooter and single-player focus.
- How is similarity to Donkey Kong 3 calculated?
- We compare Donkey Kong 3 against every game in our catalog using 4 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Donkey Kong 3 experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.