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Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Mario vs. Donkey Kong features charming visuals and accessible puzzle-platforming in a package that is faithful to the original while offering updated graphics. However, some critics find it too easy for experienced players and question the price point. Overall, it’s a fun and cute game best suited for casual players and families.

Game Info

A remake of the first game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, originally released for the Game Boy Advance. In this puzzle-platformer, the player controls Mario in a quest to recover the Mini Marios kidnapped by his eternal rival, Donkey Kong. Run, jump, and backflip your way to rescuing the stolen Mini-Mario toys in this puzzling twist on Mario action. Obstacles like spikes, moving platforms, and falling bricks stand in your way—put your brain to work and figure out the best way to reach the Mini-Marios.

Recommended

Average Score

Total Reviews: 18

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41% of scored reviews fell within the range of 80 to 86 / 100

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Ratings & Reviews

18

Critic Reviews

77

Average Critic Score

Where to Play

All reviews are from professional critics. Learn more about the critics VSG aggregates.

High Score

90%

Median Score

78%

Low Score

60%

What did you think of Mario vs. Donkey Kong?

Player Reviews0 Votes

Adam Cook (God is a Geek)

February 14, 2024

7.5/10

Mario Vs Donkey Kong is a nice time for all, but those seeking major challenge or wholesale changes to the original might not find what they need here.

Giovanni Colantonio (Digital Trends)

February 14, 2024

3/5 stars

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a fun, if unremarkable way to kill time while you wait for the Nintendo Switch 2.

James Mitchell (Press Start)

February 14, 2024

7.5/10

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a great remake – implementing a strong shift in artistic direction, engaging co-op options and well-crafted puzzle and platforming elements. Co-op is an especially clever inclusion, and combined with difficulty options, broadens the appeal of an otherwise niche experience to a wider audience. While hardcore players might be let down by the lack of difficulty, Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a sensational update that fans of the series and even newcomers will enjoy.

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Score Ranges

Read the Reviews (18 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
Atomix	Alberto Desfassiaux	90 / 100	02-14-2024	A great return for a great GBA game. The number of new things and quality of life improvements makes this remake of Mario vs. Donkey Kong a must have.	Read review
Checkpoint Gaming	Edie W-K	7.5 / 10	02-14-2024	Mario vs. Donkey Kong has been remade nearly perfectly, and it’s certainly great for any forgotten title to get an update and a facelift. The platforming is still tight, but the simple truth is that puzzle games as a genre have moved on in the twenty years since the original. That means nothing about it really stands out, either as a puzzle game or a Mario game. Still, that doesn’t mean you won’t have fun with it as you wait for Nintendo’s next main-line Mario.	Read review
COGconnected	James Paley	80 / 100	02-14-2024	Quote not yet available	Read review
Console Creatures	Bobby Pashalidis	Recommended	02-14-2024	Mario vs. Donkey Kong has a lot of exciting puzzles to explore, and fans of the original will find excitement in the remake. With a welcoming difficulty curve, reworked graphics, and expanded gameplay, Mario vs. Donkey Kong kicks off the Switch’s seventh year with a bang.	Read review
Digital Trends	Giovanni Colantonio	3 / 5 stars	02-14-2024	Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a fun, if unremarkable way to kill time while you wait for the Nintendo Switch 2.	Read review
Enternity.gr	Nikitas Kavouklis	8.5 / 10	02-14-2024	Mario Vs. Donkey Kong will provide hours of entertainment as long as you use your brain.	Read review
GAMES.CH	Benjamin Braun	80 / 100	02-14-2024	Quote not yet available	Read review
God is a Geek	Adam Cook	7.5 / 10	02-14-2024	Mario Vs Donkey Kong is a nice time for all, but those seeking major challenge or wholesale changes to the original might not find what they need here.	Read review
IGN Italy	Andrea Peduzzi	8.5 / 10	02-14-2024	Starting with a video game released in 2004 and intended for the handheld market, Nintendo has done an excellent job, producing an intriguing and incredibly rich remake that provides hours of entertainment.	Read review
IGN Spain	Raquel Morales	8 / 10	02-14-2024	Mario vs Donkey Kong for Switch is the perfect example of what 2D Mario means. A game that feels current despite already being 20 years old thanks to a completely renewed version graphically and with elements that favor its replayability. More strategic and fun puzzles that look better than ever.	Read review
Nintendo Life	PJ O’Reilly	7 / 10	02-14-2024	Mario vs Donkey Kong serves up a slick return to the 2004 GBA adventure that finds fresh fun in cooperative play. Yep, the new co-op mode really is the star of the show this time out and, alongside two new worlds, ‘Plus’ versions of each level, a Time Attack mode, and fancy new looks and sounds, there’s plenty to dig into and enjoy with a core puzzle/platforming setup that has aged quite well. Just be aware that, if you’re a more seasoned player looking for platforming challenges, this game finds its strengths as an experience for younger gamers or as a co-op title to enjoy with your kids. Taken as such, it absolutely earns a recommendation.	Read review
Press Start	James Mitchell	7.5 / 10	02-15-2024	Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a great remake – implementing a strong shift in artistic direction, engaging co-op options and well-crafted puzzle and platforming elements. Co-op is an especially clever inclusion, and combined with difficulty options, broadens the appeal of an otherwise niche experience to a wider audience. While hardcore players might be let down by the lack of difficulty, Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a sensational update that fans of the series and even newcomers will enjoy.	Read review
SECTOR.sk	Matúš Štrba	8.5 / 10	02-14-2024	The gameplay is really good and the levels are perfectly designed for players of all ages. There’s also no shortage of content, and 130 levels is a nice portion, although you could probably do with a few dozen more. The audio-visual design matches the game nicely. However, there are a few minor flaws and the price is quite high.	Read review
Siliconera	Jenni Lada	7 / 10	02-14-2024	Mario vs Donkey Kong is totally fine on the Switch, with levels and modes for players of all difficulty levels.	Read review
SpazioGames	Valentino Cinefra	7 / 10	02-14-2024	Mario vs. Donkey Kong, while a good game, comes too late in the Nintendo Switch’s lifecycle to stand out in the vast array of puzzle platformers, although the multiplayer adds an unexpected value.	Read review
Stevivor	Steve Wright	8.5 / 10	02-15-2024	“Mario vs Donkey Kong… is an absolutely fantastic little puzzler.”	Read review
VGC	Andy Robinson	3 / 5 stars	02-14-2024	Mario vs. Donkey Kong offers a notable step up in visual quality from its 20-year-old source material, but the same can’t be said for the gameplay mechanics, which remain largely unchanged. While it will no doubt appeal to purists who loved the GBA original, those discovering it for the first time may find it too easy and not up to the same standards as modern, similarly priced Mario releases.	Read review
Video Chums	A.J. Maciejewski	7.8 / 10	02-14-2024	I’m very happy that Mario vs. Donkey Kong was remade, especially considering just how darn cute it all is. Seeing as the core gameplay has held-up as well as it has and that there are a lot of challenges to overcome, it’s one impressive package. 🏭	Read review
WellPlayed	Mark Isaacson	8.5 / 10	02-15-2024	Mario vs Donkey Kong remains an enjoyable platform-puzzler as it did back on the Game Boy Advance, freshened up and featuring a small number of modern and welcome additions.	Read review

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Platforms

Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Critics Consensus (Play It)

Game Info

Bronze TIER

Where to Play

Ratings & Reviews

18

77

Where to Play

Embracer Group CEO Takes Responsibility for Restructuring, Announces Major Company Split

Assassin’s Creed Jade Release Likely Delayed to 2025 as Tencent Shifts Focus

PlayStation 5 Pro: Leaked Specs Reveal a Major Upgrade, Release Hinted for Holiday 2024

Xbox Games Hit New Platforms: Pentiment, Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves, and Grounded Coming to Other Platforms

Xbox Reaches Beyond Consoles: 4 Games to Rival Platforms, and What It Means

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