Ranking Every King Kong Game From Worst to Best

With the announcement of a new game in the series, it seems time to celebrate the many King Kong video game “classics”. It’s likely you’re eager to find out which games starring the original kaiju are truly worth your time, so we’re ranking the best and worst King Kong games of all time.

Here’s the problem though: Not only are there not very many King Kong games, but most of them are, well, let’s say “mixed” in quality and execution. Much like his perennial rival and BFF Godzilla, King Kong as a character has struggled with video games that emphasize the fun of being a giant rampaging gorilla in the best way possible (although Godzilla has at least a couple of good titles under his belt). The game based on Peter Jackson’s 2005 blockbuster nailed that goal, but the other games we’re going to cover here are fascinating in the sense that they didn’t really seem to know how best to use their star.

Are they all bad? Is Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie the only one that’s really worth your time? Let’s take a look at King Kong’s rough history with video games and find out.

 

The Best King Kong Games

9. Skull Island: Rise of Kong

Developer: IguanaBee SpA
Publisher: GameMill Entertainment LLC

Well, the good news for Skull Island: Rise of Kong is that at least it gets to be king of any list of the worst King Kong games ever made.

Unlikely to ever be knocked off its current spot at the bottom of this list, Skull Island: Rise of Kong has already amassed a reputation as one of the worst games of 2023. Some even think it will achieve immortality as one of the worst games ever, with its absolutely awful graphics, poor controls, and the dizzying litany of other issues plaguing a title that was in development for just one year. It’s embarrassing for a fictional character that he is continuously disrespected with fundamentally terrible games.

There’s really no reason why a game like Skull Island: Rise of Kong should fail this hard. On paper, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a game that explores the origins of a young Kong on iconic Skull Island. There’s some basic storytelling and character beats you can hit, mixing with gameplay that emphasizes combat, strategy, and exploration. All these things only exist as concepts in Rise of Kong. As far as execution is concerned, every single element of this regrettable release is a disastrous miss. Beauty killed no beast here, bad game design did.

 

8. Kong: The Animated Series

Developer: Planet Interactive Development
Publisher: BAM! Entertainment
Platforms: Game Boy Advance

Quickly now, who wants to discuss an utterly abysmal 2002 Game Boy Advance game that is so thoroughly lost to time, it doesn’t even have a MobyGames entry?

King Kong deserves better than Kong: The Animated Series. This is true where the animated series source material is concerned (although the show isn’t without fans, so feel free to check out an episode), and it’s even more apparent when you sit down to play this unforgivably bland experience that only changes gears from being boring when it wants to be incredibly frustrating instead.

Kong: The Animated Series looks fine, with some very nice backgrounds, but there’s nothing here in the gameplay, visuals, sound, or anything else that makes it notable. Kong himself looks fine, as well, and “fine” is really the kindest word you can use to describe a game that forces you to find its collectables in stages with confusing layouts. This is the definition of a disposable platformer. It’s hard to recommend Kong: The Animated Series to anyone except those who are consumed by the eternal flame of the desire to own every King Kong game.

 

7. Kong: King of Atlantis

Developer: Skyworks Technologies
Publisher: Majesco Entertainment Company
Platforms: Game Boy Advance

Kong: King of Atlantis is another King Kong Game Boy Advance adventure based on the animated series, specifically a direct-to-video film released in 2005. This tie-in game is quite different from 2002’s Kong: The Animated Series. That’s a good thing on paper.

Unfortunately, those differences don’t amount to very much. The only reason why King of Atlantis isn’t dead last is because the gameplay and character movement is a little bit better. There’s also something admirable about King of Atlantis splitting the action up between Kong and human protagonist Jason. It just doesn’t particularly matter who you play as. The gameplay remains repetitive and dull from start to finish. There’s not much of a challenge here.

Kong: King of Atlantis is also quite possibly the ugliest game on this list. That’s saying something when you realize we still have an Atari 2600 game to cover. This is another King Kong game that doesn’t do much with one of the most revered movie monsters of all time, so once again only completionists will really need to bother here.

 

6. King Kong

Developer: Tigervision
Publisher: Tigervision
Platforms: Atari 2600

King Kong for the Atari 2600, released in 1982, represents more than a largely forgotten licensed game that was almost immediately criticized for its similarities to Donkey Kong. It does play a small supporting role in the lawsuit between Universal and Nintendo. Video games in general would have turned out very differently indeed if the decision in that case had gone in Universal’s direction.

In fact, this Atari 2600 release from Tigervision, simply titled King Kong, came under similar attack from Universal, who seemed pretty confident in their belief that they owned the trademark wholesale. Atari would pay royalties, as would most other companies. Nintendo did not, and the resulting legal showdown established Nintendo on a path that would eventually close out the decade with complete dominance of the industry.

However, while Donkey Kong in virtually any form is a classic, the 1982 King Kong isn’t much of anything. It’s relatively fun to play, with Kong making his way up skyscrapers while avoiding bombs. You’ll be bored in about ten minutes, but that’s still way better than the last two games. When it comes to finding the best King Kong games, King Kong for the Atari 2600 is at least more than a morbid curiosity.

 

5. Konami Wai Wai World

Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: Famicom

Yes, it’s somewhat questionable to include Konami Wai Wai World in this look at King Kong in video games. This Japan-only (a shame, really) Famicom release is nonetheless considered part of his resume by pretty much everyone who knows it exists in the first place, so that’s what we’re going with.

Konami Wai Wai World is an odd one. While not specifically a King Kong game, this platformer does feature Kong among the characters you will play as. The game is essentially a series of levels built around the various characters Konami had in their stable at the time. It makes for a strange experience, as well as one of the most brutally challenging platform experiences you’ve had in a while. But at least you’ll recognize most if not all of the characters you can play as.

Konami Wai Wai World is sort of like the NES classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Characters include Simon Belmont, Mikey from The Goonies (no, seriously), Goemon, two Japan-only Konami favorites named, suitably enough, Konami Man and Konami Lady, and our big grumpy monkey man King Kong. Even Konami titles like Gradius and TwinBee figure into the surreal, largely enjoyable proceedings. Levels are designed around the stars, with the ability to choose stages like New York City, rescue one of your playable characters, and continue on.

 

4. King Kong 2: Revived Legend

Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: MSX2

The first of two games to be called King Kong 2, Revived Legend (known as Yomigaeru Densetsu in Japan) is a fascinating action RPG that was released right on the heels of Furious Megaton Punch for the Famicom.

These games don’t really have a lot in common with each other, beyond some basic similarities like sharing King Kong and taking place somewhere around the events of the infamous 1986 bomb King Kong Lives. The gameplay couldn’t be more different between them, but both are quite enjoyable for what you’re getting. An English translation patch is available for Revived Legend, if that’s something you might be interested in.

King Kong 2: Revived Legend tasks players with tracking down Lady Kong, who was a major character in the 1986 movie. Different endings can be achieved depending upon how soon you get to her. Revived Legend boils down to exploration, collecting keys and other items, leveling up, and learning some magic spells. It’s one of the better games on this list, with depth and pretty good visuals, but it also doesn’t let you play as King Kong, so keep that in mind.

 

3. King Kong 2: Furious Megaton Punch

Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: Famicom

Besides having the coolest name of any game featured here, King Kong 2: Furious Megaton Punch is the best of the Japan-exclusive Kong titles. Players this time get to control Kong himself as he searches for his beloved Lady Kong. Once again, we have a Konami King Kong game that’s based to some degree on the 1986 King Kong Lives.

Created during a time when Konami was just starting to come into their own with high-quality releases like Castlevania and Metal Gear, King Kong 2: Furious Megaton Punch benefits from a similar degree of attention. The result is a game that’s certainly aged, but one which clearly shows how much fun a game featuring Kong can be. Of everything we’ve discussed so far, this might be the first game to actually make you feel as though you’re playing something that feels spiritually similar to the movies.

Furious Megaton Punch sets Kong on a quest that will take him to nine different worlds. The overhead view and action elements might feel a little like The Legend of Zelda, but this is a far tougher and less intuitive game. At times it can feel incredibly disjointed, but you’ll still have fun.

 

2. Kong: The 8th Wonder of the World

Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platform: Game Boy Advance

The last GBA game featuring King Kong is not only the best of those three titles, but it’s easily the 2nd best game with King Kong ever made. Kong: The 8th Wonder of the World is a movie tie-in that generally seems to know how to combine film details with good gameplay and graphics to create something worthwhile.

It’s certainly not perfect, but The 8th Wonder of the World utilizes Legend of Zelda-style mechanics in a way that keeps you chugging along to the end. The game also doesn’t forget to keep the movie story going, and the result is a title that uses the power of the GBA to a pretty impressive degree.

Playing Kong: The 8th Wonder of the World comes down to two distinct modes. The first involves controlling humans Jack, Ann, and Carl (from the 2005 film, as well the 1933 original) in a style that emphasizes strategically using them and their distinct abilities to survive Skull Island. It’s a decent challenge, made better by small breaks that allow you to control Kong in a side-scrolling beat-em-up. Our only complaint? Those portions are not long enough.

 

1. Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie

Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: PC, PS2, PS4, Xbox, GameCube, Xbox 360, PSP

It’s going to be difficult for Skull Island: Rise of Kong to surpass Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie in the hearts of gamers. Almost 20 years from its release, this massive game allowed players to not only control Kong in a vivid, massive 3D world, but also to explore and survive Skull Island as protagonist Jack Driscoll in a fashion that might remind you of the best survival horror games.

Peter Jackson’s King Kong remake was ambitious in every sense of the word, expanding on the 1933 classic in terms of story, special effects, character relationships, and more. A tie-in video game was just one piece of the sprawling marketing blitz that preceded and followed the film’s 2005 release. With stellar gameplay and gorgeous graphics for the area, King Kong delivered an experience every bit as immersive and memorable as the film it was based on.

From excellent voice acting by stars Jack Black and Naomi Watts, to some deeply difficult and varied challenges between both modes of gameplay, King Kong was a big hit with gamers in 2005, particularly on the PS2 and Xbox consoles. There’s even an opportunity to unlock an ending in which King Kong actually lives. It’s easy to see why many still regard this adaptation as the best King Kong game of all time.

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