Nintendo Switch Online has welcomed Donkey Kong Land 3, adding to the nostalgia as this Game Boy classic celebrated its 27th anniversary back in October 2024. With this addition, the entire Donkey Kong Land trilogy is now part of the Nintendo Switch Online offerings.
The Donkey Kong Land series, developed by Rare during its pre-Microsoft days, rolled out consecutively from 1995 to 1997. The inaugural game launched on Nintendo Switch Online on November 22, shortly followed by its sequel four days later.
Continuing the trend, Donkey Kong Land 3 debuted on the NSO catalog on Wednesday, December 4. Like other Game Boy classics on Nintendo Switch Online, this game is accessible on both subscription tiers. It’s important to note this isn’t the same as Donkey Kong Country 3—a former SNES exclusive added to NSO in December 2020.
Unfortunately, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers don’t have access to the optimal version of Donkey Kong Land 3. It’s the original 1997 Game Boy version rather than the enhanced Game Boy Color port from 2000, known for its vibrant color visuals. This version wasn’t released outside Japan, and bringing it to the West now would require localization. While Nintendo does occasionally localize classics—such as F-Zero: GP Legend and F-Zero Climax for NSO back in October 2024—it does so rather sparingly.
With the addition of DKL3, the Nintendo Switch further solidifies its status as a premier Donkey Kong console. Currently, Nintendo Switch Online offers 10 Donkey Kong franchise games, from Donkey Kong Country and DK3 to Donkey Kong Jr. and DK Jr. Math. The Switch has also received ports like DKC: Tropical Freeze and Mario vs. Donkey Kong in May 2018 and February 2024, respectively. Looking ahead, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is set to hit the hybrid console on January 16, 2025.
Donkey Kong Land 3 marks the first new inclusion to the NSO library for December 2024, but more is on the way. The NES version of Tetris is slated for release on December 12, potentially closing out the NSO content rollouts for the year.
