It’s neck-and-neck between this game and “Tetris” as to what my favorite Game Boy cartridge of all-time is.

Since Game Boy’s “Tetris” has been bested by the incredible “Tetris Effect”, I think I’d have to give “Donkey Kong” the win. It’s never been surpassed by a better iteration, and not for lack of trying. If you’ve ever played a “Mario vs Donkey Kong” game on a Nintendo handheld, this game is their inspiration. But “Donkey Kong” remains unparalleled, a timeless experience that is not held back by its black-and-white presentation or single-screen stage design.

The game cleverly opens with the four original boards from the arcade Donkey Kong… but then continues the adventure with 97 more levels. Unlike the arcade game, Mario can perform backwards jumps, do handstands, and pull off double jumps. The increased gymnastics make the game a joy to control. And while there’s plenty of challenge to be had, there isn’t a single stage that feels unfair or frustrating… think things through, and you’ll never need a guide.

If you still have a Game Boy or Game Boy Advance, it’s worth hunting this cart down. It’s not on Nintendo Switch Online yet, but I’m thinking that is inevitable.