Compare Donkey Kong Free Play, High Score Save, and Multigame Kits
Compare seven upgrade options for compatible original Nintendo Donkey Kong arcade hardware. Available choices range from standard Donkey Kong Free Play and score-saving kits to D2K, Pauline Edition, tournament, training, Remix, and 3DK Rearranged multigame systems.
Each product has its own game collection, menu functions, processor requirements, PCB compatibility, and installation procedure. Review the individual product page and installation guide before ordering.
HighScoreSaves Donkey Kong Kit Menu Operation
On all HighScoreSaves-designed kits, hold Player 1 Start for approximately four seconds during attract mode to open the supported game-selection menu. Braze and Donkey Kong Remix products use their own documented controls.
Original Donkey Kong Upgrades
HighScoreSaves Donkey Kong Kit
A Donkey Kong-only upgrade with Free Play, permanent Top 5 score and initials saving, extended scoring, menu-driven settings, practice tools, optional gameplay modes, and optional Wi-Fi.
Supports documented original Nintendo two-board and four-board Donkey Kong PCB stacks.
Best for: Players who want original Donkey Kong with extensive settings, practice functions, and optional online scores.
View HighScoreSaves Donkey Kong KitBraze Donkey Kong Kit
A Donkey Kong-only Braze Technologies upgrade with permanent Top 5 score and initials saving, deluxe Free Play, selectable attract sound, power-on diagnostics, and an on-screen settings menu.
Uses the original Z80 processor from the compatible Nintendo Donkey Kong CPU board.
Best for: Owners who want a focused Braze upgrade with automatic startup diagnostics and straightforward settings.
View Braze Donkey Kong KitD2K and Pauline Edition Kits
Braze D2K: Jumpman Returns
Includes Donkey Kong and D2K: Jumpman Returns with separate Top 5 score tables, deluxe Free Play, attract sound, diagnostics, and menu-driven settings.
Does not include: Pauline Edition, Wi-Fi, or the ladder cheat.
View Braze D2K KitHighScoreSaves Pauline Edition
Includes selectable Donkey Kong and Pauline Edition presentations, plus Free Play, Top 5 score and initials saving, practice tools, gameplay modes, and optional Wi-Fi.
Installation note: The full Pauline presentation requires five matching graphics EPROM changes on the video PCB.
View Pauline Edition KitHighScoreSaves Donkey Kong | D2K | Pauline
Combines Donkey Kong, D2K: Jumpman Returns, and Pauline Edition with Free Play, Top 5 scores and initials, practice tools, optional gameplay modes, and optional Wi-Fi.
Installation note: Pauline graphics require five matching graphics EPROM changes on the video PCB.
View Donkey Kong | D2K | Pauline KitAdvanced Donkey Kong Multigame Systems
Donkey Kong Remix Tournament Edition
Includes seven selectable Donkey Kong versions and tools: original Donkey Kong, Remix, Deranged, Trainer, pace calculator, Tournament Edition, and Remix Tournament Edition.
Adds shareable tournament codes, adjustable game configurations, advanced practice tools, pacing displays, permanent score saving, and optional Free Play.
Best for: Competitive players, trainers, tournament organizers, and players seeking alternate Donkey Kong stages and mechanics.
View Remix Tournament EditionHighScoreSaves Donkey Kong Rearranged 3DK
A large multigame system with Donkey Kong, Pauline Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Donkey Kong 3, D2K, Pauline D2K, Japanese revisions, practice levels, and Donkey Kong Rearranged.
Includes its own Z80 processor and installs on compatible original Nintendo Donkey Kong or Donkey Kong Jr. two-board PCB stacks when the correct 3DK or 3DKJr configuration is selected.
Best for: Owners who want the broadest Nintendo Donkey Kong family collection and Rearranged gameplay.
View Donkey Kong Rearranged 3DKVerify Your Donkey Kong PCB Before Ordering
- Confirm whether the cabinet contains an original Nintendo two-board or four-board Donkey Kong PCB stack.
- Verify the Z80 processor location and whether it already has a compatible socket.
- If a required processor or EPROM location is soldered directly to the PCB, a qualified arcade technician must install the appropriate socket.
- The 3DK Rearranged product supports compatible two-board Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. stacks only; four-board Donkey Kong hardware is not supported.
- Pauline Edition products require five matching graphics EPROM changes on the original Donkey Kong video PCB.
- Do not select a kit solely by its game list. Installation requirements and supported hardware differ among products.
Donkey Kong Remix Tournament Edition Multigame Free Play and High Score Save Kit
Donkey Kong Kit Features and Differences
The seven products in this category serve different types of Donkey Kong owners. Some retain only the original game, while others add D2K, Pauline Edition, Remix stages, tournament tools, training functions, or a broader Nintendo multigame collection.
Compatibility also varies. Some kits support documented two-board and four-board Donkey Kong PCB stacks, while the Donkey Kong Rearranged 3DK system installs only on compatible two-board Donkey Kong or Donkey Kong Jr. hardware.
HighScoreSaves Menu Control
On every HighScoreSaves-designed kit, hold Player 1 Start for approximately four seconds during attract mode to open the supported game-selection or kit menu.
Standard Donkey Kong Kit Comparison
These two products retain the original Donkey Kong game rather than adding a larger multigame collection.
| Feature | HighScoreSaves Donkey Kong | Braze Donkey Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Original Donkey Kong with extensive score, practice, settings, and optional Wi-Fi features | Original Donkey Kong with Braze Free Play, score saving, diagnostics, and settings |
| Games included | Donkey Kong | Donkey Kong |
| Score saving | Top 5 scores and player initials | Top 5 scores and player initials |
| Free Play | Yes; coin operation remains available | Deluxe Free Play with full attract mode |
| Menu access | Hold Player 1 Start for approximately four seconds during attract mode | Braze on-screen settings menu |
| Practice tools | Stage Practice, slowdown training, Wild Barrel, Color Barrel, and optional no-kill-screen mode | Not listed |
| Extended scoring | Yes | Not listed as a primary feature |
| Attract sound | Adjustable for 25%, 50%, or 100% of supported attract rotations | Selectable on or off |
| Power-on diagnostics | Not listed as a primary feature | Yes |
| Optional Wi-Fi | Yes, for supported online score submission | No |
| Processor | Uses the original Z80 unless a compatible processor option is selected | Uses the original Z80 from the Donkey Kong CPU board |
| PCB compatibility | Documented two-board and four-board Nintendo Donkey Kong stacks | Compatible original Nintendo Donkey Kong CPU board; verify the exact configuration with the guide |
D2K and Pauline Edition Comparison
These three options add D2K, Pauline Edition, or both. The two Pauline products require five matching graphics EPROM changes on the original Donkey Kong video PCB.
| Feature | Braze D2K | HSS Pauline Edition | HSS Donkey Kong | D2K | Pauline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main selections | Donkey Kong and D2K: Jumpman Returns | Donkey Kong and Pauline Edition Donkey Kong | Donkey Kong, D2K: Jumpman Returns, and Pauline Edition Donkey Kong |
| D2K included | Yes | No | Yes |
| Pauline Edition included | No | Yes | Yes |
| Score saving | Separate Top 5 scores and initials for Donkey Kong and D2K | Supported Top 5 scores and player initials | Supported Top 5 scores and player initials |
| Free Play | Deluxe Free Play | Yes; coin operation remains available | Yes; coin operation remains available |
| Game-menu access | In Free Play attract mode, hold both Start buttons for approximately five seconds and press Jump | Hold Player 1 Start for approximately four seconds during attract mode | Hold Player 1 Start for approximately four seconds during attract mode |
| Practice and training tools | Not listed | Stage Practice, slowdown, Wild Barrel, Color Barrel, and no-kill-screen options | Stage Practice, slowdown, Wild Barrel, Color Barrel, and no-kill-screen options |
| Diagnostics | Automatic power-on diagnostics | Not listed as a primary feature | Not listed as a primary feature |
| Pauline graphics EPROMs | Not required | Five matching graphics EPROM changes required | Five matching graphics EPROM changes required |
| Ladder cheat | Not included | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Optional Wi-Fi | No | Yes | Yes |
| PCB stacks | Documented two-board and four-board Donkey Kong stacks | Documented two-board and four-board Donkey Kong stacks | Documented two-board and four-board Donkey Kong stacks |
Advanced Multigame System Comparison
The Remix Tournament Edition and 3DK Rearranged products provide the largest collections, but their focus and installation requirements are very different.
| Feature | Remix Tournament Edition | HighScoreSaves 3DK Rearranged |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Remix stages, tournament configurations, advanced practice, pacing, and increased-difficulty Donkey Kong variants | Broad Nintendo Donkey Kong family multigame with Rearranged content |
| Main included content | Donkey Kong, Remix, Deranged, Trainer, pace calculator, Tournament Edition, and Remix Tournament Edition | Donkey Kong, Pauline Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Donkey Kong 3, D2K, Pauline D2K, Japanese revisions, practice levels, and Donkey Kong Rearranged |
| Optional additional content | Extensive tournament-code configurations | Optional Remix Collection with Donkey Kong Remix, Donkey Kong Jr. Remix, Christmas Remix, and Spooky Remix |
| Game-menu access | Uses its documented Game Select system | Hold Player 1 Start for approximately four seconds during attract mode |
| High-score saving | Permanent supported score table for each selection | Top 5 scores and player initials for supported games |
| Free Play | Optional through the kit menu | Yes; supported coin operation remains available |
| Tournament tools | Shareable codes, character choices, stage order, timers, hammer settings, randomizer options, and more | Not the primary focus |
| Training tools | Stage restart and skip, adjustable speed, pace calculator, gameplay indicators, scoring displays, and timers | Supported practice levels and menu settings |
| Processor | Requires a compatible socketed Z80 installation location; follow the Remix guide | Z80 processor included on the main Rearranged daughterboard |
| Supported installation hardware | Compatible original Nintendo Donkey Kong PCB and ROM configurations; verify the guide | Compatible Donkey Kong or Donkey Kong Jr. two-board PCB stack with the correct 3DK or 3DKJr configuration |
| Four-board Donkey Kong support | Verify the supported configuration with the Remix installation guide | No |
| Optional Wi-Fi | No documented Wi-Fi option | Yes |
Which Donkey Kong Kit Should You Choose?
Original Donkey Kong with Practice Tools
Choose the HighScoreSaves standard kit for original Donkey Kong, Top 5 scores and initials, extended scoring, practice modes, menu settings, and optional Wi-Fi.
View HighScoreSaves KitOriginal Donkey Kong with Diagnostics
Choose the Braze standard kit for a focused Donkey Kong upgrade with deluxe Free Play, Top 5 scores and initials, attract sound, power-on diagnostics, and settings.
View Braze KitDonkey Kong and D2K
Choose the Braze D2K kit for Donkey Kong and D2K: Jumpman Returns with separate score tables, diagnostics, and deluxe Free Play.
View Braze D2K KitPauline Without D2K
Choose the Pauline Edition kit for Donkey Kong, Pauline graphics, practice features, gameplay modes, and optional Wi-Fi without D2K.
View Pauline KitDonkey Kong, D2K, and Pauline
Choose the combined HighScoreSaves kit when all three main presentations, practice tools, gameplay modes, and optional Wi-Fi are wanted.
View D2K | Pauline KitTournament and Advanced Training
Choose Remix Tournament Edition for alternate stages, shareable tournament codes, advanced practice, pacing tools, and Deranged gameplay.
View Remix Tournament KitBroadest Donkey Kong Family Collection
Choose 3DK Rearranged for Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Donkey Kong 3, D2K, Pauline versions, Rearranged content, practice levels, and optional Wi-Fi.
View 3DK RearrangedInstallation and Compatibility Requirements
Access to the original arcade PCB is required. Confirm the manufacturer, PCB-stack type, processor location, socket status, ROM revision, and selected kit configuration before ordering.
- No soldering is required when every required CPU, EPROM, or daughterboard installation location already has a compatible socket.
- If a required component is soldered directly to the PCB, a qualified arcade technician must install the appropriate socket.
- The HighScoreSaves standard, Pauline, and D2K/Pauline products support documented two-board and four-board Donkey Kong PCB stacks.
- The Braze D2K product supports documented two-board and four-board stacks.
- Verify the exact supported Nintendo PCB configuration for the Braze standard and Remix Tournament products with their installation guides.
- The 3DK Rearranged kit supports compatible two-board Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. stacks only. It does not install on four-board Donkey Kong or standalone Donkey Kong 3 hardware.
- Pauline Edition and Donkey Kong | D2K | Pauline require five matching graphics EPROM changes on the original video PCB.
- Use the product-specific installation guide. The kits are not interchangeable simply because they share Donkey Kong content.
Donkey Kong Installation and Comparison Resources
Related Donkey Kong Hardware Categories
Donkey Kong Jr. Kits | Donkey Kong 3 Kits | Donkey Kong D2K Kits | Donkey Kong Remix Kits | Donkey Kong Jr. Remix Kits | Crazy Kong Kits | Crazy Kong Remix Kits
These related games share Nintendo hardware lineage or Donkey Kong gameplay heritage, but each requires a kit specifically matched to its original PCB configuration.