Donkey Kong 64 is one of those N64 games that just oozes personality. You start off as DK himself, swinging around his home island, smashing crates, and collecting golden bananas—because of course, that’s the currency here. But soon, you unlock the other Kongs, each with their own weird little quirks. Tiny Kong’s ponytail lets her glide, Chunky can… punch really hard, and Lanky? Well, he stretches his arms like some kind of deranged taffy. It’s ridiculous in the best way.

The levels are massive for an N64 game, packed with hidden paths and puzzles that force you to swap between characters constantly. Some areas are locked behind specific Kong abilities, so you’ll backtrack a lot—but it never feels tedious because there’s always some new goofy mini-game or collectible to stumble into. And the soundtrack? Absolute fire. That DK Rap lives in my head rent-free.

It’s not perfect—some of the minigames are brutal, and good luck getting all those bananas without a guide—but it’s pure, chaotic fun. If you’ve got a soft spot for late-’90s platformers, this one’s a must-play.