45 Years Ago Today, Nintendo Released the Most Important Video Game of All Time

Nintendo is perhaps the most recognizable video game brand in the world today. Taking in billions of dollars a year, the legendary Japanese giant wasn't always the household company it is in 2026. One game did more to catapult them to the forefront of the industry than any other, and it came out 45 years ago today.

Donkey Kong came to arcades on July 9, 1981. The classic game that follows Mario as he tries to rescue Pauline from the evil clutches of Donkey Kong now stands as the iconic starting point for Nintendo's two mascots, and it's hard to hyperbolize just how vital this game was for the industry and the company.

The classic platforming formula that took over consoles in the 1980s was established here in a big way. Creative level design, such as avoiding barrels while climbing ladders and running from fireballs with faces, became the basis for so much of developer Shigeru Miyamoto's future greatness in the NES and SNES era.

Donkey Kong effectively bridged the gap between the arcade and console eras for Nintendo. Four years later, Super Mario Bros. came along. Donkey Kong honed the basic attributes of Mario, so all Nintendo had to do when Mario's solo effort came was translate it to a sidescrolling stage.

What's so impressive is the way both of these characters have evolved, but remained an incredibly pivotal part of the present for Nintendo. The last year has been very kind to DK. Donkey Kong Bananza was the best game on the Switch 2 in its first year on shelves. Donkey Kong 64 brought a touch of the 1990s to Nintendo Switch Online when it came out at the beginning of June.

Mario's games are now the highest-selling in the history of the industry. This allowed Nintendo to assert dominance over competitors with The Legend of Zelda, Kirby, Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart, Pokémon, and more. All of this wouldn't be possible without a daring arcade game from 1981.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jul 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 9:00 PM.