Donkey Kong featured the first appearance of the character Donkey Kong.
Nintendo released the arcade game Donkey Kong in 1981. Players controlled a character who had to climb construction sites, jump over barrels, and rescue a kidnapped woman from the giant ape at the top of the screen.
The game was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and became a major international success. Its protagonist was originally called Jumpman, a character who was later renamed Mario. Donkey Kong himself became the central figure of a Nintendo character family that later included Donkey Kong Country.
Donkey Kong Jr., released afterward, reversed the roles by making Donkey Kong the captive and Mario the antagonist. That sequel is not the character’s debut; the original Donkey Kong arcade game introduced him.