Quick Reference Guide
Donkey Kong – Jenga
AGES 6 to ADULT, 1 or more players
Components:
- 54 hardwood blocks (girders in DK mode)
- Custom Donkey Kong spinner
- 4 Mario pieces
- 1 Donkey Kong & Pauline piece
- Loading tray
Traditional Jenga Rules:
- Remove 1 block below top completed level, stack it on top.
- Use only one hand (switch allowed).
- Your turn ends 10s after stacking or when next player touches the tower.
- Game ends when tower falls.
- Winner: Last player to successfully stack.
Donkey Kong Jenga Rules:
- Objective: Climb tower with Mario to rescue Pauline without toppling tower.
- Setup: Place DK & Pauline at top; Marios start at bottom girders.
- On turn: Spin spinner >> Pink = blocks to remove (0–2), Black = Mario climbs (0–3).
- Mario must stand on a girder. If occupied, skip to next free level.
- Multiple Marios can share a girder.
- If girder under Mario is removed, he falls 1 level down.
- Always keep DK & Pauline on top girder.
- Win: First Mario to reach top OR closest to top when tower falls. Player who topples tower loses.
How the spinner works
How Mario Climbs the Tower:
To move Mario up one girder, take your Mario piece out and place him in the girder above. To place him in the girder above, you’ll have to move him to another side of the tower, either left or right. Mario must always be standing on a girder.
Fully Occupied Girder:
Multiple Mario pieces can occupy the same girder or girder level. If there is no available girder to stand on (or there are other Mario pieces fully occupying the girder your Mario is moving to), you may skip that level and proceed to the level above the occupied row. Bonus for you!
Strategy tip:
Remove a girder that another player’s Mario is standing on and make your competitor fall to the girder immediately below on the same side of the tower.
Moving Donkey Kong and Pauline:
When stacking girders on top of the tower, you must also remove and replace Donkey Kong and Pauline. Donkey Kong and Pauline must always be placed on top of the tower.