Within each level, the Ramp Stage is always the first one. Starting on Level 4, it also appears between the Conveyor Belt Stage and Elevator Stage, and in Level 5, between the Elevator Stage and Rivet Stage.
Mario starts in the lower left corner and must climb all the way to the top. Along the way, Donkey Kong will be rolling barrels down the girders, and Mario must either avoid or jump over them.
At the very start of the Ramp Stage, Donkey Kong will hurl a beam straight down to the oil can, starting a fire and releasing the first Fireball. The Fireball will slowly make its way up the ladders in pursuit of Mario. After this, every eighth barrel Donkey Kong sends down will be a beam. Every beam that reaches the oil can produces a new Fireball, with a maximum of five Fireballs on screen at once.
There are two hammers available for Mario. These can be used to destroy barrels and fireballs, but slow down his climbing. It's generally best to leave the first hammer alone except in emergencies. The second hammer can be used more often in early levels when there is more bonus time available, and used sparingly in later levels if the path to the far right ladder becomes too crowded.
Barrels can drop down any ladder, regardless of whether it's broken or whole, and Fireballs can climb both. (In the Japanese version, barrels won't drop down a ladder if Mario is currently climbing it and near the top.)
Broken ladders won't help Mario make upward progress, but they can be used as a temporary means of escape. However, this is generally slower and more dangerous than simply jumping over barrels, and it should only be used when more barrels are approaching than can be cleared with a single jump.
When jumping straight up, you can increase the range of the game's "barrel detection" by holding the joystick left or right while in midair. Sometimes this allows you to be awarded points for barrels or enemies you didn't directly jump over.
Advanced Tip: As the game progresses, you can force barrels down ladders. In early levels this is fairly challenging, as the barrels aren't very responsive. From Level 4 onward, however, you have maximum control, allowing barrels to be "commanded" down ladders roughly 75% of the time when the joystick is used correctly. The barrels respond to the joystick's position, not to the direction that Mario is moving, so you can make barrels drop down ladders even while he is climbing, or direct a barrel to roll down a ladder to the left while jumping right.
In the American version, this stage appears starting from Level 3, right before the Elevator Stage. In the Japanese version, it is the second stage of every level.
This stage is divided into five layers. At the bottom, Mario must climb one of the ladders to the first conveyor belt, which stretches across the screen. Cement pies appear periodically along this belt and can be jumped over or smashed with a hammer.
The conveyor belt moves left or right, and its direction affects Mario's speed. The belt reverses direction whenever Donkey Kong is positioned all the way to the left.
From here, Mario can climb to the third level, which contains two bonus prizes and a hammer. The only threat at this level is the growing number of Fireballs.
The second conveyor belt always moves toward the oil can. This level is the most dangerous due to the cement pies and constant stream of Fireballs. It's best to move quickly through this area.
The final objective is to climb the retractable ladder when it is fully extended, reaching Donkey Kong’s belt. You only have to make it to the belt itself — rescuing Pauline happens automatically.
Tip: At the beginning of the level, Fireballs always jump out of the oil can toward Mario’s position. If you wait until they have spawned, you can move right more safely. The number of initial Fireballs is equal to the level number, up to a maximum of five.
In the American version, this stage appears for the first time on Level 2, before the Rivet Stage. In the Japanese version, it's always the third stage.
This stage features two elevators. The left elevator goes up, and the right elevator goes down. The goal is to reach the ladder that leads to Pauline.
The first challenge is a Fireball located between the elevators. If Mario is positioned below it, the Fireball can descend the ladder. However, if both are on the top level, the Fireball will not move down.
When using the second elevator, if it's slow enough, you can sometimes make a direct jump from the high left ledge to the right ledge. Otherwise, you must ride the elevator down and carefully jump across the platforms while avoiding falling springs.
At the top, springs must be timed precisely. The safest approach is to stand directly above the right elevator, wait for a spring to bounce overhead, then make a run for the ladder as soon as it has passed.
Donkey Kong Arcade 3rd Elevator Stage Walkthrough (1:07)
Advanced Tip: From Level 4 onward, springs appear much faster and require precision. There are short springs (land left of DK's foot) and long springs (land between DK's legs), with "medium" springs falling in between. To climb the final ladder, wait for a short spring to land, then run left immediately. Position yourself halfway off the right elevator, wait for a long spring, and dash for the ladder after its first bounce. Be wary of medium springs that land too close — you may have to adjust your timing accordingly.
The Rivet Stage is the final challenge of every level.
Donkey Kong has taken Pauline to the highest point of the construction site. To rescue her, Mario must remove the yellow rivets by walking or jumping over them. These rivets disappear when crossed, creating gaps that impede the Firefoxes but must be crossed by jumping.
Firefoxes always spawn on the opposite side of the screen from Mario. The center of the screen is treated as the "left side."
Firefoxes won't move down a ladder unless Mario is positioned lower than them, though they can move upward regardless of his position.
Two hammers are available to help manage Firefoxes. The lower hammer can be picked up easily, while the upper hammer can be retrieved by jumping from the left ramp or by standing at the edge and jumping straight up. Be cautious, as you can't jump across gaps while holding a hammer.
The safest approach is to clear the left side first, then move to the right. Use the hammer located on the second level from the bottom for maximum efficiency. By doing so, you can clear the right side while new Firefoxes respawn harmlessly on the left.
Bonus prizes can be picked up for points, but only if it's safe and doesn't cost too much bonus time.
Once all eight rivets have been removed, Donkey Kong falls, and Mario is reunited with Pauline. After this, the game returns to the Ramp Stage, repeating the challenge at a higher difficulty and speed.
Tip for High Score: Stand to the right of Donkey Kong and repeatedly jump while holding the stick right. This can yield 100 points per jump until Level 4, after which the bonus timer ticks down too quickly for this tactic to be worthwhile.
The Kill Screen appears on Level 22, when the bonus counter starts at 4,000 and decreases too quickly for completion. You can only move a short distance before running out of time.
The best approach is to use the available time to maximize your score by jumping barrels or using the hammer. Spend any extra lives on Level 21, as it provides far more points. The Kill Screen itself offers few points, making it an unfortunate but inevitable end for even the best players.
If you've made it this far, congratulations — you have mastered the core mechanics and strategies required for Donkey Kong. Your skills have taken you to the limits of this classic game.
