Donkey Kong Jr. is an arcade-style game where Mario has kidnapped Junior's Papa! In this sequel to Donkey Kong, players take on the role of Donkey Kong Jr. as he navigates through four levels: Vines, Springboard, Chains and Mario's Hideout. The goal is to find keys to free his father from captivity.
The gameplay involves avoiding obstacles such as Snapjaws, electric sparks, and other enemies sent by Mario . Junior can defend himself by dropping fruit on the heads of these foes, earning bonus points for a successful hit. Players can also climb up chains or vines to avoid enemies more easily, but falling or getting wet will result in losing a life.
The game features a final cut scene where Junior frees his father and both escape after defeating Mario . However, once all levels are cleared, the game will start again at a higher difficulty level.