One Credit Challenge #14 takes us back to 1989 with Don Doko Don, a fixed-screen action-platformer by Taito. Bob and Jim, two dwarf lumberjacks armed with mallets, must rescue the princess of Merry Land by knocking out enemies with their hammers, then picking them up and throwing them at other foes. A spiritual cousin of Bubble Bobble with an addictive combo system and colorful graphics typical of Taito’s golden age.

Did someone say Bubble Bobble?

What makes Don Doko Don special? You use your hammer to stun enemies, then pick them up and throw them against a wall or other enemies to destroy them and trigger score bonuses. Combos are the key to scoring: the more you chain them, the more points you rack up.
Power-ups are essential: potions to level up, the death hammer, the flying hammer for ranged attacks, and magic books that instantly eliminate all enemies on screen.

Fruits dropped by defeated enemies also grant points, and some levels hide keys that unlock secret bonus stages. Make sure to collect them to maximize your score!

🏆 Challenge rules

Your goal is to achieve the highest score using a single credit.
The challenge runs from March 16 to March 31 at 11:59 PM. You can try as many times as you want.

📢 How to participate?

• Launch the game (ROM: dondokod)
• Play and try to beat the highest score
• Take a screenshot or photo of your final score
• Share your score on the Discord channel #challenges by indicating your username and your score.

⚖️ Rules to follow

To ensure a fair challenge:

• The score must be achieved on a single credit, without save states, rewind, cheats, or auto-fire (unless it is part of the original game).

• Gentlemen’s agreement: using glitches that artificially inflate the score is also prohibited.

🎁 Rewards and fair play

The goal of the challenge is above all to discover games, share tips, and of course have fun, all in a spirit of friendly competition!

The winner will receive a game key (GOG, Steam, etc.) to choose from a list of around 100 titles.
If you have already won a challenge in the past three months, the reward will go to the next participant.

Your ranking will be added to the One Credit Challenge scoreboard.
The champion of the first season will win either an RGB Dual 2 or one year of Recalbox Patreon.

Good luck to everyone, and may the best score win!