REVIEW – The latest installment in the Mario Party series arrives packed with new boards, game modes, and tons of mini-games. But can it hold your attention for hours, or is it the kind of game you only bust out when friends are over for a party?

Super Mario Party Jamboree is loaded with nostalgic nods to the past, but it’s far from a simple rehash of old material. Two classic boards make a return, but there are also five brand new ones to explore. And as usual, the Jamboree doesn’t disappoint when it comes to mini-games, offering a mix of over 110 new and old fan favorites. Before hitting the board, you get to pick your character. While the familiar faces are present, a few lesser-known but equally amusing characters are available too. Personally, I often gravitate toward Monty Mole or Spike – with Spike looking hilariously out of place, as if he wandered into the game by accident.

A Party That Starts Strong

One of the biggest selling points of Super Mario Party Jamboree comes right at the beginning. Alongside the traditional ruleset, you can opt for a more competitive set of rules that shifts the focus from luck to skill. The goal remains the same – gather as many stars as possible. Sure, your rival might still pull off a ridiculous three-star turn, but in this mode, your skills play a more significant role. For example, the game is set for twelve turns by default, only one bonus star is revealed at the start, and you can pick from seven items right off the bat. Shops have limited stock, and several other tweaks like these make the game feel more balanced.

The issue I’ve always had with Mario Party is that no matter how well you play, random bonus stars could throw your plans off completely. Sure, you can disable this feature, but that makes the game feel a bit flat and less exciting.

A Blend of Nostalgia and Newness

The standard game mode is everything you’d expect from Mario Party. There are a handful of thrilling mini-games, and plenty of playful throwbacks to the series’ past. There’s definitely enough new content to keep things fresh, though it all still feels comfortably familiar. The mix of old and new mini-games works especially well.

Another feature brought back from earlier games is the partner system, briefly mentioned by Mitch in the preview. Characters like Mario or Bowser Jr. can randomly show up on the board, and if you pass by them, they’ll join you, offering useful advantages – particularly as you close in on a star. With the right partner, you could even snag two stars in one go instead of just one.

While this dynamic is interesting, much depends on where the partner shows up on the board. At times, the partner can be positioned so far from everyone that no one interacts with them, and they disappear after a few rounds without making any impact.

Another minor frustration is the CPU’s decision-making, which can sometimes be downright baffling. For instance, I watched in disbelief as Wario teleported to a shop he was already only a few spaces away from. Since you can’t fast-forward through the CPU’s turns, moments like these can really drag the game out. It’s fine when everyone’s controlling their own characters, but if a couple of CPU players are involved, it’s tempting to grab your phone during their turns.

Unnecessary Game Modes

In addition to the Mario Party board game mode, Super Mario Party Jamboree offers a slew of filler modes. There’s Minigame Beach, Koopatlon, Bombs on Bowser, Paratroopa Flight School, Toad’s Item Factory, and Rhythmic Cooking. You can also do single-player Party Prep with Kamek. Of these, Koopatlon (a Battle Royale-style mode) is the most fun, but even that wears thin after a while. For us, the classic Mario Party mode is still the clear favorite. The rest of the modes feel redundant because the main game is simply so much more entertaining.

This could have been handled better. Why not include an online ranked Mario Party mode if the developers were really leaning into the competitive aspect? But instead, the game seems designed more for fun, casual play with friends rather than serious competition.

While it’s a bit of a letdown, it doesn’t ruin the overall experience. The Mario Party mode is such a classic that you can easily spend a few nights playing it with friends. And for that alone, the game’s worth the price. I’ll also give a shout-out to Minigame Beach, as there are a few mini-games you’ll want to play repeatedly. Here, you can set high scores with your friends in your favorite mini-games. This feature was available in the previous Mario Party game, but it’s still a solid addition.

Is Super Mario Party Jamboree the evolution or revolution we were hoping for? Not really. But it’s still a blast, with tons of characters and even more mini-games. The extra fluff wasn’t necessary, but some players will undoubtedly enjoy it.

So, is Super Mario Still Fun?

Super Mario Party Jamboree does a great job combining nostalgia with fresh elements: five new boards, 110 mini-games, and a competitive ruleset where skill matters more than luck. While the partner system adds a layer of strategy, it heavily depends on where the partner appears on the board. The CPU can make some strange and frustrating choices, and the extra game modes feel like filler. Still, the Party mode remains unbeatable. Though there aren’t any major innovations, the game is still ideal for nights with friends, and it offers enough fun to justify the purchase.”

-Gergely Herpai “BadSector”-

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Nd Cube

Style: Party game

Release: October 17, 2024.