When it comes to game night with family and friends, there really ain’t no party like a Mario Party. The series has ignited our competitive spirit for over 25 years, turning the sofa into an energized playground of joy and banter.
The latest entry, Super Mario Party Jamboree, takes the chaotic fun of its predecessors and elevates it. This is the classic Mario Party formula you love, multiplied, and jam-packed with more minigames, characters and content than ever before – it’s the biggest Mario Party yet on Nintendo Switch!
Here’s how Super Mario Party Jamboree takes the ultimate game night to the next level…
Party with Even More Characters!
Firstly, this entry has the largest roster in the series to date, featuring 22 playable characters; more than double its predecessor, Super Mario Party Superstars. Naturally, fan favourite heroes like Peach, Yoshi and Donkey Kong return, while villains like Boo, Goomba and Spike, the latter of which hasn’t been playable since Mario Party 10 back in 2015, join the ranks. Two brand new unlockable characters, Pauline and Ninji, are also along for the ride.
Seven Game Boards
Craving a classic 4-player frenzy? Jamboree’s Mario Party Mode applies the series’ beloved board game formula onto vibrant new terrain. Roll your dice block and prepare to traverse a whopping seven game boards – the most seen on Nintendo Switch to date – each with their own unique mechanics.
The five new boards are Mega Wiggler’s Tree Party, where the paths are altered every time you wake the giant Wiggler; Goomba Lagoon, where paths can be washed away by high tide; Roll ‘em Raceway, which lets characters whizz around the circuit in a race car; Rainbow Galleria, a vast shopping mall where you can nab a star for 50% off in a flash sale, and King Bowser’s Keep, where imposter Bowser can cause carnage by claiming spaces as his own. Two returning boards are Western Land from Mario Party 2, and Mario’s Rainbow Castle from Mario Party, making Jamboree a true celebration of the series, then and now.
In addition, there’s an exciting new mechanic to spice up the game – players can earn a Jamboree Buddy which will help them for three turns on the board. These allies enable you to take certain actions twice, including gaining double the coins or stealing stars twice from your foes. But the same way positive actions are doubled with a buddy, so too are unlucky ones! If you land on a Bowser space, it’ll trigger twice, adding a whole new level of chaos to your game. Beyond their doubling effects, Jamboree Buddies also offer aid via individual power ups, for example, Donkey Kong can launch you across the board, while Yoshi can copy an item held by your opponent.
Players can jump into Mario Party Mode with up to 3 friends locally or online, or match online with random opponents from across the world. And if they feel like really testing their skills, they can choose the new Pro Rules feature, which introduces a more competitive ruleset which makes things more strategic and more reliant on skills.
More Minigames Than Ever Before
Minigames are the star of the Mario Party series, and this collection carries the same addictive, chaotic DNA to have you shouting at the TV. Doubling down on its mission to be the biggest Mario Party game ever, Jamboree has over 110 minigames ranging from classic races and obstacle courses to whimsically bizarre experiences, such as working with a co-op partner to perfectly slice a steak in two or leaping around in a giant picnic basket to avoid being crushed by falling sandwiches. Along with the variety of games, there is also a variety of control schemes – Jamboree has the best of both worlds with some minigames using motion controls and other using button controls. Not a motion control fan? You can disable those minigames from appearing in the settings menu, or using a Pro Controller to auto-disable them.
Similar to the aforementioned game boards, players get both new minigames and nostalgic hits, like Granite Getaway, Blame it on the Crane, and Snow Brawl which all make a return.
Players can also try their hand at these competitive trials in new ways, such as the Daily Challenges, by heading over to Minigame Bay.
Brand New Modes
Amazingly, Super Mario Party Jamboree isn’t content with delivering the most jam-packed version of the classic board game mode to date. It expands the series even further by adding three new motion control modes, and two brand new online modes, one of which lets up to 20 players join the chaotic fun!
Paratroopa Flight School is the first of the new motion control modes, where players can use their Joy-Con to soar through the air, taking part in competitive or cooperative activities with a buddy. There’s also Toad’s Item Factory, where participants work together to get a ball to the goal by controlling individual parts of a machine via their Joy-Con. Finally, there’s Rhythm Kitchen, a classic 4-player rhythm action game which lets you bust a move with the Joy-Con to cook along with the beat.
The first new online mode is Koopathlon, a 20-player race via a series of minigames (your position in the race is tied to how well you perform at said minigames) which mixes the most popular elements of the franchise with a global “battle royale” approach, as players try to overcome Survivathon encounters that threaten to knock them out of the running.
Bowser’s Kaboom Squad, the second online mode, is an action-packed co-op experience where 8 players team up to take down a rampaging Imposter Bowser. You’ll need to defeat him within 5 rounds to win, so load bombs into a cannon to chip away at his health. After each round, you can earn helpful items via a minigame to help you gain the upper hand in battle. Remember: teamwork makes the dream work, particularly when facing off against the Imposter King of the Koopas!
Host the ultimate games night from the comfort of your sofa when Super Mario Party Jamboree launches on 17th October exclusively for Nintendo Switch, and is available from Nintendo eShop, My Nintendo Store and at retailers.
