Super Mario Party Jamboree Review: More Like An Entire Amusement Park Than A Party

Super Mario Party Jamboree proves that Nintendo has learned from past mistakes, triumphantly crafting a Mario Party game that shouldn't be missed. Packed with modes and an exquisite balance of design choices, this new entry to the francise removes most of the frustration the series has brought players in the past. The popular multiplayer party game series has previously released some Mario Party entries that have overly relied on recycled mini-games and a lack of engaging modes, issues that Super Mario Party Jamboree's release thankfully avoids.

Mario Party has changed dramatically since its 1998 debut on the Nintendo 64. From the nearly-annual releases of installments one through eight to the Wii game's over-reliance on motion controls, it's likely that Nintendo fans have memories of both joy and frustration with friends tied to the company's popular multiplayer series. Now, Super Mario Party Jamboree feels like a collection of ideas fans will love, along with the removal of frustrating luck-based gameplay and time-wasting segments that make the latest game feel like a proper optimization of the franchise.

This Party Has Evolved Into Something Greater

Jamboree Has Much More Than The Traditional Game Board

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Anyone who's played a few rounds of any Mario Party game in the past may have a good idea of what to expect with the new game, but you'll be pleasantly surprised that Jamboree includes the signature game board mode, and the more demanding Pro Rules. The Pro Rules are a welcome addition to long-time players who've enjoyed when the franchise rewards planning instead of random game-changing events. Set star placements, limited items, and the reduction of bonus stars (which Pro Rules reveals the conditions of from the start) are only a few adjustments that feel refreshing.

Unlike previous titles in the franchise, Super Mario Party Jamboree does not immediately have everything it offers unlocked right away. By experimenting with the plethora of game modes available from the start, additional stages, modes, and even playable characters unlock. This change helps give Jamboree a healthy sense of progression, which goes double for the surprisingly relaxing and exciting Mario Party Story Mode, Party-Planner Trek.

Story Mode Discovers How Mario's Parties Come Together

Players Can Help Create The Party Before They Party

Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic

Mario Party games often focus on multiplayer fun, and while Jamboree includes many activities for friends online and off to enjoy together, the latest installment also contains a wide selection of single-player modes. The Party-Planner Trek has players helping set up the stages customarily used for the traditional Mario Party mode. Players will travel around the board without dice and assist characters by collecting items, exploring, and completing minigames. It's a clever way to add light story elements and context into the game, and it becomes especially thrilling thanks to the incredible boss battles waiting at each stage's end.

Super Mario Party Jamboree also boasts an impressive variety of activities, making it feel more like an entire amusement park than a party. Several islands each contain something to do, with some only allowing one player per console, but friends can join online in almost every mode. Modes like the 20-player Koopathlon race and 8-player Bowser Kaboom Squad require other players or helpful CPUs to fuel the excitement and help take down the ginormous Imposter Bowser. But if players need a break from the intense competition, Jamboree's new modes make it the most relaxing Mario Party game yet.

Jamboree Can Provide Chaotic Multiplayer Fun or A Soothing Party For One

Modes Support Anywhere From One to Twenty Players Online

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The Minigame Bay allows players to experience an extensive range of minigames through Free Play, but it also includes modes that enable you to compete in a series of challenges without having to use a traditional Mario Party gameboard. However, Toad's Item Factory and the Rhythm Kitchen are individual experiences with more depth than the standard minigames. Toad's Item Factory is a series of challenges that test one's balance and patience with physics-based puzzles using two Joy-Con controllers, while Rhythm Kitchen is an entire collection of cooking-based rhythm minigames that can be enjoyed alone or with up to three friends.

Several modes unlock as experience points are gained to provide even more options. While all of the additional modes can be a blast of fun and variety, many players buy the latest game in the Nintendo franchise to enjoy the traditional Mario Party mode, which has also been fine-tuned to be arguably the most satisfying rendition yet.

Related Super Mario Party Jamboree Release Date, Boards, Minigames, & Characters Super Mario Party Jamboree is ready to get the party started with the biggest entry into the series, with over 110 minigames and up to 20 players.

Super Mario Party Jamboree's new boards contain clever themes that see sections of the level shift, like the Goomba Lagoon stage, which has a high and low tide that can strand players on little islands for a couple of turns. Each level also includes quirks that help each feel unique in appearance and gameplay. Many quality-of-life additions like fast-forwarding through CPU turns or moments of character traversal are only a few design decisions that feel like developers are respecting the player's time, a luxury that the previous Mario Party games did not include.

Final Thoughts & Review Score

Screen Rant Gives Super Mario Party Jamboree a 9 out of 10

With so many gameplay modes and options, Super Mario Party Jamboree has something for almost every type of player, even those who have previously been turned off the board game format. For fans who've played every installment, the latest game includes several well-thought-out new modes and the best-designed boards in quite some time. Then, for players who only enjoy minigames, there are more than a few modes that have distilled each element of Mario Party into an easy-to-access mode that can be enjoyed alone or with friends close by or far away online.

Despite its leaps in advancing the core Mario Party experience, there's still some room for improvement. The ability to tweak the 10-turn minimum to go lower would have been a way to add a new level of approachability that feels a little overlooked here compared to the other thoughtful quality-of-life improvements. For younger audiences, 10 turns can still feel quite high for a party game that's really evolved its approachability in so many other ways.

While Jamboree doesn't necessarily reinvent the wheel when it comes to the minigame multiplayer genre, it's arguably the most polished and focused Mario Party game made yet. With so many gameplay and customization options, unlockables, and activities to discover, Super Mario Party Jamboree is now the most welcoming entry for new players and a refreshing experience for those who love the franchise's intense competitions with close friends.

9/10 Super Mario Party Jamboree Pros Customization options make the game more approachable for a range of playstyles

Quality of life improvements result in a more streamlined Mario Party

Pro Rules remove some luck-based frustrations Cons Play options could go deeper (e.g. being able to play less than 10 rounds)