I thought I was done with Mario Party. After reviewing *Mario Party Superstars* in 2021, I praised it as a logical conclusion for the series, a greatest hits collection that could neatly wrap things up. Yet, Nintendo wasn’t done, releasing *Mario Party Jamboree* this October. Initial skepticism arose: did the Switch really need another Mario Party game, especially over giving *Superstars* any post-launch support? Despite my reservations, Mario Party has a knack for winning me over, and after an hour-long demo, I’m ready for another round. While I don’t anticipate perfection on the level of *Superstars*, there are enough new ideas to warrant a fresh trip around the board.
The demo started with two rounds on a traditional board game map, showcasing the new playable characters, Pauline and Ninji. We played on *Mega Wiggler’s Tree Party*, a classic map brimming with gimmicks. A Piranha Plant gobbles up coins, a space allows for honey collection, and the giant Wiggler at the center of the map offers shortcuts – if you’re lucky. A route change foiled my speedrun to the first star, a reminder of the series’ classic unpredictability.
After familiar dice-rolling and item buying, I sampled the new minigames. Most adhered to the series’ elegant design. *Light-Wave Battle* had us pounding buttons to unleash damaging rings, requiring strategic hopping over opponents’ attacks. *Arch Rival* was a motion-controlled three-on-one battle, where one player had to shoot arrows through targets held by the other team. The opposing trio could move those targets by swaying the Joy-Con, dodging incoming shots.
In *Daily Challenge* mode, a teammate and I faced another duo in a gauntlet of three minigames. Some felt safe and familiar, like a matching game and *Shadow Play*, which tasked us with recreating an image using shapes. Though not particularly memorable, they still generated the right level of tension.
The most enjoyable minigames borrowed ideas from other popular party games, showcasing Nintendo’s keen eye for the genre it helped popularize. A team-based minigame had my partner and I managing three conveyor belts carrying fruit, reminiscent of *Overcooked*. The teamwork twist? Fruits would sometimes appear on a belt only one of us could reach, creating a hilarious scramble as we passed fruit back and forth, channeling Lucille Ball’s iconic chocolate factory frenzy. These creative moments reminded me of Mario Party’s brilliance at its peak.
While all of this sounds great, it’s already present in the existing Mario Party titles on Switch. *Jamboree* needs to go the extra mile to justify another full-priced installment. On the surface, it’s larger than both *Super Mario Party* and *Superstars*, boasting seven boards (three unlockable), including two from previous entries. It features over 110 minigames, a series high, with over a dozen motion control-based options. An in-game point system unlocks emotes, music, and player card customization options, offering substantial value for your buck.
But *Jamboree* doesn’t stop there. It introduces new modes, pushing the series beyond its standard board game format. These additions will appeal to different players, but their potential is undeniable. *Koopathon* is a 20-player online mode where players complete solo-coin collecting minigames. The more coins earned, the further they move around the board. The minigames are simple but offer varying scores. *Fall Guys* vibes are present in the large-scale minigames where players compete for survival on a collapsing floor. This competitive spirit, combined with the online component, will likely resonate with players seeking a larger multiplayer experience.
The most unique new mode is *Bowser’s Kaboom Squad*, an online 8-player co-op mode unlike anything the series has done before. Players run around a tiny city as a kaiju-sized Bowser stomps around. The objective? Work together to break open bomb-filled boxes and transport them to a cannon, chipping away at Bowser’s health. Collaborative minigames are played after each round, rewarding players with items based on their performance. The standout minigame involved plugging leaks in a snaking pipe, a testament to the potential for strategic cooperation. These modes, while not likely surpassing the standard board game in popularity, offer a fun alternative for those seeking minigame-focused experiences or lacking a group of friends nearby.
While I still lament Nintendo’s lack of post-launch support for *Superstars*, it’s hard to stay mad at a series that delivers the laughter and screaming that makes Mario Party so compelling. *Jamboree* delivers both, promising a fresh, fun, and familiar experience for fans. *Mario Party Jamboree* launches on October 17 for Nintendo Switch.
