Back in 2017, Nintendo dropped a title that sounded like a fever dream for anyone who grew up destroying their palms on an N64 controller. Mario Party: The Top 100 promised to take the absolute best bits from ten mainline games and cram them into one handheld cartridge. On paper? It’s a genius move. In reality? It’s probably the most misunderstood entry in the entire franchise.
Honestly, if you go into this expecting a traditional board game experience, you’re going to be bummed out. It’s basically a massive minigame museum rather than a "party" in the way we usually mean. But for a certain type of player, it’s actually kind of a hidden gem.
What Exactly Is Mario Party: The Top 100?
Most people assume this is a standard Mario Party game. It isn't. Not really.
Instead of five or six sprawling boards with distinct themes and complex traps, you get exactly one. Just one. And it’s a grid-based map that uses the "simultaneous movement" mechanic seen in Star Rush. You aren't taking turns watching Daisy slowly hop across the screen; everyone rolls at once and moves together. It’s fast. Maybe too fast for some.
The meat of the game is the collection itself. We’re talking about 100 minigames pulled from Mario Party 1 all the way through Mario Party 10. You’ve got classics like Booksquirm, Bumper Balls, and Shy Guy Says looking better than they ever have.
The Lineup Breakdown
Nintendo didn't just pick 10 games from each entry. They leaned heavily into the N64 and GameCube eras. You’ll find about 13 games from Mario Party 2 and 14 from Mario Party 4, but only a handful from the later Wii U titles. For nostalgia junkies, this is great. If you were a huge fan of the motion-control era of Mario Party 8, you might feel a bit short-changed.
✨ Don't miss: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Unhealthy Competition: Why the Zone's Biggest Threat Isn't a Mutant
The Good, The Bad, and The "Wait, Really?"
Let's talk about the single-player. It’s called Minigame Island.
It’s a linear path where you just... play the minigames. That’s it. You move from point A to point B, beating the AI to unlock the next set of games. It’s a bit of a grind, but it’s how you unlock the full library for multiplayer. The AI on "Master" difficulty is actually surprisingly tough—they don't miss.
One thing that’s genuinely awesome is Download Play.
You only need one person to own the game. Up to four people can play together on their own 3DS systems without everyone needing to buy a copy. That’s a huge value add that people often overlook. You can host a full-blown session on a road trip or at a coffee shop, and your friends just need their handhelds.
Why the hate then?
The controversy basically boils down to the "missing half."
🔗 Read more: Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is Still the Series' Most Controversial Gamble
A huge part of the Mario Party soul is the board game strategy. Stealing stars, choosing paths, and using items to ruin your friend’s life. When you strip that down to a single, generic board, it feels like half the game is missing. It’s like buying a pizza but only getting the toppings in a bowl. Sure, the pepperoni is great, but where's the crust?
Mario Party: The Top 100 vs. Superstars
Now that Mario Party Superstars is out on the Switch, a lot of people ask if this 3DS version is even worth touching.
Superstars is basically the "fixed" version of this concept. It has 100 minigames and it has the classic boards. If you have a Switch, Superstars is the superior choice 99% of the time.
However, Mario Party: The Top 100 still has some unique pulls:
- It’s portable in a way the Switch isn't quite (fits in a pocket).
- It has minigames that didn't make the cut for Superstars.
- The 3D effect on the 3DS looks surprisingly cool in games like Shell Shocked.
Actionable Tips for Players
If you’re thinking about picking this up or digging it out of your drawer, here is how to actually get the most out of it.
💡 You might also like: Nancy Drew Games for Mac: Why Everyone Thinks They're Broken (and How to Fix It)
1. Don't play it for the board.
Treat the "Minigame Match" mode as a side dish. The real fun is in the Championship Battles or Decathlon. These modes focus on winning a series of games to see who has the best reflexes. It’s much more competitive than the board mode.
2. Grind Minigame Island early.
Don't invite friends over until you've cleared at least half of the single-player mode. You start with about 55 games unlocked. If you want the full "Top 100" experience, you have to put in the work alone first.
3. Use the "Favorites" packs.
One of the best features is the ability to create custom packs of five minigames. If you and your friends hate luck-based games (looking at you, Deck Hands), you can just filter them out entirely. This makes the multiplayer sessions way less frustrating.
4. Check your hardware.
Some games require the microphone or the touch screen. If you're playing on an older 2DS or have a sticky screen, some of the high-precision games like Trace Race might be a nightmare.
Basically, this isn't the "ultimate" Mario Party. It's a high-speed tournament tool. If you want to prove you're the best at the actual games without the 60-minute commitment of a board, this is your title. Just don't expect a deep tactical experience.
Next Steps for Your Collection:
If you're looking for that classic board experience on the 3DS, look for Mario Party DS instead—it’s widely considered the best handheld entry. If you just want the minigames and have a group of friends with 3DS systems, keep Mario Party: The Top 100 for your next hangout; the Download Play feature makes it one of the most cost-effective multiplayer games on the system.