Let's be real for a second. We’ve all been burned by Mario Party before. You're winning, you've got three stars, and then some "pity mechanic" or a Bowser space ruins your entire Saturday night. It’s a love-hate relationship. But Super Mario Party Jamboree on the Nintendo Switch feels different, and I don't mean just "slightly updated graphics" different.
Nintendo actually listened.
It’s huge. Honestly, the sheer scale of this thing is kind of overwhelming when you first boot it up. We are talking about over 110 minigames, which is a record for the franchise, and seven boards. Some are brand new; some are nostalgic trips back to the Nintendo 64 era. If you’ve been playing these games since the late 90s, seeing Western Land again hits you right in the childhood. But does it actually play well, or is it just more of the same RNG-heavy chaos?
Why the Pro Rules Change Everything
For years, the biggest complaint about Mario Party has been the luck factor. You could play perfectly and still lose because the game decided to give a "pity star" to the person in last place. Super Mario Party Jamboree finally fixes this with "Pro Rules."
This is a massive deal.
In Pro Rules, the number of turns is fixed, the Bonus Stars are announced at the start so you can actually strategize, and items in the shops are limited. It turns a digital board game into something that feels more like Catan or Ticket to Ride. You aren't just rolling dice and hoping for the best. You're calculating. You're checking the map. You're actually playing a strategy game. It’s the first time I’ve felt like I won because I was better, not just luckier.
Of course, if you want the chaos, the "Party Rules" are still there. You can still ruin friendships over a stolen star if that's your vibe.
The Buddy System is the New Meta
Forget the Allies from the 2018 Super Mario Party. Those were sort of broken. Jamboree introduces "Jamboree Buddies." These characters appear on the board, and you have to win a specific, character-themed minigame to get them on your team.
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The perks are wild.
If you have Mario as a buddy, he adds to your dice rolls. If you have Peach, she lets you buy Stars for half price. But here’s the kicker: they only stay with you for a few turns, and if someone passes you on the board, they "steal" your buddy. It creates this frantic, high-stakes chase where everyone is trying to tackle the person with the Buddy. It’s stressful. It’s brilliant.
The Boards: From Shopping Malls to Volcanos
The board design in Super Mario Party Jamboree is surprisingly dense. Take Rainbow Gallerie, for example. It’s basically a giant mall with elevators and flash sales. If you time it right, you can buy two stars at once.
Then you’ve got Roll 'em Raceway. This one feels like a love letter to Mario Kart. You’re literally driving a car around the track, and the faster you go, the more rewards you get. But watch out for the pit stops.
- Western Land: A classic from Mario Party 2. The train is still there, and it will still ruin your life.
- Mario’s Rainbow Castle: Straight from the original 1998 game. It's simple, but the mechanic where the tower rotates between Toad (Star) and Bowser (Zonk) is still the ultimate test of patience.
- Mega Wiggler’s Tree Party: A new one where the board literally changes shape when Wiggler moves.
- King Bowser’s Keep: This is the "high difficulty" board. Expect lava. Expect pain.
Honestly, the variety here makes the previous Switch entries look like tech demos. There's a level of verticality and interaction we haven't seen since the GameCube days.
Does the Online Mode Actually Work?
Nintendo isn't exactly famous for world-class netcode. We all remember the lag in Super Smash Bros. or the early days of Mario Kart 8.
With Super Mario Party Jamboree, the online experience is actually... okay? I mean, it’s not perfect. You’ll still get the occasional stutter if someone is playing on a McDonald’s Wi-Fi connection from across the globe. But the new Koopa Skyathlon mode is a game-changer for solo players.
It’s basically a 20-player "Battle Royale" style race. You play minigames simultaneously to earn coins, which move your character forward on a track. It’s fast-paced, it’s chaotic, and it doesn't require waiting for twenty people to take their turns on a board. If you’ve only got 15 minutes to play, this is where you’ll spend your time.
The Minigame Quality Gap
Let's talk about the 110+ minigames. Quantity doesn't always mean quality, right?
Most of them are great. Some use the Joy-Con motion controls—flipping burgers, steering boats, that kind of thing. Others are "Button Only," which is a godsend for people playing on a Switch Lite or those who just hate waving their arms around.
The rhythm games are particularly standout. There’s one where you’re basically a conductor, and if you miss a beat, the whole orchestra falls apart. It’s hilarious. But then you have a few duds. There are a couple of "luck-based" games where you just pick a door or pull a lever, and those still feel like a waste of time in 2026. Thankfully, they are in the minority.
Motion Controls: Love Them or Hate Them?
Nintendo really leaned back into motion for this one. Some modes require you to detach the Joy-Cons. If you’re a pro gamer who only uses a Pro Controller, you’re going to hit a wall in certain modes like "Toad's Item Factory."
It’s a bit of a divisive move. Personally, I think Mario Party is a "party" game, so waving your hands around is part of the charm. But I get why people find it annoying. Just be aware that if you're traveling with your Switch, you can't play every single mode in handheld mode.
Addressing the "Low Difficulty" Rumors
Some critics have said the AI is too easy.
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I disagree. If you put the CPU on "Master" difficulty, they are borderline psychic. They will hit every perfect block, they will find every hidden star, and they will ruin your soul. The game feels accessible for kids on "Easy," but it definitely has teeth for the veterans.
The real challenge, though, is the Boss Minigames. These are huge, spectacle-driven battles where all players have to work together to take down a giant Bowser or a massive Monty Mole. It adds a co-op element that breaks up the "everyone out for themselves" vibe.
Hidden Gems: The Extra Modes
Most people will just jump into the Party mode, but you’d be missing out if you ignore the side stuff.
"Bowser’s Kaboom Squad" is a 8-player co-op mode where you have to collect bombs to blast a giant, Kaiju-sized Bowser. It feels totally different from the rest of the game. It’s almost like a simplified third-person action game.
And then there's the "Paratroopa Flight School." It uses the Joy-Cons to simulate wings. It’s a total workout. You’ll be sweating after ten minutes. Is it a core reason to buy the game? No. Is it a fun distraction when you’re bored of the board? Absolutely.
Reality Check: Is It Worth the Price?
At $60, it’s a standard Nintendo flagship price.
If you already own Mario Party Superstars, you might wonder if you need this. Superstars was a "Greatest Hits" collection. Super Mario Party Jamboree is a brand new, massive expansion of the formula. It has more characters (Ninji and Pauline are finally here!), more games, and way more modes.
If you have friends over often, it’s a no-brainer. If you’re a solo player, the Skyathlon and the single-player "Party Planner Trek" mode give you enough content to justify the spend, which is something I couldn't say about the previous titles.
How to Win More Often (The Insider Tips)
If you want to actually beat your friends and not just rely on luck, keep these things in mind:
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- Prioritize the Shops: In the Pro Rules, items are limited. Get the Golden Pipe early. It’s the most powerful item in the game, hands down.
- Watch the Buddy Timer: Don't waste your best items to get a Buddy if they only have one turn left on the board. Wait for the respawn.
- Learn the Minigames in Practice Mode: You can practice any minigame before it starts. Use that time. Even five seconds of testing the physics can be the difference between 1st and 4th place.
- Save Your Coins: It’s tempting to buy everything, but you need at least 20 coins for a Star. If you see a Boo nearby, someone is going to steal your coins. Spend them or lose them.
Actionable Next Steps for Players:
- Check your controllers: Ensure your Joy-Cons are calibrated, as many of the best minigames in Jamboree rely on precise gyro sensing.
- Toggle Pro Rules immediately: If you are playing with adults or experienced gamers, turn on Pro Rules in the lobby settings to remove the most frustrating RNG elements.
- Unlock the secret characters: Don't forget to look for Ninji and Pauline through the binoculars in the main plaza; you don't just "get" them, you have to find them first.
- Update your firmware: Nintendo has already pushed stability patches for the online 20-player modes, so make sure your version is current before jumping into the Skyathlon.