Honestly, the Mario Party series has been a bit of a roller coaster for the last decade. We had the weird "car" era where everyone moved together, then the slightly-too-small Super Mario Party, followed by the "greatest hits" vibe of Superstars. But Super Mario Party Jamboree feels like Nintendo finally stopped overthinking it and just gave us everything. It’s huge. It’s chaotic. It’s actually kind of mean in that special way only Mario Party can be.
If you’ve been burned by the lack of boards in previous Switch entries, you're not alone. We all felt that. But this time, Nintendo dropped seven boards right out of the gate. That's a massive jump.
What Super Mario Party Jamboree Gets Right (and Wrong)
The biggest change in Super Mario Party Jamboree is the sheer scale. You've got over 110 minigames. That’s the highest count in the history of the franchise. Some use motion controls—which, let's be real, can be hit or miss depending on how much space you have in your living room—but you can actually toggle those off in most modes if you just want to use buttons.
One thing that’s genuinely surprising is the "Jamboree Buddy" system. It’s not just a recycled ally mechanic. These buddies appear on the board and trigger a dedicated minigame to win their favor. If you win, you get massive perks, like being able to buy two Stars at once or copying the abilities of other players you pass. It changes the math of the game entirely. Suddenly, the person in last place isn't just hoping for a lucky hidden block; they're hunting down Waluigi or Daisy to flip the script.
👉 See also: Why Khajiit Has Wares If You Have Coin Is Still The Internet’s Favorite Gaming Meme
The Boards: From Nostalgia to New Chaos
Nintendo brought back two classics: Mario’s Rainbow Castle from the original N64 game and Western Land from Mario Party 2. They look gorgeous in HD, but the new maps are where the real strategy hides.
Take Roll’em Raceway. It’s a literal circuit where you’re moving at high speeds in karts. Then you have Rainbow Galleria, which is basically a giant shopping mall. It has flash sales. It has different floors. It’s probably the most "modern" Mario Party board we’ve ever seen, focusing more on coin management than just raw dice luck.
Then there's the Pro Ruleset. This is a big deal for people who hate the "randomness" of the series. In Pro Mode, the number of turns is fixed, the Star locations are shown in advance, and Bowser spaces do specific, predictable damage. It turns a party game into something that feels almost like a competitive board game. It’s a bold move for a series known for ruining friendships through pure, unadulterated luck.
Koopa Athlete and the 20-Player Madness
Everyone is talking about the online modes. In the past, Mario Party online was... well, it was Nintendo online. A bit laggy, a bit bare-bones. Super Mario Party Jamboree introduces the Koopa-athlon.
Twenty players. Simultaneous racing.
It feels more like Fall Guys than a traditional board game. You’re playing minigames in real-time to charge your character forward on a track. It’s fast. It’s sweaty. It’s a complete departure from the "wait for your turn" pacing that usually defines the genre. If you have a short attention span, this is probably where you’ll spend 90% of your time.
The Elephant in the Room: The "Luck" Factor
Let’s be honest. Some people hate Mario Party because they think it’s "unfair." You can play a perfect game and then lose everything because a Boo stole your Star or Bowser decided you were too successful.
In Super Mario Party Jamboree, that "unfairness" is still there, but it feels more like a tool you can manipulate. The items are more diverse. The shop system is deeper. You have more agency over your fate than you did in Superstars.
Is it perfect? No. The motion control games can still feel a bit janky if your Joy-Con calibration is off. And if you’re playing solo, the AI can still be incredibly frustrating—either playing like a literal god or a confused toddler with no middle ground.
Strategy Tips for Your Next Session
If you want to actually win your next game of Super Mario Party Jamboree, stop ignoring the shops. In the older games, you could get away with just hoarding coins. Here, the items—especially the ones that let you move buddies or warp across the board—are the only way to counter the Pro Ruleset’s predictability.
Also, keep an eye on the "Jamboree Buddy" timer. People often ignore them until they're right on top of them, but you should be planning your pathing three turns in advance to make sure you're the one who initiates that buddy minigame.
Why the Switch Needed This Now
The Nintendo Switch is in its twilight years. We’re all waiting for the "Switch 2" or whatever comes next. Releasing a "Jamboree" version of their biggest multiplayer franchise feels like a victory lap. It’s a culmination of everything they learned from the previous two entries.
It’s bigger, it’s louder, and it finally feels like a "full" game worth the $60 price tag without needing DLC to feel complete.
Making the Most of Your Playthrough
To get the most out of the experience, don't just stick to the standard Party mode.
- Check out the Rhythm Kitchen: It’s a weird, small mode but genuinely fun if you like Rhythm Heaven-style gameplay.
- Toggle the Motion Controls: If you’re playing on a Switch Lite or just hate waving your arms around, check the settings before you start a board. Not all modes support this, but most do.
- Master the Koopa-athlon: It's the best way to grind for rank and unlocks without committing to a 90-minute board game session.
- Try the Boss Raid: The Bowser Kaboom Squad mode is a 10-player co-op experience. It’s one of the few times Mario Party asks you to work with people instead of stabbing them in the back.
This isn't just another sequel. It’s the definitive version of the series on this hardware. Whether you're playing with kids, roommates, or strangers online, the depth of content here is actually pretty staggering. Just don't blame the game when someone steals your Star on the final turn. That’s just Mario Party.