Super Mario Party Jamboree: bigger and prettier than ever before

I’m nervous. In the last round of our game, fellow editor Domi ends his turn right in front of the Star. However, my jamboree partner is Donkey Kong, so I could snatch two stars right out from under his nose. Excited, I use in my double dice and… YES! I reach the star space and bet 40 coins to double my winnings!

All the other players groan in frustration. Especially Kevin, from whom I had just stolen his only star. As he swears under his breath, Domi laughs on the other side of the sofa: «Haha, how frustrating, I love it!» Yes, Domi, me too.

All that awaits you in the biggest Mario Party of all time

With Super Mario Party: Jamboree, Nintendo has packed more options and modes into a Mario Party spin-off than ever before. There’s also a huge selection of playable characters.

In addition to the classic Party mode, Jamboree also has a Pro Rules version with more complex rules. You can play these two modes either offline or online against three other party people. If you want to play with eight or even up to 20 gamers, there are also the online modes Koopathlon and Bowser Kaboom Squad. As Nintendo had already made the game available to me before the release, I was unable to test them online.

Don’t have that many friends or want to play solo? On the Party-Planner Trek, you can also explore the game boards all by yourself and try your hand at all 110 mini-games. In addition to games that can be controlled with the buttons, there are also games controlled by movement. I can exclude the latter as required (even in Party mode). The mini-games I’ve played so far are just as lovingly designed as the game boards. I’m delighted.

My jamboree partner: doubling down

Mario Party is the main game mode – the basic principle hasn’t changed much compared to its predecessors. The four of you roll dice on a game board over ten rounds to get golden stars. Our end goal? To collect as many of them as possible. After each round, you play a mini-game with or against the other players for coins. You can use these to buy the aforementioned stars or bid for various items.

Jamboree is a new game feature that Nintendo has integrated into the classic Party mode. After five rounds have been played, a special Jamboree character appears on the board. If I reach their spot, I have to fight for them against my fellow players. This is done via a themed mini-game that matches the character. If I reach the Jamboree character first, I get a bonus when competing for him. If I win the mini-game, I get the character, who then accompanies me for up to three rounds.

Each of these characters support me with a special ability during this time. Donkey Kong hurls me onto a random field as desired. Yoshi copies items from opponents I pass, Wario gives me a handful of coins at the start of each round. These special abilities replace the character-specific traits of individual characters from previous Mario Party games.

What all Jamboree partners have in common are the dual pros and cons. If I reach a space where I can get items or coins, the prize is doubled. I can access the item store and star space twice if I have enough coins. But if coins are stolen from me, this also happens twice.

In addition to the regular Party mode, there’s also a more tactical version: Pro Rules. There are fewer random elements, fewer items and fewer coins in this one – but Jamboree partners also appear here. I need to think more about moves. Personally, I enjoyed this one a little less because there was less randomness – that’s what I love in Mario Party.

New maps: beautifully designed and unique

In Super Mario Party Jamboree, five new maps and two familiar ones await me. Each board has its own special features that affect gameplay.

Both the new and the old game boards impress with their diversity, exciting gameplay and beautiful graphics. Western Land already existed in Mario Party 2, but now it is more modern and detailed. Mario’s Rainbow Castle from the very first Mario Party has also been given a thorough makeover. And if all the colourful boards are too dazzling for you, there’s a new dark board called King Bowser’s Keep. I will take a closer look at two of the new game boards.

Rainbow Galleria: shopping made fun

I’ll start with my personal favourite. In addition to colourful escalators leading to different floors, the Kaufpalast also has an elevator if you need to rush. Unfortunately, it costs a few coins.

The shopping centre features lovingly designed details that particularly delighted me. For example, there’s a small movie theatre I pass by on the escalator. And what would a shopping centre be without massive sales? These take place every few rounds. During one, items – and even stars – only cost half as much for a round. Turns out I love shopping!

Goomba Lagoon: fiery eruptions

In Goomba Lagoon, there’s a bubbling volcano just waiting to light up the game board. This can have good and bad effects. Small fireballs spread across spaces when the volcano erupts, stealing my coins, while the gold Goomba rain has the opposite effect.

But beware of the ebb and flow, which changes every few rounds. It’s like a curse, I always land on one of the small islands at high tide and can only move in circles. Maybe that’s why I don’t particularly like this board.

Endless mini-games: Party-Planner Trek

If I want to enjoy the 110 mini-games without the board game fuss, Mario Party Jamboree offers other game modes that focus on just those. I can run a whole mini-game marathon with friends on a dedicated island. One of the many modes on this island, for example, is the Daily Challenge. Here, I play three games in a row against my friends. The player with the best overall score wins. The Daily Challenge offers differing triplets of mini-games every day.

If I want to practise alone, there’s the brand-new Party-Planner Trek. Here, I can freely explore one game board after the other. There are various characters who need my help. They’re either looking for an item on the map or looking to compete against me in four-player mini-games. I get mini stars for completing tasks and games to unlock further maps. A cute idea that brings some added value instead of just stringing minigame after minigame together. I finally get to see all the ones that were hardly or not at all present in Party mode.

More than a board game: game modes for more joycon movement

In addition to the actual board game (whether local or online), Nintendo has packed three other game modes into the thing. They’re all funny and entertaining, but I don’t find them exciting enough to play through several times. Nevertheless, they’re a nice addition.

In Toad’s Item Factory, two of us help little Toads to produce items for the game. To do this, we have to transport a ball through various mazes to the exit. Controls? Use the joycons to turn or pull various levers or activate fans at the right time, which then move the ball forward.

In Paratroopa Flight School, I use the joycons as wings and have to wave my arms to fly through the air and catch the little flying creatures. With a second player, I can have a race to see who catches the most animals. Ow, my arms…

Rhythm Kitchen was reminiscent of the game Fruit Ninja – just with more rhythm. Across various levels, the aim is to prepare menus using the joycons. When cutting vegetables, I make the typical slicing motion with a knife, or I throw burger patties onto buns in one movement. It all has to happen in time.

The food is then judged by a jury consisting of three Yoshis. They’re a little too nice in my opinion. Still, my finished meal looks delicious.

Online game modes with Bowser

There are two more modes available online. I wasn’t able to test these before release, but we can now all find out how they work together.

On the one hand, there’s Koopathlon. Here, you play against up to 19 other gamers through a whole series of mini-games in a kind of race. In these mini-games specially designed for this many people, the aim is to score as high as possible. The more points you score, the faster you reach the finish line and win the Koopathlon.

That’s why Bowser Kaboom Squad exists. Here, you play in a team of up to eight people. Together, you fight a giant Bowser by collecting bombs and firing at him with cannons. Between each round, there’s a mini-game in which further helpful items for the fight against the giant lizard can be earned.