Super Mario Party Jamboree (Nintendo Switch) Review

It has been a journey for Mario Party fans over the years, with the series built on strong foundations on the Nintendo 64 and GameCube. It has, however, become divisive in recent years. Nintendo tinkered with the setup in Mario Party 9, taking it further in the Wii U follow-up Mario Party 10. There was a slight detour back to form when the series landed on the Nintendo Switch. Super Mario Party brought back elements of the original series, but still very much tried to make the experience its own.

Nintendo then went full circle in the second Switch entry, Mario Party Superstars; a celebration of the original games and what fans argue was a return to form. History aside, is Super Mario Party Jamboree a good time? Short answer, yes!

In a nutshell, the latest Nintendo Switch instalment takes elements of past Mario Party games and blends them into a cocktail of the familiar and something new. Fresh without deviating from that core star collecting formula. Hop into the Party Mode and the setup sees players take turns to win mini-games, horde coins and earn (or steal) stars from their rivals. Buy stars, win mini-games, cross those fingers - it's what Mario Party is all about!

The mini-game selection this time round is the biggest in Mario Party history, with a solid roster of over 110 to play through. From dodging falling sandwiches to collecting flags on a Mario Galaxy-esque planet, arm-wrestling robots to slicing up steak. Those who loved the throwbacks in Mario Party Superstars will be pleased to see the inclusion of fan-favourite returning mini-games like Platform Peril, Snow Brawl, Bumper Balls and Treasure Divers. Variety wise, there are more hits than flops overall - something that can dampen a party game quickly. However, at time of review there is a lot of repetition in the games that come up for selection - something that could be patched to improve.

A Mario Party romp wouldn't be anything without the game boards to match. More recent entries, like Super Mario Party, stripped back the boards to more basic set-pieces - perhaps playing it too safe. But Jamboree fortunately feels like more of a return to form. Maps are significantly larger, but not too overwhelming, have layouts with branching routes, interactive spaces and more interesting concepts. Players can roam around an adorable forest, take a stroll through a shopping mall, explore a lagoon and even unlock a pair of boards from the past series.

How about the rules and mechanics? The core setup is very much the same, but Super Mario Party Jamboree refreshes the traditional format with a few new additions. Let's talk buddies. Nintendo have explored the buddy concept before in Super Mario Party, an approach that divided fans but did shake up the series by layering on more potential for chaos. In Super Mario Party Jamboree, the buddy system returns with single support characters spawning from time to time. They stick around, waiting for players to try to befriend them for a handful of turns. Walk past one and you might think it's instant friendship, but this time round it's down to the player to earn it!

To recruit a new Jamboree pal, all four players enter the Showdown arena. These are character specific mini games that put those skills to the test; an expanded challenge compared to the 'normal fare. From a survival mansion with Luigi to rhythm antics with Donkey Kong, these are almost like boss challenges in some ways. The majority are a delight to play, but a handful do overstay their welcome and disrupt the flow of the main match.

Take the win and the new Jamboree friend joins you for the ride. Each has a unique ability to help - like adding additional numbers to a roll, half price items and more. They also double player actions - the ability to buy multiple stars, hit the same space again and even visit Bowser… all done twice. Something this reviewer found out the hard way. First to forth by being a little too greed. Buddies can be taken by other players, also, making for some interesting tactical decisions too.

Having the buddy option makes for a refreshing change to the flow that keeps the core Mario Party mechanics in place - there's still that rush to the star space - but a little extra to keep players on their toes.

Speaking of rules, the new "Pro Rules" option is one of the biggest shake-ups the series has had to date (yes, aside from the cars in Mario Party 9). Mario Party has always had a big element of luck with a sprinkling of strategy through items, but Super Mario Party Jamboree dips its toes into a more competitive approach.

The most intriguing rule is that a single bonus star is announced at the start of the match. It's something players would keep in the back of their minds and really plays into the strategy. But what about spaces like Chance Time, where stars could potentially be lost? Not in these Pro Rules. Lucky spaces give fixed options, the devious Bowser always takes a star and potential star spaces have markers beside them to control the direction of traffic.

Aside from the bonus star, the other shift in strategy comes through items and mini-games. Players pick a single item to start the match with, and the various on-board shops have limited stock. Once they're gone, they're gone! That split-second decision on whether to buy early but risk not having enough coins for a star really does change the Mario Party mindset completely. Mini games can be voted on by each player, which reduces the random choice significantly, too.

That level of choice and reduction in the luck of the draw really does create a sizable change in how Mario Party matches feel. The core star collecting is, of course, still there - but the pacing, the forward thinking and competitive spirt is driven up in spades!

Players can also pop online for full matches or the nippy coin-collecting mode Koopathlon. Here 20 players compete in mini-games to try and zip along a race-course, with a devious Bowser minigame dropped in to shake things up. There's an odd sense of survival; almost border-line Squid Game in feel at times! Koopathlon is surprisingly competitive as player positions can dramatically shift based on the coins collected - even during the games themselves - plus it's quick enough to leap into for shorter matches.
Following on from the strong Mario Party Superstars online performance, Jamboree serves up similar stability, being consistent bar the odd splash of lag.

Beyond the frantic matches and battles, the game has a solid amount of solo content - including an adventure "Party-Planner Trek", where you're able to free-roam around boards, talking to NPCs, clearing mini-games - all in a bid to help setup the board for the party. Boss battles wrap up each neatly. It's a surprisingly refreshing setup, allowing players to learn each board, discover mini-games and interact with a charming cast of supporting characters.

The only real missing returning core feature in Super Mario Party Jamboree are 2 vs 2 team-matches in regular boards, where players can work together as pairs instead of the standard free-for-all battles. There is a mini-game feature for this, but the lack of support for it - at time of review - in the main game is unfortunate.

Visually Super Mario Party Jamboree follows on from the other Nintendo Switch installments. It's bright, colourful and full of that charm the Mario family of games are known for. Boards are brimming with character, life and movement, as is the main hub area. Everything runs at a consistently smooth rate - even the more visually demanding mini-games - keeping the focus very much on bagging that win.