Nintendo Concludes Switch with Expansive ‘Super Mario Party Jamboree’

Nintendo has released its final installment of the Mario Party series for the Switch, titled ‘Super Mario Party Jamboree.’ This third entry aims to blend the innovations of ‘Super Mario Party’ with the nostalgia of ‘Mario Party Superstars,’ offering an expansive range of content that seeks to engage both new and veteran players.

‘Super Mario Party Jamboree’ arrives with the largest roster of characters and minigames in the franchise’s history, totaling 22 playable characters and 112 minigames. This installment maintains the core mechanics of Mario Party, where players roll dice and compete in minigames for stars on a variety of boards.

Among the game’s offerings are seven distinct boards, five of which are new, and two are revived fan favorites: Mario’s Rainbow Castle and Western Land, each with its unique mechanics like changing board dynamics and bonus star opportunities.

One of the standout features of ‘Jamboree’ is the revised ally system, now called Jamboree Buddies, enhancing gameplay by offering strategic benefits and additional stars. Minigames within the Showdown segment allow players to compete for these buddies, who can significantly impact the game by doubling rewards and stars available from spaces.

The game introduces a Pro Rules option, designed to appeal to those seeking a more strategic experience. This mode aims to reduce randomness, making gameplay feel more controlled and strategic by limiting items and allowing players to vote on minigames.

Outside the traditional party mode, Nintendo has expanded ‘Jamboree’ with a variety of minigame-focused modes. These include the ‘Koopathlon,’ a mode supporting up to 20 players in a race environment, and ‘Bowser Kaboom Squad,’ a cooperative mode where players team up to defeat Impostor Bowser. Although innovative, these modes have been met with mixed reactions, with some players finding them repetitive.

The game aims to encapsulate a broad range of experiences by providing new side modes like ‘Toad’s Item Factory’ and ‘Paratroopa Flight School.’ While these aim to round out the offering, some critics have noted these modes feel like filler and believe the main party mode could have benefited from the additional content.

‘Super Mario Party Jamboree’ was released on October 17, 2024, and has been largely well-received despite some criticism about its attempt to do too much at once. The game is available on the Nintendo Switch, as the console nears the end of its lifecycle.