Super Mario Party Review: A Tabletop Classic

This is another classic Nintendo game. Mario Party has been around for a long time, going back to the Wii and the Nintendo DS, and this version brings the same game to the table with some notable upgrades. The addition of the river rafting game mode is an awesome mode to play with others, and it almost feels like something out of Wii Sports.

Just like we see from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Pico Park, this game is considerably better when played with a group or at least one other person. It is fun and challenging to play on your own, but it doesn’t have the plot or story to keep you interested for very long. 

Let’s jump right into each of the modes in Super Mario Party:

Toad’s Rec Room and Mini Games

Toad’s Rec room is a secluded area to the right of the rest of the map that you access via a green tube. Once in the rec room Toad introduces 4 mini-games that can only be played in his rec room. These games are special as you can play them like a tabletop-style game placing your Nintendo Switch on a table and you can have 2 Switch’s connected at once. Mini-Games is exactly how it sounds, it is a game mode where you can play all the mini-games that you want.

Mario Party

Mario Party is the main game mode in this game. It is fundamentally a board game with challenges. Everyone rolls dice to move around the board trying to collect stars and coins along the way. The major differences are that there are no teams and your movement is restricted to a specific direction. Different spaces have different results, and the four maps bring unique touches to the game mode. You can play 10-20 rounds, between 1-2 hours, and up to 4 players on one console. Each round ends with a randomly selected mini-game, and the bonuses at the end make a close-ending game even tighter. 

Partner Party:

This game mode is a fun twist on the board game mode with added allies. The goal of the game mode is still the same; purchasing stars while moving around the board. Besides the regular items, like coins and power-ups, the board also features allies. These characters are from the character select screen that players did not choose from. After recruiting these allies, the player is able to access their unique dice, which adds a layer to this chaotic game mode. This game mode is made even more chaotic when paired with a partner when playing with more people.

Sound Stage:

This is a fun little game mode that features a rhythm-based competitive mode. In this mode, players are pitted against one another for who has the best rhythm. With simple controls, usually boiled down to shaking the Joy-Con, the simplicity of the game can bring out the competition in most players. Since this mode is all about skill, and there is no luck involved, this is the perfect mode for competitive players who want to compete with their friends.

River Rafting:

River Rafting is potentially the most interesting game mode in this game. It doesn’t bring the classic aspects we expect from a Mario Party game, flipping the script on its head. It’s a game mode where you work together in a team of 4 to raft down a river. The challenge of rowing in symmetry makes this a challenging game mode without the mini-games, ticking clock, and enemies that attempt to end your journey early. 

The classic modes of Mario Party and Partner Party are by far the best and are sure to bring out the competitive spirit in even the most relaxed players. The classic board game feel mixed with some awesome mini-games makes for a fun game and one that doesn’t feel repetitive. 

That might be the most impressive part of this game. The library of mini-games is huge and I have yet to see one more than twice. They are all slightly different and suited to different strengths and weaknesses. I was a big fan of the original Mario Party for the mini-games alone, but I think the mini-games in Super Mario Party are more challenging and more unique with the help of better buttons and motion controls on the Nintendo Switch. 

Overall, this game is a blast for everyone, whether you love gaming or you are someone who is looking for something to do as a family. I would absolutely look into picking this one up soon. The added tabletop bonus for up to 8 players with two consoles put together makes for a great party game. If you have a craving for Mario, but no one to play with, I’d recommend checking out Mario Odyssey instead!