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Super Mario Party Jamboree Review: Slightly Frustrating Fun

Originally posted on Total Apex Gaming
By Zachary Roberts | Last updated Oct 23, 2024 4:29 PM ET

With Super Mario Party Jamboree officially out, the Nintendo Switch has yet again received a title that is arguably its franchise’s most useful. If there’s a Super Smash Bros. to own, it’s Ultimate. If there’s a Mario Kart to own, it’s 8 Deluxe. Now, if there’s a Mario Party to own, it’s arguably Jamboree. Each of those titles has been like the “ultimate” version. Every possible character is in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. All the tracks imaginable from all eras are in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

While Jamboree doesn’t bring back classics like its most recent predecessor, it is bigger and has more in it than all previous titles in the franchise. But how well does it do with all that? Is the variety a useful addition or does it drag down the game? Was this necessary after the success and acclaim of Mario Party Superstars? Here’s Total Apex’s official answer.

Pros for Super Mario Party Jamboree

Boards

There are seven boards in Super Mario Party Jamboree. Four of those are available at the start, and seven are locked behind in-game accomplishments. Once you’ve completed 30 achievements, which doesn’t take much time, you will have access to all seven. As a side note, the fact that there’s some progression to entice playing more is another pro. All the boards are pretty good. Some are naturally better than others, but they each bring something fun to the table, perhaps with Mega Wiggler’s Tree Party being the only one that isn’t up to the other boards’ standard.

Minigames

The minigames are a bit of a pro and a con. The minigames featured in Mario Party Superstars were excellent, filled with classics and loads of fun. They are admittedly a step-down, which can make the game feel a little less enjoyable. However, when analyzing them in a vacuum and ignoring the comparison aspect, the games that Super Mario Party Jamboree brings to the table are still really fun. Nintendo also made sure to provide even more variety in the type of minigame, which goes a long way. There are a few too many quiz or memory-based games for our taste (bad memory and general stupidity can be blamed for that opinion), but they’re otherwise very good.

Characters

There are a lot of good characters in Super Mario Party Jamboree. We still miss the days when those characters had meaning (or a special dice exclusive to them), but it’s nice to have such a wealth of options. There are 22 total characters (two of them are unlockable), and they range from niche to classic. You can play as Mario or Luigi, but you can also be Pauline and Ninji.

Cons for Super Mario Party Jamboree

Super Mario Party Jamboree Review: Slightly Frustrating Fun 1 Image from Super Mario Party Jamboree courtesy of Nintendo

Game Length

One jarring difference from previous entries to this one is the sheer length of the game. 10 turns is the minimum, which used to take an expected 60 minutes. That 60-minute expectation was really 45 when four real players were involved, leading players to play 15, 20, or even more turn games. That’s not really possible anymore without carving out an incredible amount of time.

The 10-turn game is expected to last 90 minutes, meaning there’s a major time commitment for longer games that allow you to experience the board. The boards are good, but you have to devote a lot more time to thoroughly exploring them this time around. Plus, with more minigames to do in each game and each round sometimes, it adds up to a lot of time. If you have the time, it’s not a big deal, but not everyone can devote two full hours to a party game.

Game Speed

On a similar note, the game speed is another problem. Super Mario Party Jamboree does what Super Mario Party a few releases prior did not do and allows a setting change for how fast text scrolls and how fast CPUs move. That does not extend to players, though. If you set the CPU speed to the maximum, they will move with great speed. When it gets to your turn, you amble across the board as slowly as ever. Mario Party Superstars had the speed down, and Jamboree seems to have forgotten that. If you’re playing a four-person (not CPU) game, the movement across the board can be agonizing.

In Conclusion

Super Mario Party Jamboree is another worthwhile entry into the franchise. It has a few hang-ups that prevent it from being the true ultimate version and the only one players might need, but it’s still a good time. Additionally, with so much to do, it will likely have a much longer shelf life than previous entries from Nintendo, which has US offices in Washington. New game modes and lots of different multiplayer options provide enough of a spark to make this an exciting entry into one of the longest-running franchises out there.

Score: 4/5

This article first appeared on Total Apex Gaming and was syndicated with permission.

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