Super Mario Party Jamboree
Nintendo snuck in a third Mario Party game at the tail end of the Switch’s lifecycle, and thankfully, it’s one of the good ones! Super Mario Party Jamboree crams a lot into its package, and while not all of the game’s various modes knock it out of the park, the core Mario Party experience is a delight, mixing in some of the best maps from previous entries in the series with new levels that stand up very well next to them.
Jamboree’s core new gameplay feature is its buddy system, which gives players the opportunity to pick a partner character that can help, but also hinder, them in their journey to obtain as many stars as possible. To acquire these characters, the players must compete in extra-large minigames that evolve the tried-and-true formula of the series.
Combined with the game’s various other modes, a Pro variant of the core experience that reduces the role luck plays in winning, and a rewarding progression system that has you unlock new characters and maps, Super Mario Party Jamboree is a must-play for fans of the series.
“[O]nce you grab a few close friends and you’re laughing with it over a few beers, the deeply flawed game turns into a raucous night of camaraderie and laughter,” Dan Ryckert wrote in GameSpot’s Super Mario Party Jamboree review. “Jamboree is no more or less nonsense than any Mario Party, and it’s one I’ll still be playing a ton of despite its flaws.”
— Tom Caswell