The best Mario Party games of all time
If you had a Nintendo 64, then no doubt you managed to get your family (or friends) to play some multiplayer games with an Italian plumber over Christmas. But out of all of them, Mario Party may have spawned too many controversies that have spawned a funny legacy of family rivalry and lifelong calluses.
There were 17 major Mario Party games since the series debuted in 1998, and with so many games to choose from, how the hell do you choose which party to throw for your next school (or family) reunion? Well, we’re counting on you for this. No we don’t want Any bickering – our (your) job is to hand out stars, not win them this time. We asked you to rate every Mario Party game you’ve played, and below you’ll be able to find out which is the top candidate for a party and which should be gift-wrapped and returned.
We’ve excluded Japan-only arcade games from the rankings and it’s a rather strange name for the GBA e-Reader – mainly because we’re old and can’t afford to travel to Japan to find these gems, or because e-Readers are a fickle beast and never did not show up on European shores …
You can rank Mario games for parties in the future. The order below is updated in real time and changes based on the overall user rating in our secret little database. The next time you look at this list, things might be very different. So, if you haven’t had a chance to give out stars yet, just click on the star next to the game you want to rate below and assign a score now.
So, line up at the start, roll the dice and move the appropriate number of spaces forward to see who will emerge victorious with the most stars:
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nd Cube
Nd Cube’s decision to bring back 100 favorite mini-games from the Mario Party series is admirable, but Mario Party: The Top 100 doesn’t live up to how it delivers those bite-sized delights. While this may be the record for the most minigames, The Top 100 by far has the least amount of content and the lowest replayability.
The game aims to assemble a collection of the best mini-games from ten console games, and in some ways Nd Cube has achieved great results. The mini-games have been redesigned for the 3DS, making your first time in the game an amazing stroll down a nostalgic lane. But after one or two playthroughs, you’ll start to see that it feels like a rushed project that’s severely limited by the hardware given that it can’t reach its full potential.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Hudson Soft
Having the right expectations will help shape your enjoyment of Mario Party Advance; This handheld party doesn’t have the raucous action and minigame frenzy of console games, but it offers its own attractions within a board game. There are some charming quests with great text, fun solo-oriented mini-games, and a toy box full of wonderfully quirky gadgets to explore.
But the Mario Party series has always been all about multiplayer, and its absence here – with the exception of some four-handed microgames on a single GamePad – is definitely disappointing. The huge role played by the roll of the dice can be frustrating at times too, but if you prefer a less typical party, there might be something here for you.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nd Cube
While the series was already showing signs of wear and tear, the last numbered Mario Party tries to include amiibo to the point where it becomes too addictive. That said, Mario Party 10 can be a multiplayer game, and it’s still polished and undeniably fun at times. The Bowser Party mode in particular was a great example of how the Wii U’s special features can be used to create an immersive multiplayer experience that goes beyond minigames, although it is extremely limited in replayability as a result.
We love how the game uses the GamePad, but even with the changes, it feels like a tedious entry in the series. But if you want a light-hearted game that can be enjoyed with a group of friends regardless of their skill level, you can do a lot worse than that.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nd Cube
Mario Party: Island Tour can still be a good buy for kids, families, or anyone who wants to play with friends, but there are glaring misfires and flaws that get in the way of game boards. Those looking for a lengthy single player experience may want to steer clear, as there isn’t enough depth in the solo-focused modes to keep you for very long, and the Island Tour is another entry that does little to differentiate itself from its own. predecessors.
Many boards are disposable, and several game modes are forgotten, which greatly spoils the overall impression. Luckily, there is an excellent collection of mini-games that can provide enough reason for many to roll the dice.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nd Cube
As a shake-up for the series, Mario Party 9 brings the biggest change to the Mario Party formula we’ve seen in years, both for better and for worse. Easing the process down to a short and quick set of mini-games, it’s far less predictable than previous installments, with boss battles that don’t go beyond welcoming and less distracting mini-games. But the lack of a “classic” mode, badly explained captain events and short parties often leave a lot to be desired.
We can’t deny that this game forgoes some dead trees in favor of a fresh approach that strongly reminds us why the series has been around for 14 years, but some of the changes seem to forget what made Mario Party fun in the first installment. place.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nd Cube
Mario Party: Star Rush may not excel in many ways, but it does away with some of the complaints about past games and delivers harmless fun. It’s captivating and charming, and it also offers some fun mini-games. The core modes are more varied and focused (apart from two unfortunate ones), and the overall offering includes a mix of longer, faster gameplay options.
The Guest free download is a brilliant way to quickly and easily local multiplayer if you only have one full copy on hand – we’d love to see more games use this feature. However, due to hardware limitations and a few frustrating modes, we’re not sure you should be in a hurry to buy this entry, even if it still shows that Mario and company could be the stars of the party.
