If you need a game to play with family and friends Mario Party is still the GOAT
GAMING is often seen as a solitary activity, where even most co-op games are played online with friends while you are home alone.
In fact, many multiplayer games only offer online co-op modes, compared to the couch co-op games of our childhood.
Nintendo is one of the few companies still focusing on creating games you can play together at home, while giving online multiplayer as an option.
One of the best series for playing together is Mario Party, which has seen us feud with family members for the past few decades.
The latest entry, Super Mario Party Jamboree, launched late last year, and the holiday break was a perfect time to try it out.
When it first released, Mario Party didn’t have much competition, and people kept playing even if the mini-games destroyed N64’s analogue stick.
Jackbox Party Packs have quickly become the default party games, as there are constant updates, while Mario Party only sees a new release every few years.
No disrespect to Jackbox. We’ve enjoyed playing plenty of its Party Packs over the years, but the games are short, shallow, and lack replayability with the same crowd.
Super Mario Party Jamboree feels like it’s taken all of the learning from the last dozen or so Mario Party games, and blended those ideas into the best in the series to date.
It includes more characters than ever before, completely new boards, and hundreds of mini-games, meaning that no two playthroughs feel the same, even with the same players.
You can choose the length of each game, or even practice the mini-games by yourself, making it one of the most versatile Mario Party games as well as the most fun.
It’s not like the system has seen a complete overhaul. You still roll dice, move around a board, and get interrupted by mini-games.
There is skill involved, particularly when playing against the AI, but Mario Party likes to spice things up so that everyone has a chance to win.
Most party games are fun while they last, but they are often only as enjoyable as the people you choose to play with.
If your friends feel anger when you refuse to wash up in Overcooked, then you’re not going to have a good time.
But it’s difficult to not enjoy Super Mario Party Jamboree with how wacky the board is, and how varied the mini-games are.
While we might have to wait a few years in between each new MarioParty release, it will always be the go to party game.
If you want to read more gaming reviews, check out our Mouthwashing review.
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