Article

Super Mario Party Jamboree makes board game chaos feel massive

7 September 2026

A kid friendly AxelGamer look at Super Mario Party Jamboree, with seven boards, over 110 minigames, Jamboree Buddies, Koopathlon, Bowser Kaboom Squad, and funny family party chaos.

I reckon Mario Party is one of those games that sounds simple until everyone in the room starts yelling at the TV. Super Mario Party Jamboree feels like Nintendo looked at that and said, what if we made it even bigger and sillier? It came out on Nintendo Switch in October 2024, and the main idea is still the best one. You roll dice, run around colourful boards, collect coins, chase Stars, and then a minigame appears and ruins someone’s perfectly good plan.

That is why I like it. It is not just about being the best player every second. Sometimes you win because you smashed a minigame. Sometimes you lose because someone used an item at the exact worst moment. Sometimes Bowser turns up and everything goes completely cooked. It feels like a board game night, except the board has Mario characters, traps, lucky spaces, and heaps of noise.

Nintendo says Jamboree has seven new and returning boards, which is a pretty big deal because the board is where most of the drama happens. A good board makes you think about where to go next, but it also makes you panic because someone else is one dice roll away from stealing the Star. I like boards that have funny routes, risky shortcuts, and spots where everyone suddenly changes direction. It makes the whole game feel like a tiny adventure instead of just moving in circles.

The minigames are the biggest part for me. Jamboree has over 110 minigames, which sounds like a lot because it is a lot. That means you are not just doing the same thing again and again. One minute you might be racing, then dodging, then remembering pictures, then trying not to get bumped off by someone who absolutely claims it was an accident. Some games are about fast reactions, some are about timing, and some are about staying calm when your hands are doing the wrong thing.

I also like that Mario Party can make quiet people become suddenly competitive. Someone who says they do not care will be leaning forward two minutes later because they are about to win a minigame by one point. That is proper party game magic. It is not too serious, but it still makes everyone want to have one more turn.

One of the newer ideas I think sounds cool is Jamboree Buddies. Characters can appear on the board, then players compete in a showdown minigame to get them as an ally. The player who reaches them first gets a bit of an advantage, but everyone still has a chance. That is good because it makes the board feel alive. It is not only about saving coins and walking to the Star. You also have to watch what special things are popping up and decide if chasing them is worth it.

There are also extra modes if you want something different from the normal party board. Koopathlon is an online mode with up to 20 players, where everyone races by scoring points in minigames. That sounds hectic in the best way, like a Mario Party sports carnival where nobody can sit still. Bowser Kaboom Squad is another online mode where up to eight players work together against Imposter Bowser. I like that because Mario Party is usually about betraying your mates, so having a mode where everyone teams up for a big boss fight feels fresh.

The motion controlled games are interesting too. Nintendo says some motion games and modes need Joy Con controllers, and they are not available when playing online. That is worth knowing because not every setup works the same way. If you are playing on a Switch Lite or using a Pro Controller, button controlled minigames are still there, but the motion stuff has limits. I actually think that is fine as long as people know before they start, because nothing is more annoying than setting up a game night and then realising someone has the wrong controller.

What makes Jamboree feel kid friendly is that it is easy to understand. You do not need to study a giant rule book. Roll the dice, move around, try to win games, and laugh when something silly happens. Younger players can still have a go, while older players can get clever with items and routes. It is one of those games where losing can still be funny, unless you lose a Star right at the end, because then you are legally allowed to complain for at least five minutes.

The only thing I would watch out for is how long a match can feel. Mario Party is fun, but if you pick a big session when everyone is already tired, it can turn from funny chaos into sleepy chaos. I think the best way to play is to set it up when everyone actually has time, grab snacks, and accept that something unfair will probably happen. That is basically the point.

For AxelGamer, Super Mario Party Jamboree feels like a great family game because it is colourful, goofy, and full of tiny stories. Every match has that one unlucky player, that one surprise comeback, and that one minigame where everyone insists the controls were weird. It is not just a game about winning Stars. It is a game about the lounge room getting loud, and honestly, that is the best bit.