The very first Mario Party to set sail on the new Nintendo console, Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV (what an insane title to type out), is now here, hopefully paving the way for future iterations in the series.
Initially released in 2024, Mario Party Jamboree is the latest entry in the digital board game franchise starring everyone's favorite plumber. The series began life on the Nintendo 64 and has seen its fair share of highs and lows over the years, so let's find out if Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV is worth picking up, or is it best left in the cupboard behind Monopoly and the chessboard?
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+ 5I never picked up Jamboree (I am not typing out that full title each time) when it first launched on the original Switch. Not because I don't like the Mario Party games, but because I had already purchased Mario Party Superstars and had my needs for digital board games filled with that title. Jamboree was the 3rd Mario Party game to launch on the Switch, and I didn't feel the need to pick it up.
Now that we have the Switch 2 version, it feels like the new hardware features have brought a whole new element of fun to the proceedings. Jamboree utilizes the Switch 2 microphone, the camera, and even the so far underutilized mouse controls within its section of the game.
Sold as an expansion (for Switch 2 only) to the base game, Jamboree TV has its own section on the menu screen, a bit like Bowser's Fury when Super Mario 3D World came to the original Switch. Although not an issue, the original package remains unchanged in its original form, without the new features added to the old boards.
click to enlarge+ 5At launch, Super Mario Party Jamboree received praise from critics for its diverse board selection and variety of minigames. What I found was a smorgasbord of content to try out, compared to the previous game, Superstars. Jamboree is like an XL upgrade, now, that isn't meant to be a dig at Superstars, as it was a significant improvement from the first Switch Mario Party title. However, Superstars played it too safe by being more of a greatest hits package, aiming to smooth over things with disappointed fans.
Visually, the base game appears slightly dated and blurry on the Switch 2 screen, which is unfortunate given the impressive polish applied to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom's Switch 2 Editions. Nintendo could have given Jamboree a bit of spit shine to bring it up to the level of the Jamboree TV expansion.
That aside, the main game is still hugely fun to play despite the lack of a graphical upgrade. There are tons of minigames to try out and a fantastic board selection for you and your friends to enjoy; however, that is Super Mario Party Jamboree's biggest strength and its biggest weakness. The game is 100% designed for multiplayer play.
Testing the game was a challenge, as I had no one to play online with, so I had to tackle it solo. While this proved that there is a lot of fun to be had, it also proved that Mario Party is not a single-player designed experience. Winning a board game against AI may appeal to some, but for me, it was a rather soulless experience. If you don't have anyone at home to play with online or friends to join you online, Mario Party in general may not be the best pick for you.
click to enlarge+ 5Now, graphical gripes aside, Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + TV is an absolute blast. The sheer amount of content you get when purchasing the expansion and base game together is staggering, and those who already own Jamboree standalone will find their money's worth in the new content that breathes a bit of life into a franchise whose formula has been a bit rinse and repeat over the years. The biggest issue I found was that the standard 10-roll games took upwards of 45 minutes and often over an hour; however, this version does manage to balance that out, as you will see later.
You will also get the most use yet out of your Switch 2's new features in Jamboree; the only other game that comes close to utilizing these functions is Nintendo Welcome Tour, and I did not have the best time with that title. Moving swiftly on, the Jamboree TV section is where you can see what the real Switch 2 Mario Party game will be like once it arrives. Featuring 20 brand-new minigames as well as alternative ways to play the Mario Party mode, it feels like a testing ground for future titles, like in Bowser's Fury, where it was not quite a full game in its own right, but a substantial add-on that deserves recognition.
Firstly, Bowser Live is a wonderful new part of the game. Here, Bowser offers you the chance to play camera or microphone-based mini games in short 3-round bursts against other teams. I tended to prefer the microphone games over the camera ones, but that's probably due to the limited space I had when playing. Seeing yourself on TV surrounded by Toads and those annoying singing flowers from Mario Wonder is really cool, though.
My favorite game was Bowser Chicken, a microphone-based game where you had to use your voice to move a car as close to Bowser as possible without actually touching him. This is one I have added to my favorites, as it is very well done. It utilizes voice while providing physical feedback via the rumble in the Joy-Con 2s, which, in this game, I found to be very close to full-on haptic feedback.
click to enlarge+ 5Carnival Coaster is a rollercoaster lightgun-esque game where you need to shoot enemies and compete in minigames along the way. The pull-back cars are controlled using mouse controls to navigate across the bridge and reach the goal as much as possible, which stood out as a highlight and one I will definitely load up again and again in Free Play mode. This section of Jamboree TV showcases the mouse controls to their full potential. As a primarily console-based gamer, I prefer controllers as my input device; however, when the time comes for Metroid Prime 4, I may have to test the mouse controls for shooting.
The Mario Party section of Jamboree TV features all 7 of the boards in the base game and all 22 characters unlocked from the beginning. It also comes with new rules, making this my preferred way to play Mario Party in Jamboree. Tag Team mode lets you team with another player to take on other teams, which is great fun, but Frenzy is the mode that will be my go-to from now on. As mentioned above, the hour-long sessions became a slog playing the base game, and Frenzy shortens the gameplay, cutting way down on the standard version - thank you, Nintendo!
Lastly, Free Play mode allows you to select any of the minigames and play them at your leisure. Being able to mark your favorites here is a tremendous and convenient feature, as it enables you to find the ones you like best quickly. I am glad I got to play this version of Super Mario Party Jamboree over the base version beforehand, as I really think all the extras included with Jamboree TV make this the definitive version of an already packed game that showcases all the fancy new tricks the Switch 2 is capable of fantastically.
click to enlarge+ 5All in Jamboree TV rounds out and finely balances the base game. Contrasting nicely with the very lengthy standard Mario Party sessions, the new expansion provides quick and furious fun for those without as much time on their hands. The new features of the Switch 2 are used well and in a fun way here, definitely has me eager to see a full Switch 2 Mario Party that utilizes all the functions in clever ways.
You can also play the game online with friends, and of course, now with GameChat on Switch 2, you can talk to the other players and see each other on camera. GameShare is also here, allowing you to play with other players on Switch 2 or even Switch 1, even if they don't own the game.
The only major gripe I had while trying out Jamboree was the lack of polish in the vanilla game; more could have been done, for sure. Aside from that, the overly lengthy times to play a standard board game are way too long for those with limited time. However, the new Frenzy Mode in Jamboree TV resolves those issues as you can play with less time, as it shortens the whole experience nicely.
As an expansion, Jamboree TV will please current owners, as a full package for new owners: Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV. This is essential for game nights with friends and family.
