Is Mario Party Worth It? A Friendly Guide for Nintendo Fans

Hi friend! As a lifelong Nintendo fan and Mario Party veteran, this is a question I get asked a lot. My quick verdict is: yes, Mario Party is absolutely worth it, especially for fans of multiplayer games! But I understand there are a ton of Mario Party titles to choose from spanning over 20 years. Let me walk you through what makes each game worthwhile or not, so you can decide which ones suit you.

A Bit of History First

Let‘s start with some background. The first Mario Party game launched in 1998 for the Nintendo 64. Back then, it was revolutionary – Mario and friends competing in a virtual board game on your TV!

Mario Party took advantage of the N64‘s 4 controller ports to deliver frenzied 4-player party fun. Since those humble beginnings, the series has seen over 15 entries across each new Nintendo console.

Gameplay stands the test of time. 4 characters take turns rolling dice to scurry around the board collecting coins and stars. Special events and minigames after each turn keep tension high. Whoever has the most stars (and coins) after the set number of turns wins!

This simple formula creates interactive, engaging party gameplay. But to keep things fresh, Nintendo has experiemented with different board sizes, dice mechanics, and movement rules over the years. Not every new idea paid off, but innovation is usually welcome!

Below I‘ll break down the highs and lows of each game so you know which are must-buys. As a fellow Nintendo fan, I‘ll also share some personal recommendations!

The Classics – Mario Party on N64 and GameCube

In my opinion, the early Mario Party games on N64 and GameCube include some of the very best in the series. Their charming graphics may be dated now, but the wacky gameplay stands the test of time.

Mario Party (1998 – N64)

• 8.7 rating on Metacritic
• 9.5 million copies sold

Pros: Simple boards and minigames make it super newcomer friendly. Established the Mario Party formula. Pure nostalgic fun as the original!

Cons: Only 50 minigames compared to later games. Light on content. But still a must-play classic in my book!

Mario Party 2 (1999 – N64)

• 8.4 rating on Metacritic
• 3.8 million copies sold

Pros: Expanded on all the best parts of the original. Introduced iconic boards like Space Land. Minigame selection increased to 65.

Cons: It‘s over 20 years old, so definitely dated now. But the second entry refined the Mario Party formula into its prime. An absolute gem worth experiencing!

Mario Party 3 (2000 – N64)

• 8.2 rating on Metacritic
• 3.6 million copies sold

Pros: Added exciting new features like Duel Boards for 1v1 showdowns and the Story Mode. 84 minigames show creative growth in the series.

Cons: The tight gameplay holds up perfectly well today. No major issues for a N64-era title!

Mario Party 4 (2002 – GameCube)

• 7.5 rating on Metacritic
• 8.3 million copies sold

Pros: First Mario Party in 3D! Introduced cool oversized Mega and mini Minigames. Unique boards like Boo‘s Haunted Bash.

Cons: Not as memorable as its predecessors. But still a solid early GameCube title.

Mario Party 5 (2003 – GameCube)

• 7.1 rating on Metacritic
• 4.4 million copies sold

Pros: Refined the established Mario Party formula. Creative Dream Depot allowed customization of boards and minigames!

Cons: Similar vibe and minigame selection as Mario Party 4. Lacked innovation, but a good time nonetheless!

Verdict: The N64 and GameCube eras of Mario Party were pure gold, plain and simple. Each game built meaningfully on what came before it. The first 3 titles especially remain must-play classics even today. I advise any fan of party games to experience Mario Party‘s roots yourself!

Uh Oh, Stagnation Strikes (Mario Party 6-8)

After such a strong start, the Mario Party series unfortunately began stagnating through the mid-2000s entries. While decent games individually, Mario Party 6-8 show little innovation over their predecessors.

As a Nintendo superfan, I remember feeling disappointed by these predictable sequels after being wowed by the first 5 games. Let‘s break them down:

Mario Party 6 (2004 – GameCube)

• 6.7 rating on Metacritic
• 2.9 million copies sold

Pros: First Mario Party with microphone-based minigames. Day and night board mechanics added some variety.

Cons: Fundamental board game gameplay grew stale. Real lack of exciting new features overall.

Mario Party 7 (2005 – GameCube)

• 7.0 rating on Metacritic
• 3.9 million copies sold

Pros: 8-player support changed up the dynamics. Good minigame selection overall.

Cons: But still the same old Mario Party formula getting tired after 7 similar titles.

Mario Party 8 (2007 – Wii)

• 7.4 rating on Metacritic
• 7.6 million copies sold

Pros: First entry taking advantage of the Wii‘s motion controls. A solid minigame selection.

Cons: Motion controls were hit or miss. Predictable boards lacked innovation. Graphics and gameplay both felt dated.

Verdict: I have a soft spot for these since they were my middle school era Mario Parties. But objectively, the series was lacking fresh ideas during this period. Unless you‘re a completionist, new fans could probably skip these repetitive sequels.

Experiments Pay Off – Mario Party 9 and Island Tour

After years of predictible sequels, Nintendo finally took some bold risks with Mario Party 9 on the Wii and Mario Party: Island Tour on 3DS. As a lifetime Nintendo gamer, I remember being excited by these experiments! Most paid off and revitalized the series.

Mario Party 9 (2012 – Wii)

• 6.5 rating on Metacritic
• 2.9 million copies sold

Pros: Creative changes like linear maps, cooperative minigames, and new mechanics breathed life into the series‘ stale formula!

Cons: Removal of classic free-roaming boards upset some purists. But worth it for the innovations if you ask me!

Mario Party: Island Tour (2013 – 3DS)

• 5.8 rating on Metacritic
• 1.5 million copies sold

Pros: Super inventive minigames using 3DS features like AR and gyro controls opened new possibilities! Multiplayer cubes were a novel shake-up of traditional boards.

Cons: Light on content compared to home console versions. But one of the best handheld Mario Parties without a doubt!

Verdict: After playing it safe for years, Nintendo finally took some big risks with Mario Party 9 and Island Tour. Different as they were, the changes succeeded in my book! Both are among my favorite modern Mario Party games.

Uh Oh, Stagnation Strikes Again – Mario Party 10 and Star Rush

Sadly after a brief comeback, the Mario Party series stumbled again with Mario Party 10 on Wii U and Mario Party: Star Rush on 3DS. As a Nintendo loyalist, I wanted to love these games but neither lived up to expectations after the previous entries‘ revival.

Mario Party 10 (2015 – Wii U)

• 6.4 rating on Metacritic
• 1.4 million copies sold

Pros: Bowser Party was an interesting asymmetric multiplayer concept pitting 4 vs 1.

Cons: The car mechanics disrupted classic Mario Party gameplay. Overall very shallow on content.

Mario Party: Star Rush (2016 – 3DS)

• 6.5 rating on Metacritic
• 1.5 million copies sold

Pros: Toad Scramble offered a fresh spin on cooperative Mario Party.

Cons: The minigames themselves were just lackluster. Felt light on content overall.

Verdict: After the successes of Mario Party 9 and Island Tour, these two titles dropped the ball in my opinion. While not terrible games, Mario Party 10 and Star Rush sadly missed the mark as disappointing follow-ups.

The King Returns! Mario Party on Nintendo Switch

Just when it seemed Mario Party might be down for the count after two duds, the series came roaring back with a triumphant return on Nintendo Switch! Both of the newest entries recapture the magic that makes Mario Party so special.

As a Switch owner and Mario fan, I‘m thrilled to see Mario Party back in top form after years of ups and downs. Let‘s see how the latest games stack up:

Super Mario Party (2018 – Switch)

• 7.2 rating on Metacritic
• 18.8 million copies sold

Pros: Revived the classic free-roaming board game structure missing from many recent titles. Played amazing with Switch Joycons – so many creative motion minigames!

Cons: Only 4 boards compared to earlier games. Online play lacked features. But minor gripes for an outstanding return to form overall!

Mario Party Superstars (2021 – Switch)

• 8.1 rating on Metacritic
• 9.4 million copies sold

Pros: Faithful recreation of classic N64 boards and minigames. Improved online play now with rankings and random matchmaking!

Cons: Light on totally new content and ideas compared to other Switch titles. But that‘s forgiveable for a nostalgic commemoration of Mario Party‘s roots!

Verdict: For this lifelong Nintendo lover, Super Mario Party and Mario Party Superstars prove the classic Mario Party formula still has all the magic it did 20+ years ago! Both deliver stellar multiplayer experiences worthy of the Mario Party name.

So, Is Mario Party Worth It? My Recommendations as a Veteran Fan

Even after some missteps over the years, Mario Party at its best remains one of greatest party game franchises ever made. The highs far outweigh the lows.

Here are my top recommendations if you want a fantastic Mario Party experience:

• For must-play classics, you can‘t go wrong with Mario Party 2, 3, and 5. Pure magic.

• For modern innovations in the series, check out Mario Party 9 and Island Tour.

• As a Nintendo Switch owner myself, I highly recommend both Super Mario Party and Mario Party Superstars – two of the very best entries that will give you endless multiplayer fun.

• Casual players could probably skip the weakest games like Mario Party 6, 7, 8, 10, and Star Rush. But diehard fans might get something out of playing them all to see how the series evolved.

• And if you‘re craving that 90s nostalgia, the original Mario Party still holds up too!

With brilliant board game gameplay and crazy competitive minigames, Mario Party deserves its reputation as a legendary party series. I hope this guide helps you decide which games suit your tastes! Just get ready for the type of friendship-ruining fun only Mario Party can deliver.

Let me know if you have any other questions! Enjoy 🙂