Mario Party Superstars is the Best Mario Party Game on Nintendo Switch

When it comes to party game madness on Nintendo‘s hit console, Mario Party Superstars takes the cake as the Mario Party game you should get for Switch. This nostalgia-packed title brings back classic boards and 100 legendary minigames in stellar HD fashion. Between the nonstop minigame action, familiar boards, improved online play and accessibility, Superstars creates the definitive Mario Party package on Switch today.

The Rich History of Mario Party Games

Ever since the 1999 debut of Mario Party on Nintendo 64, this spinoff series has delivered outrageous virtual board game antics for multiplayer enjoyment. Players take turns rolling dice and racing around themed boards filled with special spaces that trigger chaotic effects. Minigames appear after every turn, testing quick reflexes or strategic thinking in fun challenges.

The early N64 Mario Party games focused on unique boards and simple yet addictive minigames using the console‘s joystick and button controls. As the series moved to GameCube, Wii and beyond, motion controls and other gimmicks expanded the minigame possibilities even further. Now totals over 120 unique minigames!

In 2018, Super Mario Party brought the series to Switch with 80 new minigames designed around Joy-Con motion sensing. It focused on local multiplayer hijinks more than online play. Then last year Mario Party Superstars arrived to celebrate the series‘ rich history by resurrecting five classic boards and 100 minigames from early Mario Party titles on N64 and GameCube. This collection of fan favorites aimed to create the ultimate Mario Party package.

Here‘s a full breakdown of the evolution across mainline console Mario Party games:

As you can see, the series has stayed creative for over 20 years with a ton of fresh boards, wacky themes, and new minigame concepts entry after entry. This sets the stage for why Mario Party Superstars ultimate wins out on Switch by celebration that rich legacy.

Comparing Modes and Content of the Two Games

Let‘s dive deeper into the gameplay modes and overall content you‘ll get in Super Mario Party vs Mario Party Superstars on Nintendo Switch:

Super Mario Party Modes

• Mario Party: Standard 4 player party mode across 4 boards

• Toad‘s Rec Room: Play select minigames online or local multiplayer

• River Survival: Co-op adventure down a river across several minigame sections

• Sound Stage: Cooperative remix and performance of minigames to create music

• Mariothon: Single player gauntlet testing minigame skill

Mario Party Superstars Modes

• Mario Party: Party mode for 1-4 players online/offline across 5 classic boards

• Mt. Minigames: Play any minigame freely or in categories

• Online Play: Full Mario Party experience online with friends or random players

• Customizable Rules/Difficulty: Alter game rules and CPU difficulty/handicaps

Boards and Minigames per Game

• Super Mario Party: 4 all new themed boards, 80 new minigames

• Mario Party Superstars: 5 classic retro boards, 100 classic minigames

Super Mario Party offers more custom single player and co-op modes like River Survival, while Mario Party Superstars focuses on enhancing the core Mario Party formula. Superstars also modernized online play to enable playing full board games online.

While Super may have more original boards, Superstars packs in 100 minigames compared to 80 – covering more of the series‘ greatest hits. Overall Superstars wins out with more robust online play and breadth of iconic minigame fun.

Visuals, Controls and Accessibility

Both Mario Party games are bright, colorful, and family-friendly in their presentation, as you‘d expect from the Mario franchise. The HD graphics and detailed environments really make the boards and minigames pop.

Super Mario Party uses Joy-Con motion controls heavily, with many minigames relying on specific gestures. This can make for frantic fun in local couch play! But also unpredictable motions for younger players. Mario Party Superstars scales back the motion, offering more traditional controls using buttons and sticks too. This opens up the gameplay and makes it easier to pick up and play. Especially for online multiplayer or families/friends with a range in gaming experience.

The streamlined UI and controls of Mario Party Superstars ultimately give it better accessibility and longevity than Super Mario Party. The Joy-Con motion focus of Super can benefit local-only gamers who want tactile party experiences. But Superstars‘ flexibility and precision lends itself better to accessibility for all ages and skill levels.

Critical and Fan Reception

Both of the latest Mario Party games were received positively overall upon release:

Super Mario Party

• Metacritic Score: 76
• IGN: 8/10
• GameSpot: 7/10

Mario Party Superstars

• Metacritic Score: 82
• IGN: 9/10
• GameSpot: 8/10

Critics praised Super Mario Party for its use of Joy-Con motions but also noted limited online play. For Superstars, outlets celebrated the compilation of best boards and minigames with quality online play added.

Fan reception followed similar positivity for both titles, though some hardcore Mario Party fans did prefer the volume of brand new content in Super over the classic focus of Superstars.

Based on scores and reviews, Mario Party Superstars appears to edge out Super Mario Party critically for its strengths as a "greatest hits" package. But both were received as strong entries in the enduring franchise.

Sales Figures: Mario Party Series Bestsellers

In terms of commercial success, here are the best selling Mario Party games of all time based on worldwide sales data:

Super Mario Party is the third best-selling Mario Party ever, showing its popularity on Switch. And Mario Party Superstars already ranks second after just one year, proving its staying power. The Switch installments are dominating modern Mario Party sales.

Superstars Wins Out Over Super Mario Party

Evaluating all the factors of gameplay, content, reviews, reception and sales figures, Mario Party Superstars stands out as the superior Mario Party experience currently available on Nintendo Switch.

The breadth and depth of its content beats out Super Mario Party, from the 100 minigames spanning decades of Mario Party greatness to the refined online multiplayer modes. The balance of nostalgia appeal and enhancements for accessibility/longevity work together perfectly in Mario Party Superstars.

Super Mario Party deserves credit for its creative use of Joy-Con motion controls. But its weaker online play and lack of broader minigame variety limit the package overall, especially for gamers without consistent local multiplayer access.

For family-friendly party game madness that both casual and seasoned Mario Party fans will enjoy, you can‘t top Mario Party Superstars as the current definitive entry on Nintendo Switch. It‘s the Mario Party celebration players have waited decades for.