Mario Party Jamboree Review: Fun, But Feels Like Superstars DLC (Patreon)

Let’s get one thing straight: Mario Party Jamboree is fun. It’s chaotic, it’s colorful, and it’s packed with the kind of high-energy minigames that the series is known for. But as much as I enjoyed it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this could’ve been an expansion for Mario Party Superstars rather than a standalone game.

The boards are well-designed, with plenty of traps, twists, and Bowser-fueled disasters to keep things interesting. But they don’t feel drastically different from what we’ve already seen in Superstars. Sure, they’re fun, but they lack the innovation that would make them stand out. If anything, they feel like leftover ideas polished up to fill out a new release.

There's one shopping mall themed map that's hella fun, though.

Now, the minigames are where Jamboree does bring a bit more heat. There’s a good mix of frantic button-mashers and skill-based challenges - and several games that seem like they were built for Kyle.

The new Jamboree Mode, where you form temporary alliances, is a nice addition. It adds a fresh layer of unpredictability and backstabbing, which is perfect for Mario Party. But as entertaining as it is, it doesn’t quite justify this as a whole new game.

In the end, Mario Party Jamboree is solid, but it doesn’t hit the heights of Superstars. It’s enjoyable for what it is, but if you’ve already sunk hours into Superstars, this might feel more like a glorified DLC than a full-fledged sequel. Fun? Yes. Essential? Not quite.