Top 10 Best Mario Party Games

The Top Ten

  1. Mario Party 2

    Released for the Nintendo 64 in 1999, this sequel introduced themed costumes for characters that match the specific aesthetic of each board. It features six playable characters and includes 65 minigames, many of which are updated versions from the original title. The gameplay revolves around a frame story where Mario and his friends compete to name a newly created dream world.

    The best Mario Party game there is. This is the only Mario Party game to be based on a play. I like how Mario and friends are dressed in different costumes (that's what I meant by saying that this game is based on a play), and I love the boards and, most especially, the minigames.

    This is also the only game to have some of the same minigames from another Mario Party game. I definitely like the music. Nintendo made the right decision by making the game look like this! Mario Party 2 was definitely a game I kept playing, even with my friends. Mario Party 2 rules!

    This game did it best, in my opinion. It took everything that was fun in the original Mario Party, cut the stuff that wasn't, and added in some new treats to make the games even more hilariously fun. I'm not quite sure what it was about this one, but my fondest and funniest Mario Party memories are all from #2.

  2. Mario Party 6

    This 2004 GameCube entry introduced a day-and-night cycle mechanic that alters board layouts and minigame objectives every three turns. It was the first in the series to bundle a peripheral, the Nintendo GameCube Mic, which players use for specific voice-controlled minigames. The roster includes 11 playable characters and features 82 different minigames.

    This one should be at the top, simply because of how big and original it is compared to the other entries on the list. It's definitely the best GameCube game, and in my opinion, only 9 could rival this game.

    The boards in this one are far more unique and diverse from each other than in the other entries, as the Day/Night mechanic really freshens up the games. The minigames aren't the strongest point in the series, but they're in no way bad. Just like 9 or 7, it has some really memorable ones like Lift Leapers and Jump the Gun. By far, one of the absolute greatest Mario Party games!

    This is one of the best. Almost all of its minigames are memorable and leave you feeling great after each one. It is the perfect balance of friendship-destroying and friendship-enhancing.

    The only problem with this one is the reason to replay. After you unlock everything, there is no reason to play it again alone unless you really want to play it for fun, which always seems like a good enough reason to me. Very enjoyable to play!

  3. Mario Party 7

    Published in 2005 for the GameCube, this installment allows up to eight players to compete simultaneously by sharing controllers. The game features a "Grand Tour" theme with boards based on real-world locations and includes a total of 88 minigames. It also expanded the use of the microphone peripheral and introduced Bowser Time, an event that triggers every five turns.

    This game, in my opinion, is the best overall. The mini-games are fantastic, and the boards are creative and fun! Also, this game brought cool elements like an 8-player mode and Bowser time. Well, I hated Bowser time. The only problem I had with this game was Bowser time because it was just lame and unfair.

    But anyways, Mario Party 5 was the first Mario Party game I ever played. When I got this game, I was really hooked on the series. I also like how every board is completely different from each other. From climbing an entire mountain for a star to paying Chomp Chomps to squish your opponents to steal their stars, it's the best game overall and has a great variety!

  4. Mario Party 8

    As the first series entry for the Wii, this game utilizes the Wii Remote's motion sensors and pointer functionality for nearly all of its 81 minigames. It features 14 playable characters and hosts boards with unique win conditions, such as investing coins in hotels rather than purchasing stars. The game is presented in a 4:3 aspect ratio with decorative borders for widescreen displays.

    This takes me back to when I was seven, playing this at my aunt's house. My brother and I would invite the neighbors over, and we would play this game all day. The feature of the whole thing being a festival was interesting and cool. The mini-games are pretty much all fun, save for a few. Even though a lot of them included motion control, it made sense since it was the first series game to include motion. Honestly, it wasn't that much of a drawback to me. I remember trying to get all of the characters and feeling so accomplished when I did. The Bowser board was really interesting and fun, too. This is definitely the best Mario Party game for me, and it should be higher than #4.

  5. Mario Party 3

    This title was the final series entry for the Nintendo 64 and introduced Waluigi and Princess Daisy as playable characters. It features a Duel Mode where two players utilize partners like Goombas or Koopa Troopas to deplete each other's health. The game includes 71 minigames and a single-player Story Mode centered on the quest for seven Star Stamps.

    My roommates and I will occasionally crack open a case of beers and play Mario Party games. It gets very competitive. MP3 is by far the best. It has what I like to call the perfect trifecta of balance.

    The Luck Factor: The sensitivity, or lack thereof, in your old-fashioned N64 controller adds to the chaotic fun of the games. Of course, the dice can always land in or out of your favor, and there are a few mini-games that are based on pure luck. And of course, the dreaded Chance Time.

    Strategic Factor: Even if you're struggling to win most of the mini-games, a few well-executed items, precisely won battle games, or coin steals can help you get back into contention. It expanded the effects of items set in MP2 by allowing you to carry more than one. I can't remember how many times a Plunder Chest put a complete stranglehold on the item game in Mario Party 2.

    Skill Performance: This goes without saying, losing mini-games never helps. If you continue to perform well, you will rack up coins, and you will win the mini-game bonus star.

    The two bonus aspects that MP3 has, which the newer installments lack, are:

    Nostalgia Factor: I love the old graphics, the stiff controller, and the goofiness of the game. We love ripping on each other whenever something crazy happens.

    Simplicity Factor: Sometimes it's best to just not overcomplicate things. Too many colors, rules, and random events take away from simple luck and competition.

  6. Mario Party 5

    Released in 2003 for the GameCube, this entry replaced the traditional item shops with a "Capsule System" where players throw or use containers to trigger board events. It features a Super Duel Mode that allows players to build and customize combat vehicles for arena-based battles. The game includes 77 minigames and introduces several characters from the Dream Depot.

    This was great because not only were the minigames fun, but it also had bonus features like the battle cars. That was one of my favorite parts of the game. To top it off, the maps are ridiculously awesome.

    Mario Party 7 was the worst. The maps sucked, and the microphone minigames were stupid, and it never understood you.

    It's one of the most memorable games in the series. It has some flaws, but none that you can remember after you just had an amazing time.

    It has a really good story mode that no other game has even come close to replicating. The minigames were amazing and most of the boards felt perfect. The only improvement would be to expand some of the boards that felt a bit small.

  7. Mario Party 4

    This 2002 release was the first series installment for the GameCube and featured significantly improved 3D character models and environments. It introduced the Mega and Mini Mushroom system, allowing players to grow or shrink to access different paths and events on the board. The game contains 62 minigames and features a special "Extra Room" for additional gameplay modes.

    Mario Party 4 belongs at Number 1. It has some very unique minigames, such as Paths of Peril, Beach Volley Folly, and Dungeon Duos.

    As if that weren't enough, Mario Party 4 also has a Present Room, where you can view all the presents you've earned in the game, including each of the characters' birthday presents from story mode and presents earned from minigames. This is by far the best Mario Party game the series has to offer.

    Why is this not #1!? Almost every minigame is amazing, and DK is actually a playable character. The lottery is one of the best parts of this game, and Dungeon Duos is the best minigame ever.

    The items are great, the maps are awesome, and the whole concept is amazing. I love this game, and it's one of the only Nintendo games I'll still actually play. This game is the reason I love GameCube. This game is the best Mario Party game by a landslide.

  8. Mario Party DS

    Released in 2007, this handheld entry centers on a plot where Mario and his friends are shrunk down by Bowser's Minimizer. It utilizes the Nintendo DS dual screens and microphone for various challenges and supports four-player local wireless play via DS Download Play. The game includes 73 minigames and five unique boards based on a shrunken-down perspective.

    Undoubtedly a great game. Considering it was on a handheld device, the way they handled the story is so good. They also went with the idea that Bowser had shrunk Mario and his friends.

    The boards are good, and there are great minigames, with my personal favorite being Camera Shy.

    Great game overall for a party game on the DS.

    It's okay. Not the best, but up there in terms of the classics. I like how this game has an actually engaging story mode that is relevant to the overall big house theme of the game. The ending is really hilarious with Bowser joining the team playing on that DS.

    With all that said, I kind of don't like the whole mini-world theme of the game. It gives the game an identity, but it's kind of not so colorful. Plus, the boss battles are a complete joke, even more than in Star Rush. But overall, it's a cool game and easily one of the more replayable ones.

  9. Mario Party 9

    This 2012 Wii title fundamentally changed the series formula by placing all four players in a single vehicle to move across the board together. Instead of collecting stars, players compete for Mini Stars while navigating linear paths that culminate in mid-stage and end-stage boss battles. The game features 82 minigames and a roster of 12 playable characters.

    Mario Party 9 is the most underappreciated title of the franchise. From a critical standpoint, I'd say it's the best the series has ever seen, even looking beyond my nostalgia. It has the most content overall out of any of these games, with a completely new Party Mode to make the game feel fresh, some really engaging mini-game modes (You can't beat High Rollers, Garden Battle, and Choice Challenge), and some extra content as well.

    Even if you don't like the car, it's wrong to say the game is terrible just for that because there's so much more content.

    Some people disliked this game because of what they did to the boards, but I don't mind. It's a new idea. Sure, they did it in Mario Party 10, but that's beside the point. The minigames are good, and the modes are great too.

    You've got Step It Up, Choice Challenge, Garden Battle, and three other modes outside the boards. The soccer minigame with the Koopa Shell is a great idea too, and there's a perspective mode where you play in first person for some of the minigames. You see, there's a lot to do outside of playing the boards in Mario Party 9.

  10. Mario Party

    The original 1998 Nintendo 64 game established the series' core mechanics of four players moving across virtual boards to collect coins and stars. It features 50 minigames and six playable characters, including Donkey Kong as a standard participant. Certain minigames required rotating the analog stick rapidly, which led Nintendo to provide protective gloves to some players.

    This Mario Party, the original, certainly brings back the most memories. It had the most fun and memorable minigames, it's the most hilarious, the 1P mode was excellent and challenging, and the board maps were just so fun and big, you had to keep playing it.

    I especially enjoyed the concept where you get to buy items from the shop and collect 100 stars to unlock Bowser's level and then beat him to unlock the final level called the Superstar. Mario Party the original has my vote.

    People would like this game more if they worked together instead of raging at each other from all the trolling. OK, please hear me out: In this game, Bowser was a bigger troll than in any other, so you and your friends can work together to unlock Bowser's Magma Mountain (for 980 coins in the shop) so you can finally give Bowser what he deserves after all he's done throughout the game: a very painful explosion that will cause him to wail in pain!

    I think it's a perfect way to "finish" the game.

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Super Mario Party Jamboree

    Released in 2024 for the Nintendo Switch, this installment features the series' largest roster with 22 playable characters. It includes over 110 minigames and seven boards, featuring five new designs and two returning classics from the original titles. The game introduces the 20-player "Koopathlon" mode and the 8-player "Bowser Kaboom Squad" co-op mode for online play.

    Jamboree is by far the best game in the series.

    The boards are the best, especially the mall board. The modes are great, the minigames are fantastic, and the music is almost as good as the music in the Galaxy games. A perfect return to form.

  12. ?

    Mario Party Superstars

    This 2021 Nintendo Switch game features five remastered boards from the Nintendo 64 era and 100 minigames selected from the entire series history. It supports full online play for all modes, including the standard board game and a dedicated Mt. Minigames. The gameplay utilizes traditional button controls, making it compatible with the Nintendo Switch Lite.

    Easily one of the best Mario Party games of all time. It's almost flawless, bringing back 100 of the best minigames, five retro boards in HD, Birdo, etc.

    The only real problem is the absurd number of lucky spaces, which makes it weaker than 3, 6, and 9 for me, but it's still one of the greatest.

    This is the Mario Party I currently have! Very fun, and I can't wait to play the original N64 games!

    This game is way better than this game's Walmart version (looking at you, Top 100).

    13. The Contenders

  13. Super Mario Party

    This 2018 Nintendo Switch title returned to the classic board game style while introducing character-specific unique dice blocks. It features a local wireless mode called Toad's Rec Room that allows two Switch consoles to be linked for multi-screen gameplay. The game includes 80 minigames that primarily utilize individual Joy-Con motion and button controls.

    Great game, and I love the fact they went back to the old style of Mario Party. Isn't that superb? Super Mario Party is one of my favorite Mario Party games of all time, as well as Mario Party DS. There are loads of characters to play as, and the boards are all great and exciting. Sure, there are only four, but Mario Party DS had five, so it's only one off. The mini-games are great, and that Don't Wake The Wiggler game is one jump-scaring game!

    Super Mario Party has a sticker scene as well, so if you're getting frustrated with the mini-games and boards, go down to the sticker scene and create your own Mario scenes with the stickers. This is a fun game. Hope we get this sort of game again.

  14. Mario Party: Island Tour

    Released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2013, this entry features seven boards that each have distinct rules and win conditions, such as racing to the finish line. It includes 81 minigames that utilize the system's gyro sensors, microphone, and dual-screen functionality. The game supports four-player multiplayer using only one game card through the 3DS Download Play feature.

    It's a wholeheartedly underrated video game and Mario Party. Being completely subjective and personal, this is possibly my favorite Mario Party of all time because of how it helped me during hard times on a trip once. The soundtrack is fantastic! Even from an objective standpoint, it really isn't a bad game, and numerous classic entries have way more problems.

    The main gimmick of this game is that each board has its own rules for winning, making it interesting to choose between them. Some boards are skill-based, some are very luck-based, and some are balanced. The mini-games are simple but not bad, thanks to the great music that accompanies the game. Overall, it's a great game.

  15. Mario Party: Star Rush

    This 2016 Nintendo 3DS game removed turn-based waiting by allowing all players to roll dice and move across the board simultaneously. The main mode, Toad Scramble, tasks players with recruiting allies from the Mario franchise to assist in boss battles and minigames. It features various modes like Coin Chaos and Rhythm Recital, making use of the handheld's touch screen.

    Another underrated Mario Party game, and unlike with IT or 10, I really can't wrap my head around why people hate this game other than "it's not like the original" (which is a BS reason, by the way).

    Mario Party: Star Rush is great because it isn't afraid of taking risks that pay off decently. The main mode is revamped again, this time even more freely than the classic layout, and it has its own little quirks. On top of that, there are six more minigame modes, which is just awesome as four of them are legitimately great! Overall, it's a great game!

    This is my favorite Mario Party game I own. The others I own are 9, 10, DS, Island Tour, and Top 100. It's fast-paced, has cool dice blocks, and interesting modes.

    I like having a grid as a board better than a path to follow because, in other Mario Party games, if you roll a certain number, you can go from 1st to 4th because of Bowser or even the Boos in Mario Party 9. It's more skill-based, with minigames playing an important role in winning.

    The only problem is that even though you play a few boss minigames per round, you don't play many normal minigames.

  16. Mario Party 10

    This 2015 Wii U title continues the vehicle-based movement system and introduces "Bowser Party" mode, where a fifth player uses the GamePad to hunt the others. It features "amiibo Party," which uses physical figures to unlock themed boards and specific character items. The game includes 75 minigames and focuses heavily on the interaction between the TV and the GamePad.

    Mario Party 10 is widely known as the worst Mario Party game outside of Advance, which I find exaggerated. Honestly, this game isn't even that bad. I can definitely see its many flaws despite my liking for the car gimmick, but it's not an abomination because it still has enjoyable elements.

    The car was handled better in 9 due to that game's much more dynamic boards, but I think it works just fine here, even though the boards are pretty mediocre. Bowser Party and Amiibo Party have more issues that make them rather unplayable, but the former can still be fun if you're good.

    I haven't gone over the best parts of the game: the mini-games and boss battles. They were actually really amazing in this game and not something to gloss over.

  17. Mario Party: The Top 100

    This 2017 Nintendo 3DS compilation features 100 remastered minigames selected from the ten primary home console installments. It includes a single-player "Minigame Island" mode and supports four-player local wireless play via a single game card. While focusing primarily on minigames, it offers a "Minigame Match" mode with small-scale board gameplay.

    I really liked this game. It was pretty fun replaying some of my favorite minigames.

    Excellent 4-player collection of the best minigames. Great for drinks with friends.

  18. Mario Party-e

    Released in 2003, this unique entry is a card game for the Nintendo e-Reader peripheral that connects to the Game Boy Advance. Players scan specialized cards to play 11 different digital minigames that affect the state of the physical card game. The goal of the game is to be the first player to collect three specific clothing items for their character.

  19. Mario Party Advance

    This 2005 Game Boy Advance title focuses primarily on a single-player experience titled "Shroom City" rather than traditional multiplayer boards. Players complete quests and earn "Gaddgets" created by Professor E. Gadd by navigating the board and winning minigames. It features 50 minigames and includes a physical "Bonus Board" to be used alongside the digital game.

    This game is pretty awesome! I do not understand the hate going on here. Loved the quests! I like Mario Party 10 too. Why is Splatoon 2 on this list? Yoshi's dance in this is very cute. Why is this the last game on the list? I expected it to be before Mario Party 10.

    I actually like this game for the nostalgia and the fun it brought me.

    I know I sound crazy, but I kind of liked the whole Mushroom Town thing. Other than that, the gadgets were completely useless, they had a local multiplayer mode but it didn't even work, and they only had 1-player minigames. Shall I continue?

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