Best Super Mario Party Game Modes

This is by far the most enjoyable game mode of Super Mario Party. To think it has more substance than the main mode is just embarrassing. Essentially, Partner Party is a game mode that combines the classic tag battle from the classic games and merges it with Mario Party: Star Rush's main mode, Toad Scramble (but without the toads). This mode lets the player walk literally anywhere, recruit Mario characters, and use more dice blocks to move on the map.

It's legitimately so much fun. I'd go as far as saying it's more fun than the normal formula because there's a lot more skill involved in where to go. Plus, recruiting allies adds a strategy of which dice block you should use (I always go with Wario's). My main gripe is that you don't fight boss battles like in Star Rush at all, but it's still playable. Overall, it's the best mode in the game.

This game mode is fine. It has a lot of flaws and problems, but I think it can be pretty fun. It's based on the standard Mario Party formula where you walk around on a board collecting stars while navigating branching pathways. Although this is the Mario Party formula done poorly, as the boards in this game were clearly only meant for Partner Party, seeing as they're quite rectangular and small without elevation, it's still a bit fun.

Challenge Road is pretty basic but a little fun too. You go through six worlds in a New Super Mario Bros.-like fashion where you complete minigames within a certain time limit or something similar - you know, a challenge road. After you've completed it, you can do it again in Expert Mode. It can be pretty fun, although it quickly gets old.

River Survival is a cooperative side mode where four players take control of a raft. You must all get to the end of a river track, choosing between multiple pathways, all within a certain time limit. There are also balloons scattered throughout the board where you play co-op minigames. You must score as well as possible to add more time to the clock, so that you have a lower risk of not making it to the end before time runs out.

This mode sounds good on paper, but legitimately all co-op minigames are lacking, and it greatly affects the quality of River Survival. Besides, like Challenge Road, it quickly gets old because you do the same thing every time.

Sound Stage is a typical minigame compilation. This particular mode has you playing rhythm-based minigames, and you need to get as many points as possible. This sounds boring on paper, but rhythm-based minigames happen to be some of the most fun and addicting ones in the entire Mario Party franchise. You shake your Joy-Con to the beat of the music in a collection of minigames, and it's really engaging!

However, it's way too short and feels almost completely useless. It's just like any minigame marathon, really. For this reason, Sound Stage is #4.

Online mode in this game is a freakin' embarrassment. You can only play a total of ten set minigames against other players, and that's it. No explanation needed - this is online at its debut in Mario Party, and it's tremendously wasted potential. Worst mode by far.