Super Mario Party Jamboree: A Potential Game-Changer for the Franchis

Since its debut in 1998, the Mario Party series has entertained players with 10 mainline games and nearly as many spinoffs over the last 26 years. While the series has generally maintained consistent reviews, some recurring issues have become more noticeable as the franchise continues. For example, Super Mario Party faced criticism for its lack of content and underwhelming boards. Although Mario Party Superstars fared better, it offered little in the way of original material. However, Super Mario Party Jamboree is shaping up to be the long-awaited return to form that fans have been craving.

From its reveal in June, Nintendo has been eager to emphasize just how expansive Super Mario Party Jamboree will be. The announcement trailer proudly declared that this would be the "biggest party yet," boasting an impressive roster of characters, boards, and minigames. If Nintendo plays its cards right, Super Mario Party Jamboree has the potential to become the standout entry in the series.

Super Mario Party Jamboree Could Reach New Heights with DLC

Super Mario Party Jamboree is already poised to be the most content-rich game in the franchise's history. At launch, it will feature at least 22 playable characters, five brand-new boards, two remastered boards, and over 110 minigames that span motion-controlled challenges, non-motion minigames, 1v3 showdowns, 2v2 duels, and classic free-for-alls. With this robust lineup, Super Mario Party Jamboree seems to strike the perfect balance between fresh content and fan-favorite remakes, ensuring plenty for players to dive into on day one.

However, Nintendo could take things even further by extending Super Mario Party Jamboree’s lifespan with post-launch DLC, much like they did with Mario Kart 8. When Mario Kart 8 launched in 2014, it offered a solid mix of original and remastered tracks. But through a series of DLC updates, the game became even more complete. The release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch further cemented its status as the definitive Mario Kart experience.

Then, in February 2022—nearly eight years after the original release—Nintendo unveiled the Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, adding 12 new cups, 48 tracks, and 8 new characters by November 2023. This effectively doubled the game’s content and kept it relevant nearly a decade after its debut.

Even though a new Mario Kart is likely on the horizon with the release of the Nintendo Switch’s successor, Mario Kart 8 has remained the go-to title for fans over the last ten years. If Super Mario Party Jamboree follows a similar DLC strategy, it could easily become the ultimate Mario Party experience for years to come, possibly with a remastered release for the Switch 2.

Endless DLC Potential for Super Mario Party Jamboree

Fortunately, Super Mario Party Jamboree is ripe with possibilities for future DLC, which could secure its place as the definitive entry in the series. Like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Booster Course Pass, Jamboree could tap into the vast array of content from past games to remake classic boards and minigames. Adding in a few original surprises along the way would give players the best of both worlds and ensure the game stays fresh and exciting for a long time.