Super Mario Party Jamboree released for Switch late last year to a generally positive reception, and for good reason. The unavoidable frustrations of the typical Mario Party game still exist in Jamboree (it can feel slow and unfair and isn’t particularly fun to play alone), but lots of smart decisions set it apart from the Parties that preceded it. All those good things still exist in the Switch 2 edition of the game, but the additions, though novel, are mostly underwhelming and don’t automatically justify the cost of potentially upgrading the version you already own, or outright buying it for Switch 2.
Mario Party Jamboree, which is included in full in this package (or you can pay to add the Jamboree TV content if you own it on Switch), is a good Mario Party game. It has fun boards, the most playable characters, and good options, like choosing to remove motion-control games or scale back the randomization. The added “Jamboree Buddies” mechanic is also a simple and fun way to inject more personality into each match as everyone competes to team up with staple Mario characters for added bonuses. The minigames more or less line up with previous Mario Party games, with many that are fun and replayable, and others you never think about again after they conclude.
The big addition for the awkwardly titled Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV is the last bit. Jamboree TV enriches the Switch 1 version by adding new modes, taking advantage of the mouse controls, and the camera, if you have one to plug in (most USB-C cameras will work). The camera options are fun, and it’s goofy in a complementary way to see your face next to your player character as you play the games. It recalls the Mario Kart arcade game and a Wii U multiplayer favorite of mine, Mario Chase.
Pictured: A screenshot you can’t actually take in-game
Seeing everyone’s reactions on-screen in real time is joyful, but unforgivably, you cannot take screenshots or videos while the camera is plugged in and being used. If you can’t take a screenshot of the moment your friend expresses anguish over their arbitrary loss of a star, then why did we even have the camera plugged in? The camera also does not track your face, which means if you want to appear on camera while playing, then you better be ready to sit in one place without shifting too much, which isn’t quite the kind of body movement I associate with the word “party.”
The primary camera games are found in the Bowser Live venue, and its presentation is silly in a way I liked. Bowser basically functions like a wrestling venue MC trying to build up the crowd, and the camera superimposes you in the throng of familiar Mario bad guys. It made me laugh, and I would have loved to include a screenshot of it here in this review. The games themselves are simple and do a good job of making you look dumb on your TV, which is what I wanted from them.
The added microphone games are few, but similarly silly. Shouting “Go!” at the TV to make a little racecar move forward is the exact kind of absurdity that leads to a good time. The mouse games are much more plentiful and are functional without being overly creative or unique. I enjoyed them not necessarily because I wanted to replay them, but because I had never played Mario Party games like them before. Thankfully, if you want to eschew the previously included motion games and newly added mouse and microphone games, it’s a very easy setting to activate.
The complete original Switch 1 Jamboree game exists in the package as an option to bypass the new content if you want, but all the fun boards (like Roll ‘em Raceway, which I enjoy) are also available in Jamboree TV. All the good new options are available, as well, like removing bonus stars and speeding up the NPCs if you’re playing alone. It all leads to what is a solid, and arguably the best, entry in the franchise. The new content is fun to play with (and I recommend keeping the mouse games in the mix), but I wouldn’t consider any of it destination content. Mostly, I am just happy that there is a good Mario Party available in the Switch 2’s launch window. It’s not a game I see myself booting up on my own, but as a means to get a party going with players of all skill levels, I am glad I have it on the metaphorical shelf.
