Mario Party has been a Nintendo staple since its release in 1998. With its fun minigames, charming boards, and iconic characters, Mario Party has been a must-play party game that feels inviting to people of all ages. But what if I told you that this was all an elaborate front? What if I told you that Mario Party isn’t a party game at all but, in fact, a sociopolitical thriller designed to make you betray and backstab those you hold dear? For nearly 30 years, Mario and his mafia have been ruining friendships, straining relationships, and embedding trust issues you never knew you had.
With the release of Mario Party Jamboree (better late than never), I decided to test the waters to see if the game still holds up.
Let me ask you this: does this sound familiar? You and three friends grab Mario Party Jamboree thinking it’ll be a fun, nostalgic hangout. Maybe you grab some drinks, goof around, and decide to play a 20-turn game. You all pick your characters (Luigi main here, personally) and select the most interesting map you can find. You fire it up and get started.
Then it begins.
The dice rolls determine turn order. Your first friend, maybe a Wario guy, rolls a 5. Okay, not bad. Your next buddy, maybe a Shy Guy fan excited to see him in action, rolls a 2. You laugh and tease them, saying, “Watch this idiot,” only to see Luigi roll a measly 3. Still jokingly brushing it off, you’re left to watch as that one S.O.B. friend who always plays as Yoshi rolls a 10.
The Game Begins
The first few turns are harmless enough. You pick up an item, maybe win a minigame or two, and make your way toward the first star. All you need is to roll a 5 to grab it, but here comes your Yoshi friend using a triple dice to get there before you. And just like that, the taunting begins.
You try to brush it off, but the frustration grows rapidly.
As someone who has played this game since the original N64 version, I know this pain all too well. But hey, it’s early. Yoshi has one star, and there are plenty of ways to catch up.
Now comes the first crossroads: how do you want to play? Do you focus on winning minigames, collecting as many coins as possible for the Coin Star, or hoarding stars to ensure the bonus stars tip the scales in your favor?
While you’re busy planning your next move, that Wario friend—who can’t stop spamming stickers in the corner—swaps places with you. Suddenly, you’re nowhere near a star or anything useful. You ask Wario what they’re thinking, and all you get in return is, “WAAAHHHHRRIIIOOO TIME!”
It’s Turn 12. You’ve officially entered the back half of the game, and the standings are close. Wario is in dead last, cracking open what might be their fifth drink of the night, clearly having the time of their life. Shy Guy is in third, holding onto items that could easily shift things. You’re in second, winning minigames but getting screwed over because of it. And in first is that damn Yoshi, holding a two-star lead.
The experience has been anything but a Jamboree, but there’s still time. Luck turns your way as you and Daisy form a loud and public alliance to team up against Yoshi, agreeing to steal his stars at the nearest Boo. Yoshi, unsurprisingly, doesn’t take this well. He strikes a deal with Wario to focus all their efforts on you and Daisy. A civil war erupts.
After a long, hard-fought game, you make it to the final turn. You’re still in second place, but your minigame skills have been strong, and at least one bonus star is likely coming your way. The only problem? Yoshi has the most stars, Shy Guy has the most coins, and Wario, well… Wario is drunk and causing chaos for the sake of it.
You have one last move: use your triple dice to reach the star and hope to pull off a two-for-one combo by visiting Boo to steal from Yoshi. Unfortunately, you’re third in the turn order.
Yoshi uses a mushroom dice to secure an additional 5 on his roll, snatching the star and cementing his lead. He gloats in your face, and you mutter a string of explicit words under your breath. Then, in classic Wario fashion, he lands on a Bowser Space.
At first, it’s funny. But his chaotic antics result in Bowser triggering Bowser Revolution, redistributing everyone’s coins evenly. The once-hopeful outlook is now a mess of desperation.
You roll: 8… 3… It all comes down to the final roll. You hit a 10, scream in triumph, and make it to Boo, stealing Yoshi’s star.
Yoshi is still in first, but you’re now within striking distance. Two bonus stars could seal your victory.
Leave it to Shy Guy to ruin everything. With nothing to lose, Shy Guy uses a custom dice to land on the dreaded Chance Time. For the uninitiated, Chance Time is the great equalizer—or destroyer—in Mario Party.
The blocks spin. Shy Guy lands on “Give All Stars” and freezes the room. Wario, Yoshi, and you scream in distraction, but Shy Guy hits the button. The stars align in your favor. Luigi takes the victory.
1st Luigi
2nd Yoshi
3rd Shy Guy
4th Wario
You feel like years have been shaved off your life. Your friends pat you on the back, giving you the “You’re so lucky” speech. Yoshi sulks in defeat, and Wario, utterly drained, vows revenge next time.
This is the destruction Mario Party Jamboree can bring. It strains relationships and creates unforgettable moments of chaos and betrayal. From 1998 to 2025, Mario Party has been the ultimate game for sabotaging friendships in the most hilariously painful way possible.
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