Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TVhasa lot going for it, and one of the most significant additions it adds is mouse functionality, thanks to the upgraded Joy-Con 2. 14 more minigames arenow a part of the core package, which can be worked into multiple modes, including a full minigame rush.
Not all of them are equal, though. There are a few games that straddle the linebetween gimmicky and chaotic,withconcepts that are a bit too random. Depending onwhat you’re in the mood for, though, there’s a lot to choose from.
14Pull-Back Attack
A Toy Car In Digital Form
In case you haven’t used the Switch 2’s mouse functionality yet, it’s extremely simple to use and works very well, even on surfaces like a couch.All you need to do is tilt your Joy-Con 2so that the side that sticks in your Switch 2 is on a flat surface, and you’re good to go. You can pull or move the Joy-Con 2, and it’ll operate just like a regular mouse.
With that in mind, the idea of Pull-Back Attack is right in the name: you pull back the mouse just like an old toy car, and let it rip.Your job is to get from one end of a long bridge to the other to score points, then rise and repeat. If you fall in the water, you’ll need to start over.
It’s a cute concept, putting kids and family members alike in the driver’s seat of a toy car, but the map is a bit dull, and things can be too chaotic for their own good.It’s fun the first few times, smashing into each other, but that fun quickly fades.
13Ice And Easy
Pull Back, Release, And That’s It
Ice and Easy is lower on the list becauseit’s very similar to a few other minigames. You’ll once again be pulling back and then sliding forward, but this time you’re aiming to grab balloons as a team. There’s more precision involved in Ice and Easy, but it gets dull after playing it several times and grasping exactly how to get the most balloons in one go.
It’s not at the very bottom of the list, though, because of the themeing. It can be a quick, relaxing game to get through during a minigame run mode,especially the Bowser gauntlet in Carnival Coaster.
12Bowser Filter
Answer Bowser’s Email
Ever wanted to answer Bowser’s emails? Wait, where are you going? You get to sort them into folders, too!
In all seriousness,Bowser Filter can be fun in spurts, especially if you’re playing with opponents who are quick with their mouse flicks. Sorting objects into folders isn’t something I want to be doing all the time, but it’s a great test for how well the mouse functionality works on Switch 2.
11Stuffie Stacker
Stacking With Odd Objects
Stuffie Stacker islike partTetris,part stacker game, and is overall not really sure which one it wants to be. Alongside an odd smattering of stuffed animals/objects and blocks, you’ll aim to get as high as possible to nail the best score.
Like any zen-heavy game, Stuffie Stacker can be relaxing and quaint, especially if you work as a team to get an S-rank and do your best.Tilting and rotating the objects can be finickydepending on your personal setup.
10Get A Grip
Grab And Hold On
Get a Grip is an utterly silly minigame where two people control different arms of a mech. Your job is to climb to the top of the mountain to the goal, while maintaining your individual arm’s grip.If you let go, the entire mech can come stumbling down.
I considered putting Get A Grip lower on the list for several reasons, butit has a lot of potential if you get a partner who is quickand can move the arms in tandem with you to climb constantly. For families, it can be disastrous, and the level designs don’t really change, making it one of the lesser minigames for me.
9Bob-omb Toss
It’s All In The Wrist
There really isn’t much to Bob-omb Toss, but it’s a quick one that rewards speed and precision. All you need to do is grab a Bob-omb from one basket and toss it to the other side. In co-op, you just need to move them all over. In versus mode,the team with the fewest Bob-ombs wins.
Think of it like a hectic game of hot potato with explosive results.Given how different this one is depending on the modeyou play, I have it higher on the list, and it’s one I like to revisitoften.
8Domino Effect
Does A Game Of Dominoes Sound Fun?
Playing dominoes in aMario Partygame doesn’t sound like a ton of fun, but thanks to the precision of the Joy-Con 2 mouse, it can be just as heated as some of the other games. Grabbing a domino and placing it just right can be tough,especially when you get into the nitty-gritty of rotating them just right.
This is one of my favorite games to play in co-op, too, as everyone needs to be on the same page to get the top S-rank score.
7Bob-omb Makeover
Spray Paint These Baddies
Bob-omb Makeover effectively uses the mouse functionality of the Joy-Con 2, as well as its rumble and microphone features. Spraying down Bob-ombs and making them pink is a nice enough gimmick in its own, buthearing and feeling the spray can as you shake itto “reload” your paint is great.
As one of the tougher games to score an S-rank on in co-op,Bob-omb Makeover is a sleeper hit for me. I didn’t really enjoy it at first, but over time, it won me over.
6What’s The Scoop?
Work Together To Make Ice Cream
What’s The Scoop took me a bit to understand at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s one of the best team games on offer inSuper Mario Party Jamboree. The goal is simple too: scoop ice cream andplace it on a cone for customer Toads in a specific order.
Forcing players to “roll up” the ice cream is a nice touch, and ensures that you’re actually paying attention to what you’re scooping, and in what order. My family had a field day with this one, as we figured out the best way to get everyone scooping at once without messing up the order.
5Shell Hockey
Classic Arcade Hockey
If you’ve ever played Tabletop Air Hockey, you’ll enjoy Shell Hockey, because it’s basically the same concept. With the mouse,you’ll fling a little round vehicle “hockey stick” aroundas you chase shells, which double as pucks to slam into goals.
In co-op, you’ll face off against a large and fairly reactive NPC opponent, which can also be fun in its own way.Again, the games that change significantly depending on the mode you’re playingare among the best, because they offer such different experiences.
