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Super Mario Party Jamboree was already a series highlight on the original Switch, a massive, vibrant package that felt like a true return to form. The new Nintendo Switch 2 Edition takes that incredible foundation and makes it shine. With the power of the new console, the game is a visual treat, with lightning-fast load times and rock-solid performance that makes the party flow better than ever. This is, without a doubt, the definitive version of the core Jamboree experience.
But Nintendo didn’t just stop at a technical tune-up. This edition introduces “Jamboree TV,” a bold and ambitious new mode that experiments with fresh ways to play. It’s here that Nintendo swings for the fences, incorporating new camera and microphone minigames that feel genuinely inventive. The idea of seeing your friends’ live reactions integrated into the game is fantastic, and when it works, it adds a whole new layer of personal, hilarious interaction. It’s a fascinating, if not entirely perfect, glimpse into the future of party games.
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Of course, with bold ambition comes a few hitches. The new “Jamboree TV” mode feels a bit walled off from the main game, and its online implementation isn’t quite as seamless as the core party mode. The new mouse-controlled minigames, for instance, are a great idea but can suffer from inconsistent lag online, which can lead to some frustrating moments when precision is key.
The biggest head-scratcher is that the new camera and microphone games are currently unavailable in online matches. It feels like a real missed opportunity to not be able to share these inventive, and often hilarious, new minigames with friends across the globe. Likewise, when you jump into a Worldwide match of the classic Mario Party mode, you’ll find that the new content from “Jamboree TV” doesn’t make an appearance, which makes the two halves of the game feel more separate than they should. These feel less like permanent design flaws and more like quirks we hope get addressed in a future update.
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There are other oddities, too. The Game Share mode is surprisingly limited, and some of the side modes are restricted to single-player with CPUs, even when you have a full party of friends ready to go. These are strange limitations in a package that otherwise feels so generous.
Even with these quirks, it’s hard to be too down on the Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. The base game is stronger than ever, elevated by the power and features of the new hardware. The “Jamboree TV” expansion, while flawed, is a creative playground full of interesting ideas that are a blast to try out with friends on the couch.
Verdict
Is it a must-buy upgrade for those who own the original? If you’re hungry for new ways to play and are willing to overlook some of the online limitations of the experimental content, then absolutely. For anyone new to the game, this is the easiest recommendation in the world. It’s the biggest and best-looking Mario Party to date, and despite its rough edges, its ambition is infectious. It’s a party you won’t want to miss.