Mario Party

Mario Party is a long-running series of party video games published by Nintendo.

Mario Party is a long-running series of party video games published by Nintendo. The games feature characters from the Mario franchise competing on board-game-style maps and in minigames, usually with up to four players.

Gameplay

Mario Party games typically place players on a board where they collect coins, stars, and items while competing in minigames between turns. The format is designed around multiplayer competition and chance-based board movement. Gameplay combines board-game movement with competitive minigames, and most entries support up to four players, either locally or against computer-controlled opponents.

Development and publishing

The series was created by Shigeru Miyamoto, with Hudson Soft developing the early entries and Nintendo serving as publisher. Later mainline games have been developed by NDcube, also known as Nintendo Cube in some sources. Hudson Soft developed the early games, while NDcube has developed later main entries. Nintendo publishes the series worldwide.

Release history

The first game, Mario Party, was released on December 18, 1998 for the Nintendo 64. The series has since appeared on multiple Nintendo platforms including the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. The latest known release is Super Mario Party Jamboree, launched on October 17, 2024.

Reception and legacy

Mario Party became one of Nintendo's major party-game franchises and is widely associated with social multiplayer play. Its board-and-minigame structure has remained the series' defining feature across many entries. In Canada, Mario Party has been released on Nintendo platforms sold in the country and is part of the broader Nintendo franchise popular with Canadian players.