Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV Review

Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2

While it’s true I was all partied out with previous iterations of the franchise, Super Mario Party Jamboree quickly became a nightly tradition in my household when it launched on Switch 1. With Kamek organising the events, it offered a smoother, more refined Mario Party experience that was a delight to play and hard to put down with gorgeous boards, wonderfully animated characters, and that unmistakable Nintendo magic. In my original review, I said it felt like a return to the golden era of the Nintendo 64, when games were all about bringing people together for a night of fun, laughter, and the occasional family rivalry. Now, with the release of the Switch 2 and the Jamboree TV expansion, the party’s back on, this time with new modes, minigames, and hardware tricks designed to take the fun even further. What’s it Like? Plug in your camera, put on your wrist straps, and prepare to party as we review Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV on Nintendo Switch 2.

This review will mostly cover the new features of the Jamboree TV expansion pack. For my thoughts on the base game, you can check out my original review here – Super Mario Party Jamboree Review | What’s It Like?

Jamboree TV Hub

For those who have already played Mario Party, Jamboree TV has its own channel that acts as a separate hub where all of the new content lives. The presentation fits the theme, with bright lights, stage banners, and a “showtime” feel, emulating a TV set complete with an audience to cheer you on. Once inside, it’s clear this is where Nintendo wanted to experiment. The interface is snappy, and the new modes are front and centre. It works very well and there’s no digging through menus, no hunting for options, you simply hop in, pick a mode, and you’re playing within seconds.

There was some minor Camera calibration to take care of, repositioning the coffee table and couch so we could all game in comfort, but once you’re set up, it doesn’t really require any maintenance for the duration of your play time. Once set, you’ll find four headline additions: Tag-Team Rules, which lets you pair up for co-op play; Frenzy Mode, a condensed five-turn race to the finish; Bowser Live, a chaotic new spin on competition; and Carnival Coaster, which feels like an on-rail shooter mixed with a series of themed challenges. Each of these modes offers a different twist on the Mario Party formula and tends to be a faster way to party.

Tag-Team Rules
This is the most “board game” of the bunch, pairing you up with a partner for a cooperative run across the board. You move independently but share coins and stars, which makes the strategy a lot more involved. It’s a mode that rewards communication and planning, and it works especially well in a family or friend group that’s used to the classic free-for-all chaos but wants to try something more thought-out.

Frenzy Mode
Frenzy Mode is essentially Mario Party on fast-forward, five turns, high-value spaces, and rapid-fire minigames. There’s almost no downtime, which makes it perfect for a quick warm-up before a bigger session or when you’re short on time. Because of the condensed format, luck plays a bigger role than in longer matches, but that unpredictability also makes for some wild final turns.

Bowser Live
Bowser Live is a fun movement and microphone-based selection of mini games. Bowser hosts the show while you stand awkwardly in a warp pipe, awaiting your fate. You team up with another player and aim to reach the target score before the others in order to win. We played a selection of microphone and camera games here. One particular game saw us trying to coax a volume-controlled car to go as close to Bowser as we could. We almost had the win, so my son cheered, which sent it careening into Bowser’s feet. It was fun, and the tracking for the camera worked well.

Carnival Coaster
Carnival Coaster feels like an on-rails shooter with a mini-game challenge gauntlet. You race through a sequence of themed minigames. It’s lighthearted and replayable, especially with younger players, but it doesn’t have the depth of the other modes.

Alongside the four new modes, Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV packs in 20 fresh minigames, and Nintendo clearly used them as a playground for the Switch 2’s expanded input options. Some of the best examples come from games built around the new mouse support, which offers a surprising amount of precision for quick-click challenges and drawing-based puzzles. It’s not a control method I ever thought I’d associate with Mario Party, but in the right game, it’s snappy and satisfying.

There was one mode where we had to sort bombs out of baskets, bulldoze Goombas out of the stage, and even spray paint Bob-ombs in a mode that was like a mini explosive Splatoon. Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV manages to utilise the Switch 2’s features in fun and creative ways, making the most of the camera, microphone, and updated controls. The camera (while unflattering) captures key moments throughout your playthrough, which is then shown at the end of your game. There were some funny moments, like watching my daughter laughing maniacally after she stole my star, and me cheering when I managed to roll just the right number to net me 2 stars after landing Mario as my Jamboree Partner.

While the original set of games managed to entertain, it was exciting when encountering a new one, and there were laughs and cheers throughout our sessions, which showed me that Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV still manages to capture that same Nintendo magic I spoke of in my original review.

Graphics-wise, Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV still looks great and runs smoothly.  While the difference between Switch 1 and 2 isn’t an earth-shattering leap like with Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, Super Mario Party Jamboree bursts with Nintendo’s signature bright, vibrant colour palette, making it an absolute treat to look at. The boards are alive with animated spectators, over-the-top set pieces, and plenty of small visual touches that bring each location to life. It’s easily one of the most polished and charming presentations on the Switch 2, with every course offering its own personality and flair. Choosing a favourite is no easy task as they’re all fun, varied, and packed with unique details.

For owners of the original Mairo Party Jamboree, the $30 price point for the upgrade is a great value. Jamboree TV adds four new modes, 20 minigames, and a handful of hardware-specific extras like mouse control, microphone input, CameraPlay, and upgraded HD Rumble. There’s enough variety here to keep regular Mario Party nights feeling fresh, especially if you’ve already exhausted the boards and minigames from the main game. Tag-Team Rules and Frenzy Mode in particular have real replay value, while Bowser Live and Carnival Coaster are more situational crowd-pleasers. Jamboree TV is a fantastic edition for fans of the series and is guaranteed to engage players in fast, fun, and frantic sessions full of laughter.

So What’s it Like? Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV is like playing Mario Party in front of a live studio audience.

In the interest of full disclosure, a review copy was provided by the publisher, but this doesn’t influence my score.

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