When he's not trying to save the Mushroom Kingdom or taking part in any number of sports, Mario is either found smashing or partying. In 2018 he's partying first, smashing later, but can Super Mario Party be the fresh start that the series has needed for far too long

Returns to classic style Mario Party boards; Character dice add strategy and risk; Experimental Toad's Rec Room minigames; Magical HD Rumble tune

Only four main boards; Not enough minigames for some modes; No handheld solo play; Only minigames when online

Super Mario Party is what you'd expect from the series - short bursts of fun that everyone can enjoy

Recent Mario Party games have previously had a somewhat sterile feel to them, but with Super Mario Party that simply isn't the case. This isn't a cash-grab with Mario's face on the front; this is a well-constructed and beautifully realised Mario Party game which takes the series right back to its...

Super Mario and his friends are back for their 11th Mario Party on consoles and this time the party is making its franchise debut on the Nintendo Switch! Super Mario Party brings a lot of the fundamental Mario Party elements that have made the franchise so popular while adding some fresh new...

Beautiful visuals; New modes to enjoy; Fun minigames; Nice selection of characters

No drop-in/drop-out option; AI is terrible; Not enough minigames; Not enough Mario Party boards; Minimal online modes

Mario Party has been through a bundle of changes over the past 20 years, some for the better, and others sending the series in weird directions that nobody asked for. With over 15 iterations in the franchise, it's fitting that Nintendo has finally reinvented the franchise with Super Mario Party.

Super Mario Party is the eleventh entry into Nintendo's boardgame franchise and after several underwhelming attempts on previous consoles, the Switch game is tasked with not only breathing fresh life into an ageing series but also with reviving the glory days of Gamecube and N64 digital board-gaming...

80 surprisingly unique and enjoyable mini-games; Wonderful attention to detail in character animations and game-play; Mario Party and Partner Party balance luck and skill really well; Great 4-player local multiplayer experience

Difficulty in single-player mode is far too easy; Toad's Rec-Room feels a little disconnected from the rest of the game; Shorter game time option and extra boards would've been great; Online component unavailable for review

The Mario Party franchise has always been about the convergence of board games and minigames with Nintendo characters thrown into the mix. Recent entries deviated from the tried and true formula to unpopular results, but Super Mario Party returns the series to its roots.

Super Mario Party is an eclectic celebration of twenty years of star collecting and coin hoarding; bringing together the best bits into one show-stopping, mini-game cake. Paul Hollywood would grab a Joy-Con and give it a thoroughly good handshake.

Super Mario Party is yet another brilliant addition to the Switch’s burgeoning game library. There’s something for everyone in the 80-strong minigame offering, and while we’re yet to test it out, the addition of online play means you don’t need a roomful of guests to party with the plumber and co. The games themselves are basic, but that’s the point, and I’d wager that a Mario Party board game has Monopoly beaten any day of the week. Add to the generous helping of content that clever Toad’s Rec Room mode, and this is the strongest Mario Party package in some time. My advice? Play as Waluigi. He has the best running animation, and you won’t find a cockier champion in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Minigames as fun as ever ; River Survival is a fun way to play; Toad’s Rec Room is brilliant; Online Mariothon;

A few boring minigames; You need two copies of the game to play Toad’s Rec Room; Mario high-fiving Bowser? It’s just wrong;

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