First check the full title on your game’s start screen: Super Mario Party, Mario Party Superstars, and Super Mario Party Jamboree use different multiplayer menus and have different limits. If everyone is sharing one Switch, choose offline play; if players have separate consoles, use local play or an online room, depending on the game.
Choose the right multiplayer setup
| Game | One Switch, offline | Separate consoles | Online options and requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Party Jamboree | One to four players on one system in Mario Party mode. Other modes may have different limits. | Use the online room flow to play with friends on separate systems. | Mario Party mode supports one to four players offline and online. Bowser Kaboom Squad supports one to eight online players and Koopathlon one to twenty, with one player per system; each must first be cleared in single-player. Rhythm Kitchen, Toad’s Item Factory, and Paratroopa Flight School are listed as offline modes. Online requires the game updated, a Nintendo Switch Online membership, and a copy of the game on each system. Nintendo setup guide. |
| Super Mario Party | Up to four players on one console offline. | Local connection supports up to two consoles, with a copy of the game on each. | Mario Party, Partner Party, Minigames Mode, and Online Mariothon are listed as online-capable. Use Friend Match or a password-protected Private Game. Some modes or minigames are not available online. Nintendo setup guide. |
| Mario Party Superstars | Up to four players on one system. | Local Play supports up to three players per system. | Online Play with Friends supports up to three players per system; a Global Game with random players uses one player per system. Online requires an active Nintendo Switch Online membership and a copy of the game on each system. Nintendo setup guide. |
These are distinct routes: offline is for players sharing a console, local play links nearby systems, and online play connects systems over the internet. Check the intended mode before gathering everyone, because limits and online availability can differ within the same game.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![Nintendo Mario Party Superstars: Standard - Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Tg-cXUxKS._SL160_.jpg)
|
Nintendo Mario Party Superstars: Standard - Switch [Digital Code] | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Nintendo Mario Party Superstars (Nintendo Switch) (European Version) | $53.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Super Mario Party Jamboree for Nintendo Switch | $52.79 | Buy on Amazon |
Play on one Switch
For a group sharing a console, start the game, choose the number of players, pair the controllers, then select a mode. The exact first steps vary by release.
Super Mario Party Jamboree
- Start the software and, at the title screen, press L and R together.
- Select one to four players on the system and choose characters.
- Enter the plaza and choose a mode.
Nintendo lists Mario Party as supporting one to four players offline. Some other modes have separate limits or are offline-only, so use the mode’s displayed player options rather than assuming every activity supports the same group size.
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- Bring the party on 5 classic boards from the Nintendo 64 Mario Party games
- Show your friends and family who’s boss in 100 minigames from throughout the Mario Party series
- All game modes can be played online*
- Matches with friends in board game mode are saved after each turn both locally** and online*—pick up where you left off
- Play using a single Joy-Con controller, two Joy-Con with the Joy-Con grip accessory, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, or Nintendo Switch Lite system
Super Mario Party
Pair the controllers, start a game, choose the number of players on the console, and select the mode. Nintendo’s guide lists up to four players on one console offline. Controller pairing and availability can vary by mode or minigame; consult the in-game prompts and Nintendo’s multiplayer instructions.
Mario Party Superstars
Choose Offline from the multiplayer choices, then follow the prompts to set up the game and its players. Nintendo lists up to four players offline on one system; its setup guide covers the available routes.
Play with nearby players using separate consoles
Local play is different from sharing one console: each participating system joins the same session. The supported number of consoles and players per system depends on the release.
Rank #2
- Mario Party is back with five classic boards from the Nintendo 64 Mario Party games. Frosting meets flowers as you race to get the most stars (and sabotage your opponents) on the Peach’s Birthday Cake board from the original Mario Party game. Or watch the countdown that unleashes Bowser Coin Beam and hold onto those coins on the Space Land board. The tides can turn quickly in Mario Party, so stay vigilant, partygoers. This and all other modes can be played online, too!
- Try your hand at a Superstar collection of minigames from throughout the Mario Party series. Whether you are saving up coins for stars in board game mode or practising in free play, there is nothing quite like being the last one standing in Mushroom Mix-Up or Shy Guy Says. All minigames are played with button controls, so you can stick to the Joy-Con controller or bust out the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller or a Nintendo Switch Lite.
- Bring the party anytime, anywhere with same-system, local wireless, or online play. Matches with friends in board game mode save each turn, so feel free to take a break and pick up where you left off. Use stickers to praise or pester fellow players as you race across the board collecting stars. All modes support online multiplayer, so you can hop in with friends for a few minigames or a marathon 30-turn match. Victory is just as sweet (and stealing stars is just as satisfying) from anywhere across the globe.
Super Mario Party
Nintendo supports local connection between up to two consoles and requires a copy of the game on each console. Choose the local connection option and follow the on-screen room prompts to connect. See Nintendo’s guide for the connection flow.
Mario Party Superstars
Choose Local Play, then create or join the game as prompted. Nintendo lists support for up to three players per system. The official setup instructions distinguish this from the online and offline choices.
Super Mario Party Jamboree
For friends on separate systems, connect online and create or join a room from the plaza, then travel to the selected mode. Jamboree’s listed online mode limits vary, and some modes must be cleared in single-player first; check the table above and the Nintendo guide before choosing a mode.
Rank #3
- Get ready for the biggest party yet in Super Mario Party Jamboree for Nintendo Switch. From running through merry-go-rounds to motion-control minigolf, this jamboree is jam-packed with over 110 minigames – the most of any Mario Party game to date!
- With seven boards in all, you can go with the flow in Goomba Lagoon, search for stars in Rainbow Galleria, revisit the classics of Western Land and Mario’s Rainbow Castle from past titles and more.
- Race across the party board in Koopathlon, a series-first 20-player online competition to see who can rack up the highest scores in minigames like the fast-paced Lane Change. The higher your score in each round, the faster you’ll get to the goal. Koopathlon is just one of a slew of additional modes – there’s something for every kind of Mario Party player to enjoy!
Play online with friends or other players
For the cited Switch games, online play requires Nintendo Switch Online and a copy of the game on each participating system. Jamboree’s instructions also require the software to be updated. Start with the game’s online option, then choose the friend, private-room, or worldwide route available for that title.
Super Mario Party
- Choose an online-capable mode: Mario Party, Partner Party, Minigames Mode, or Online Mariothon.
- Select Friend Match or Password-Protected Private Game.
- Create or join the room. The host starts after everyone has selected a character.
Not every mode or minigame is playable online. Use Nintendo’s online setup guide if the expected mode is unavailable.
Mario Party Superstars
- Choose Online Play.
- Select Online Play with Friends for a friends’ session, or Global Game to play with random players.
- Follow the room or game prompts. Friends’ play supports up to three players per system; Global Game uses one player per system.
Nintendo’s guide lists the membership and game-copy requirements for online play.
Super Mario Party Jamboree
- Update the game and make sure each system has a game copy and Nintendo Switch Online membership.
- From the plaza, connect online and create or join a room to play with friends.
- Travel to the selected mode. For a worldwide session, choose a supported mode and select Worldwide.
Player limits vary by mode: Mario Party supports one to four players, Bowser Kaboom Squad one to eight, and Koopathlon one to twenty, with one player per system for the latter two. Bowser Kaboom Squad and Koopathlon must first be cleared in single-player. Nintendo’s Jamboree guide has the mode-specific details.
Quick Recap
If multiplayer is not working
- The menu or mode is missing: confirm the exact game title and whether that mode supports the chosen offline, local, or online route.
- The group cannot join: compare the number of players and systems with that game and mode’s limit.
- An online session will not start: verify the Nintendo Switch Online membership and game copy on every participating system; for Jamboree, also update the software.
- Controllers are not responding: pair them using the console prompts and check the selected mode’s controller requirements.
- A Jamboree mode is unavailable online: Bowser Kaboom Squad and Koopathlon require a single-player clear before online play.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
