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Is Mario Party Jamboree good for kids who hate losing?

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It can work, but go in prepared. Super Mario Party Jamboree is competitive by design, many mini-games need fast button presses, and mini-games can’t be skipped. Before you start, set computer players to an easy level, turn off motion mini-games, give your child a star handicap, and try the co-operative Toad’s Item Factory mode first. Full scores are on our Super Mario Party Jamboree game page.

What our rating says (offline party game, motion mini-games off)

• Losing: 2 out of 3. Players race to win stars, and the most stars wins. Star handicaps can help younger players.
• Timers and fast reactions: 2 out of 3. Mini-games include races, last-one-standing brawls and memory challenges, and some need fast button presses or long holds. Mini-games can’t be skipped.
• Difficulty: 1 out of 3. You can set computer players’ difficulty, and each board shows whether it’s easy or hard before you play.
• Scary: 1 out of 3. Mild fantasy violence: hammers, cannons and a robot with boxing gloves. Nobody is seriously hurt.
• Competition: 1 out of 3 offline. Against the computer or people in the room, with no strangers. Online it’s 2 out of 3, with up to 20 players, including strangers.
• Stopping: 1 out of 3. A fan blog says it autosaves at the end of each turn, so you can quit and pick up from the last turn. We’re still looking for an official source. A full board game can take a long time.
• Flashing: unknown. The ESRB says damage is shown by blinking, and one accessibility review says the screen is sometimes very busy and colourful.
• Sounds: unknown. Reviews describe happy character voices and jingles.
• Reading: unknown. The text is simple, the text speed can be changed, and there’s no read-aloud option.

Settings to change first

• During setup, turn off motion mini-games. One review says the filter doesn’t catch every one, so watch for surprises.
• Set computer players to an easy level.
• Give a younger child a star handicap.
• Try Toad’s Item Factory, a co-operative mode, before the competitive boards.
• Use Free Play to practise favourite mini-games without a full board game.
• Choose an easy board, and plan for a long game, since a full board game can take a while.

Calmer alternatives for playing together

• Bluey: The Videogame: co-op for 1 to 4 players with no losing and no flashes listed.
• Chicory: A Colorful Tale: 2-player co-op painting adventure with excellent settings, for older kids.
• Untitled Goose Game: 2-player co-op slapstick, mostly without time limits.
• Human: Fall Flat: 2-player co-op with no time-limited tasks. The wobbly controls can frustrate some kids.

FAQ

Can you turn off motion controls in Mario Party Jamboree?

You can filter out motion-control mini-games during setup, though one review says the filter doesn’t work for every mini-game.

Is there a co-op mode in Mario Party Jamboree?

Yes. Toad’s Item Factory is a co-operative mode.

Can you skip mini-games?

No. Mini-games can’t be skipped, according to an accessibility review.

How long does a game of Mario Party Jamboree take?

A full board game can take a long time. A fan blog says it autosaves at the end of each turn, so you can stop and come back later, but we haven’t confirmed that with an official source.

Does it have online strangers?

Only in online modes, which need Nintendo Switch Online and can include up to 20 players. Offline play has no strangers.

More reading: Video games for kids with motor planning challenges · Best calm Switch games