Mario Party

About Mario Party (N64)

Mario Party is a party video game developed by Hudson Soft and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It launched in Japan on December 18, 1998, and in North America on February 8, 1999, creating a series that is still running today. The concept was simple: combine a virtual board game with dozens of quick, chaotic minigames.

Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Wario and Donkey Kong compete on themed boards, rolling dice to move, collecting coins and buying Stars from Toad. Every few turns, all four players face off in a minigame, and the winner takes home coins. At the end, bonus stars for coins, minigames and hazards can flip the result, so no lead is ever safe.

Detailed Gameplay

Mario Party is played in turns on a board, with minigames breaking up the strategy and luck in equal measure.

Boards and Stars

• Each board has its own layout, hazards and shortcuts, from DK’s jungle to Peach’s birthday cake.
• Landing on a Star space lets you buy a Star from Toad for 20 coins, and Stars decide the winner.
• Blue spaces give coins, red spaces take them away, and special spaces trigger events.

Minigames for every matchup

• After every four turns, players compete in a minigame to win coins for the board.
• Minigames include 4-player free-for-alls, 1-versus-3 challenges and 2-versus-2 team games.
• They range from button-mashing races and memory tests to platforming and coin-grabbing duels.

Items, coins and strategy

• Item shops sell Mushrooms for extra dice rolls, Skeleton Keys for locked gates and Plunder Chests.
• Coins come from minigames, blue spaces and hidden blocks, and they fund Star purchases.
• Smart players block rivals with Boo, who can steal coins or a Star for a fee.

Modes and multiplayer

• The main Party Mode supports up to four players, with computer rivals filling empty slots.
• Mini-Game Island is a single-player gauntlet where you clear minigames to reach the end.
• Mini-Game Stadium and Coaster offer quick minigame sessions.

Game Highlights

• The party game that started it all: The first Mario Party set the board-plus-minigame formula the series still uses.
• More than 50 minigames: From frantic button mashing to memory games, there is something for every skill.
• Friendship-testing chaos: Bowser spaces, Boo thefts and Chance Time can reverse a whole game in one turn.
• Six classic characters: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Wario and Donkey Kong each bring their own personality to the board.

Controls

On the Nintendo 64 controller, Mario Party is mostly about the stick, the A button and reactions. - Analog Stick: Move your character in minigames, steer vehicles and aim in action games. - A Button: Confirm choices, jump, grab items and perform the main action in most minigames. - B Button: Use secondary actions, cancel choices and trigger special moves in some minigames. - C Buttons: Change camera angles in 3D minigames and select options in some games. - Z Button: Crouch, brake and perform special actions in racing and action minigames. - L and R Buttons: Shift camera views and trigger team actions in 2-versus-2 games. - D-Pad: Navigate menus and select options in most screens. - Start Button: Pause a minigame and view the rules, board map and current standings.

Tips and Strategies to Win

Mario Party rewards a mix of minigame skill, coin saving and board awareness. - Win minigames consistently, because coins are the only way to buy Stars from Toad. - Save 20 coins for a Star instead of spending them on items you do not need. - Watch the board layout and plan your route toward Toad before you roll. - Use Boo to steal from the leader late in the game, when a Star swing matters most.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How many players can play Mario Party? A: Up to four players can play together, with computer-controlled characters filling any empty slots, so you can also enjoy a full game solo against three CPU rivals.

Q: How do you win a game of Mario Party? A: The player with the most Stars at the end wins. Stars are bought from Toad for 20 coins each, and bonus stars for coins, minigames and hazards are awarded after the final turn.

Q: Can I play Mario Party online for free? A: Yes, you can play Mario Party online for free in your browser here, with no download or installation needed - just open the game and roll the dice with Mario and friends.