Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Review: A Modest Upgrade Fails to Impress

Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Review: A Modest Upgrade Fails to Impress Nintendo has officially brought its latest party game to the next generation of hardware with the release of Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV Upgrade Pack.

Developed by Nintendo Cube and published by Nintendo, this enhanced version dropped on July 24, 2025, launching alongside the new Nintendo Switch 2 console.

Touted as the most feature-rich Mario Party in years, Jamboree was lauded at its original release for its breadth and replayability.

However, this new Switch 2 upgrade pack struggles to justify its separate purchase. Background and Feature Overview As Nintendo transitions its core franchises to the Nintendo Switch 2, the company’s strategy for game updates has varied.

Flagship titles like Super Mario Odyssey, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, and Splatoon 3 received complimentary visual upgrades, whereas celebrated hits like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom require a $20 USD upgrade fee for similar graphical and quality-of-life enhancements.

Some upgraded releases, such as Kirby and the Forgotten Land, do add fresh story content alongside the visual improvements, underscoring Nintendo’s inconsistent approach to what a "Switch 2 Edition" should deliver. Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, packaged with the Jamboree TV Upgrade Pack, lands somewhere between these strategies.

The centerpiece is the Bowser Live mode, a game show-inspired activity that leverages the new Nintendo Switch 2 Camera and microphone to create interactive, physically engaging experiences.

The DLC also adds 14 new mouse-controlled minigames, accessible via Free Play, regular Mario Party sessions, or the new Carnival Coaster mode.

Higher resolution (up to 1440p) and improved frame rate round out the technical enhancements for Switch 2 owners. A Closer Look: New Modes and Content In a rewritten statement reflecting development intentions, Nintendo Cube explained that Bowser Live is designed to energize group gameplay by combining camera and microphone input.

However, in practice, the mode offers limited content—just three camera-based and three microphone-based minigames—with low replay value, as each run-through presents essentially the same experience.

Additionally, these camera-based games are not available for online play, restricting their accessibility. The new microphone minigames rely primarily on shouting commands, such as "up" or "go," or clapping to a rhythm, but their novelty quickly fades.

Camera minigames capture the fun of seeing friends act out silly challenges on screen, but like the microphone games, they are short-lived and reminiscent of older motion-controlled party titles. Mouse-controlled minigames fare slightly better.

While some, like virtual air hockey, feel basic, others introduce creative co-op mechanics, such as spray-painting Bob-Ombs or assembling ice cream orders at a parlor.

These activities inject new energy into party sessions, but with only 14 added games, the potential for repetition arises quickly. Carnival Coaster mode, new to Jamboree TV, offers a visually engaging Mario-themed ride linking multiple minigames together, with five courses to tackle.

Players can use the camera for added immersion by seeing themselves as part of the game.

While fun in bursts, this mode lacks the replayability of classics like Bowser’s Kaboom Squad from the base game. Integration and Technical Enhancements Jamboree TV exists as a separate menu from the original Super Mario Party Jamboree, which leads to a fragmented experience.

The main incentive to enter this mode is to access new minigames and play with improved visuals and expanded rulesets—such as the streamlined five-round Frenzy mode and the cooperative Tag Team mode, which enables new strategies by sharing coins, items, and dice rolls.

That said, Pro Rules and several other base game features remain absent in this upgraded menu.

Furthermore, several single-player and challenge modes from the original do not benefit from the Switch 2 enhancements, leaving portions of the game unchanged. Final Verdict: Is the Upgrade Worth It? When everything is considered, Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV Upgrade Pack offers a handful of mildly entertaining minigames, modest visual improvements, and a few fresh modes, but falls short of being a compelling paid upgrade.

Most enhancements are contained to a small selection of the overall package, and the added features struggle to maintain long-term appeal.

For players new to the experience or those eager for Mario Party gatherings on Nintendo Switch 2, Jamboree remains a robust party title.

But for existing owners, the upgrade pack feels inessential, marked by content limitations and divisive value for its price. Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is available now via the Nintendo eShop for Switch 2.

Review copy provided by Nintendo.

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