The Mario Party series of games have set a precedent for what constitutes the perfect party game for several people to enjoy. At their core, party games must have variety to keep the experience fun for everybody, as is expected of parties in general, with minigames normally being the bulk of the game. In some cases, a simulated game board is used as the main hub to add an extra level of competition between the minigames.
Mario Party may well be the go-to for party games, with its application of everyone's favorite characters into this competitive format, but there are plenty of alternatives out there that arguably deserve more attention than they get. Whatever the game, party games are at their best when they are testing friendships in an outrageously fun and entertaining way.
10 Pummel Party Somehow Expands On The Chaos Of The Mario Party Experience
Pummel Party takes the premise of Mario Party and makes it even more chaotic, with a host of weird and wonderful items to change the stakes and keep proceedings unpredictable. The game fits the party game template for temporarily ruining friendships, but it also has many different maps that subsequently play home to various fun minigames.
The game is as hilarious and outlandish as it is fun, and doesn't need breathtaking graphics to make it one of the most enjoyable party games out there.
9 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Is The Perfect Way To Settle Scores Between Friends
While the online and competitive sides of Super Smash Bros. have really emerged and risen over the years, the franchise, and Ultimate in particular, are arguably still best enjoyed when playing on the same console with friends. With fast pacing and frantic action, the intensity and competition really help shape the game's atmosphere and intensity.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has a whole host of different characters and levels to choose from, giving plenty of room for variety and hours of fun. Mario Party may well have steady pacing to calm proceedings between minigames, but Smash Bros. revels in its chaos.
8 Gang Beasts Excels In Its Mindless Nonsense & Hilarity
Gang Beasts may not have any form of simulated board game system, but as a fun and chaotic fighting game, each map feels like a minigame that could easily be a part of a bigger party experience. With simplistic but customizable characters and a hilarious physics system, players can fight it out with the aim of the game being to be the last one standing.
A game of Gang Beasts can be set up with a predetermined number of wins needed for an extra sense of competition, and the silly premise of the game is fun on every play, with it being impossible to take too seriously.
7 Ultimate Chicken Horse Has Endless Possibilities
Ultimate Chicken Horse is a game that is rather unassuming and subtle in its initial approach, but it can quickly become an incredibly fun and entertaining multiplayer platform and party game. Playing against your friends, the objective is to reach the end of the course without dying, but with each player being able to set traps, obstacles, and other bizarre items at the start of each round, the difficulty is increased each time.
While simple enough in its main premise, Ultimate Chicken Horse can go in several different directions, with some players just wanting to finish the course and others stopping at nothing to sabotage everybody else's chances.
6 Among Us Revolutionized Social Deduction Games
Despite being released back in 2018, Among Us took time to make its way to the masses, but with the world being in lockdown in 2020, it quickly found its popularity. Among Us is a social deduction game, where a small number of select people within a crew of around 10 are designated imposters, having to kill the other crewmates without being found out.
Among Us eventually found its way onto mobile devices and consoles beyond simply being a PC game, making it even more accessible. While voice chat is ideal for meetings and conversations, its introduction to mobile devices has made it possible to be played in person, which can allow for more entertaining interactions as people try on their poker faces and deceptive body language.
5 Marooners Is A Fun Array Of Minigames
Marooners sees players compete against each other over the course of numerous minigames to determine an overall winner. While the premise itself isn't especially groundbreaking, nor does it really play into its titular name and island themes, it still makes for a fun and competitive experience.
The games are often short in length, meaning it never drags on or outstays its welcome, with the quest to earn the most amount of treasure incentivizing players to win each minigame.
4 Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes Can Become As Chaotic & Intense As The Name Suggests
Initially released in 2015, Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes has become one of the best games to play with friends, due in part to the carnage that it leaves in its wake. With only one person needing the game, a player will be looking at a procedurally generated bomb on their screen, while other players have the manual, having to communicate instructions verbally as to how to disarm the bomb.
This presents an obvious time-limit problem, pushing players to think quickly under pressure while maintaining enough composure and clarity to make victory seem attainable. It is available on mobile, PC, console, and VR, making it is easily accessible and a perfect party game.
3 The Jackbox Party Games Are Always Fun For Large Groups
Since its inception and first release in 2014, Jackbox Party Packs have become a mainstay in the party game collection. With yearly releases, each Jackbox Party Pack introduces new inventive ideas to pit friends and family against each other in various games and contests.
Games can range from social deduction and polling, to trivia and drawing games, with 2021's Jackbox Party Pack 8 having examples of each of these. The Jackbox Party games can be played in large groups, with only one person needing to own and host the main game, allowing for others to join on various devices.
2 Mario Kart Will Always Be The Go-To Party Racing Game
The Mario Kart games have actively encouraged competition over the years, and while racing against AI-controlled drivers can be fun enough, nothing beats the thrills and spills of racing against your friends. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is considered one of the top Nintendo games for this reason.
Its vibrant levels can be obscured by the frustration of your friends attacking you at unfortunate times, but there are plenty of chances for revenge in multi-track tournaments. As with most multiplayer Mario or Nintendo games, they truly capture the essence of the party genre, with fun that always creates chaos and entertainment.
1 Overcooked 2 Has The Chaos To Temporarily Ruin Friendships That Party Games Require
While Overcooked 2 moves the boundaries of what makes a party game, it doesn't change the fact that it is still an enjoyable experience for either playing with or against friends. With its premise of preparing multiple food orders at once for impatient customers, Overcooked 2 can really test players' mental fortitude as the pressure mounts up.
The cooperative mode can have players work together, allocating each player to different stations, but this can still become an absolute mess without communication. The main hub between levels resembles an interactive board game of sorts, adding to the party game aesthetic.