Mario has always proven to be Nintendo’s most popular video game mascot out of the many lovable figures that populate their various first-party series, but the Mario Party multiplayer series has turned out to be one of the most successful Super Mario offshoots. Mario’s popularity has pushed the character to headline many different spin-off series and Mario Party has proven itself to endure for more than two decades.

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The Nintendo Switch’s Mario Party Superstars curates a collection of the 100 best multiplayer mini-games from the series’ past. There’s been rejuvenated excitement around the Mario Party series as a result, but there are also a number of copycat multiplayer games that have come out over the years, for both better and for worse.

10 Good: Bomberman Land Brings Multiplayer Mayhem To The Explosive Puzzle Series

Games Bomberman Land Wii Racing Mini-Game

Bomberman is certainly one of the most popular and beloved puzzle-action hybrid series. The Bomberman Land series shifts its explosive action to an amusement park that's full of bewildering mini-games.

Bomberman Land started back on the original PlayStation in 2000, but it's come into its own through its PSP and Nintendo DS Bomberman Land Touch! entries. There are some genuinely fun multiplayer games here that are able to properly capture the energy of the core Bomberman series. There’s also a satisfying story mode that’s available, but the game is at its best when played with friends.

9 Terrible: Sonic Shuffle Is A Slog That’s Devoid Of Life

Sonic and friends on the same board space in the Dreamcast's Sonic Shuffle

A Mario Party-style game from Sega that uses Sonic the Hedgehog and his extended group of friends seems like it should be an absolute home run. Sega experimented with this idea back on the Dreamcast with Sonic Shuffle, a board game-based multiplayer experience that makes use of a card system.

Sonic Shuffle adds far too many features to the point that it becomes overwhelming instead of fun. Additionally, the computer AI always gains the advantage and makes any solo experience frustrating. It’s a disappointing misfire that’s full of bland mini-games, forgettable boards, and an awkward cel shaded art style.

8 Good: Crash Bash Celebrates The PlayStation’s Oddball Platformer Legend

Games Crash Bash

For a while Sony struggled to find a platforming mascot that could properly contend with Nintendo’s Mario and Sega’s Sonic. The Crash Bandicoot franchise was revelatory for the PlayStation and Sony pushed the series’ success as far as possible with both a kart racing Mario Kart imitator and the Mario Party adjacent multiplayer game, Crash Bash.

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Crash Bash isn’t nearly as polished as Mario Party and the mini-games can be simplistic, but it’s still deeply fun and doesn’t have much fat on it. It’s just unfortunate that it didn’t go on to receive numerous sequels like Mario Party.

7 Terrible: Pac-Man Fever Is Built On A Poor Foundation Of Annoying Mini-Games

Games Pac-Man Fever Board

It’s genuinely impressive to see how much Pac-Man has been able to extend its brand and deliver some very unusual spin-offs that push this basic character into more fulfilling directions. Pac-Man Fever is Namco’s attempt to cash in on the Mario Party multiplayer craze with one of its most popular characters.

Pac-Man Fever faces numerous issues, like uninteresting mini-games, repetitive boards, and unfair computer competitors. Bizarre cameos from other Namco mainstays, like Heihachi from Tekken and Soul Calibur’s Astaroth are entertaining, but don’t make Pac-Man Fever a good game.

6 Good: Rayman Raving Rabbids Embraces Reckless Abandon & Never Looks Back

Games Rayman Raving Rabbids Beach Mini-Game

The Rayman series has established a very long shelf life and it’s certainly a series that’s able to sustain itself with a multiplayer spin-off that’s in the style of Mario Party. However, the Wii’s Rayman: Raving Rabbids begins the franchise’s fascination with the deranged Rabbids, who have gone on to acquire their own series and even crossover with Mario.

This first appearance of the Rabbids hits hardest and the creatures haven’t overstayed their welcomes. There are some excellent and diverse mini-games featured in the title, but there’s also an extremely punishing difficulty in terms of what’s expected of the player.

5 Terrible: Cartoon Network Block Party Can’t Pull Itself Together

Games Cartoon Network Block Party Board Courage

There are an exciting number of Cartoon Network crossover video games on the way, but the Game Boy Advance's Cartoon Network: Block Party tried to jump on this idea back in 2004. Cartoon Network: Block Party throws together characters from popular Cartoon Network series like Johnny Bravo and Courage the Cowardly Dog.

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There are 30 mini-games available that pay service to the various Cartoon Network properties, but the game ultimately suffers from how it's a handheld Game Boy Advance game. It feels like a compromised idea of a multiplayer game that could be much bigger.

4 Good: Doraemon Wii - Secret Tool King Tournament Showcases The Evergreen Anime Mascot

Games Doraemon Wii Board Game

Doraemon has a prolific history in the anime industry that goes back more than fifty years, which has led to many Doraemon video games, albeit titles that are typically restricted to releases in Japan. This is the case with Doraemon Wii: Secret Tool King Tournament, a multiplayer release that's incredibly similar to Mario Party.

Players can control six different characters through six contrasting board games that trigger 35 creative mini-games. Doraemon Wii is beholden to the console's motion controls for many of its games, but it's a faithful reflection of the anime series and actually a fun game to play.

3 Terrible: South Park Mega Millionaire Lacks Scale

Games South Park Mega Millionaire Mini-Game

There’s been a big push towards South Park video games over the past decade, some of which are at an incredibly high standard while others feel considerably more disposable. This is unfortunately the case with the iOS release, South Park Mega Millionaire.

The mobile multiplayer game uses the backdrop of outlandish Japanese game shows to fuel its mini-games and there are some fun features to unlock, but there’s ultimately not enough to keep the party going on here. It at least has slightly more value than the trivia-based Chef’s Luv Shack multiplayer release.

2 Good: SpongeBob SquarePants - Lights, Camera, Pants! Is An Inspired Multiplayer Experience

Games SpongeBob Squarepants Lights Camera Pants Mini-Game

SpongeBob SquarePants has dominated children’s animation for well over a decade, but the beloved figure has also found a strange home in the video game world. Older generation SpongeBob titles have even gone on to receive modern remasters. The same could also happen for SpongeBob SquarePants: Lights, Camera, Pants!, an unexpectedly deep multiplayer game.

Lights, Camera, Pants! may not utilize a board game mechanic, but all of the mini-games have depth to them and feel like considerable thought has gone into them. The story mode that links these mini-games together should also satisfy any fans of the television series.

1 Terrible: Shrek Super Party Is An Ogre Of A Game (& Not In A Good Way)

Games Shrek Super Party Mini-Game

Shrek mania was very much a real thing and the iconoclastic ogre tried to insert himself into as many places as possible. There is no lack of poorly developed Shrek licensed video games, but Shrek Super Party from the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox generation is definitely the laziest of Shrek efforts.

Shrek Super Party sticks close to the Mario Party formula with a board game that governs the title’s many mini-games. All of these multiplayer diversions feel like lesser versions of better Mario Party ideas and the game’s harsh art design doesn’t do it any favors.

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