Summary
The famous Mario spin-off franchise has returned withSuper Mario Party Jamboreefor the Nintendo Switch, sporting the largest roster of characters seen yet in the series. With 22 playable heroes and villains, and possibly more to come via DLC,Super Mario Party Jamboreetakes the formula that was established inSuper Mario Partyand pushes it further.
Many characters featured inSuper Mario Party Jamboreeare recurring, with some having made appearances in every single Mario Party game since the first entry. However, the newest game not only features newer characters but also introduces the Jamboree Buddy system, with 10 characters on the roster able to join as an ally and provide passive abilities to exploit.
1Mario
It’s Not A Mario Party Without Mario
It wouldn’t beSuper Mario Party Jamboreewithout the titular hero of the entire franchise. Though he originated as Jumpman in the originalDonkey Kongarcade game,Mario evolved and was redesignedinto everyone’s favorite plumber withSuper Mario Bros., which rocketed into one of the biggest video game franchises ever with many sequels and spin-offs.
The red-clad plumber has become an icon, not only with the games but also with a blockbuster animated movie and an entire section of Universal Studios dedicated to his universe. Not only is Mario a playable character, but also, withSuper Mario Party Jamboreeintroducing the Buddy mechanic, Mario is one of many characters that assist a player on the board and in minigames.
2Luigi
The Scaredy Cat Younger Brother With A Heart Of Gold
Though he is often the sidekick to his older brother, Luigi is just as iconic as Mario ever since his debut in the originalMario Bros.arcade. Donning green and blue, Luigi has since gained many fans who appreciate the younger brother, always willing to overcome those fears to save his brother or the Mushroom Kingdom.
Luigi hasmanaged to stand out on his own, getting his own games, such asSuper Luigi Uand, most famously, theLuigi’s Mansiontrilogy, which had him fighting boos and other ghosts to save his brother and friends. In a way, Luigi shows more character than his older brother, but that’s not a detriment to Mario.
3Princess Peach
Fearless Princess Of The Mushroom Kingdom
Often the damsel in distress in mainline games, Princess Peach has been a playable character in the Mario universe since the classicSuper Mario Bros. 2for the NES. Since then, she has been featured in nearly every spin-off title for fans to control, includingMario Kartand even theMario + Rabbidsgames.
Despite being such a pivotal part of the Mario universe, Peach has rarely been more than a supporting character. However, fans were blessed with Peach gettingher own game withPrincess Peach: Showtime!, which gave her a gameplay style unlike any other Mario game.
4Princess Daisy
Hyper Princess From The Handheld Games
While Peach was the princess that needed saving in the mainline console games, Princess Daisy was inthe handheld titles on the Game Boy, such asSuper Mario Land, and its sequel. However, Daisy became more of a household name thanks to her inclusion inMario KartandMario Partygames.
Daisy is known for having a more bombastic personality compared to Peach’s more demure one. She’s very energetic and full of life, often screaming everything she says with joy. Daisy didn’t even make it to the mainline games until she was a playable character inSuper Mario Bros. Wonderfor the Switch.
5Wario
Villain And Anti-Hero Antithesis Of Mario
Every hero often meets a villainous double and Mario is no different, getting his own evil clone in the form of Wario, who first debuted as the main villain ofSuper Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins. Since then, Wario has made appearances in the spin-off titles but is one of the few side characters tolead his own series of gamesin the Mario universe.
TheWario Landgames are one of the better attempts at a spin-off franchise for Nintendo, showing that even the most unlikely characters can lead a series. However, most gamers are more likely to know Wario as a character inMario Kart,Mario Party, or the many sports games in the Mario universe.
6Waluigi
Wario’s Longtime Partner And Champion Of Tennis
Since Mario had his evil clone, Luigi received the same treatment inMario Tenniswith the introduction of Waluigi. The tall and lanky partner of Wario has not had the same luck as his partner, seeing how Waluigi has only been featured in the party spin-off titles, not even in the Wario games.
Fans all around seem indifferent about the character, with most just accepting whenever he’s included, while a small fanbase relishes him. Waluigi has appeared in nearly everyMario Partytitle since he was first introduced inMario Party 3for the N64.
7Yoshi
Nintendo’s Cutest Dinosaurs Who Got Their Own Games
Yoshi is an adorable dinosaur who first appeared inSuper Mario Worldas a mount for Mario and Luigi. Since then, the Yoshis have become an integral part of Mario’s lore with certain games explaining that Yoshis protected the brothers as babies before bringing them to their parents.
AfterSuper Mario World, Yoshis became a fan-favorite who continued to be a mount in Mario games, but quickly received their own spin-off games, fromYoshi’s Cookieto the now-belovedYoshi’s Islandseries. Yoshi is also one of several characters who has appeared in every singleMario PartyandMario Kartgame, with later entries allowing gamers to pick colors.
8Toadette
Often Overlooked Addition To The Mushroom Kingdom
There is not much to say about Toadette as she has always been an out-of-nowhere addition since she debuted inMario Kart: Double Dash, one of the moreiconic titles for the GameCube. Ever since, Toadette has appeared off and on again in bothMario PartyandMario Kartgames; inMario Party Superstars, she was the provider of stars.
Toadette did spark a legion of online fan art whenSuper Mario Bros. U Deluxewas released, featuring Toadette as a playable character who could turn into a human clone of Peach upon wearing the Super Crown. Toadette most recently joined the mainline games again withSuper Mario Bros. Wonderalongside other versions of Toad.
9Toad
The Epitome Of The Sidekick Character
The mushroom people of Peach’s kingdom, Toads have been there since the originalSuper Mario Bros., tormenting players by teasing that the princess is in another castle. However, much like Peach, Toad became a playable character inSuper Mario Bros. 2and his perk was that he was the fastest character on the roster, but with the shortest jump.
Over the decades, Toad has swapped between playable and non-playable in the mainline games, but there wasCaptain Toad: Treasure Tracker, which gave the character a start to his own spin-off franchise. In some, he is the guide, like inSuper Mario 64or severalMario Partygames, or he and other Toads are sidekicks to Mario and Luigi on an adventure.
10Rosalina
The Most Complex Character In Super Mario Bros. History
Mysterious yet graceful, Rosalina quickly had fans fall in love with her when she first appeared as Mario’s guide inSuper Mario Galaxy. There hadn’t been a new princess-like character in years so Rosalina was a breath of fresh air due to her ethereal presence, intriguing backstory, and the fact that she always hovers off the ground, almost ghost-like.
Given that Rosalina had far more development than most characters in the Mario universe, she becamea treasured female Mario characterby Nintendo fans, which led to her joiningMario Partyand other party-based spin-off titles. The only time Rosalina was playable in the mainline games was as a secret unlockable inSuper Mario 3D World.
