In 2021, Nintendo released the latest mainline Mario Party title for Switch, Mario Party Superstars, and then quickly abandoned it. It was supposed to be a return to form for the franchise while also celebrating the original Nintendo 64 trilogy, and it did both pretty successfully. However, it seems like Nintendo currently has no plans for any DLC, Just like Super Mario Party before it, Mario Party Superstars' DLC potential has been left untapped.
There are so many boards that could shine again on Mario Party Superstars, but the game could also do wonders with a forgotten Mario Party mode. The popular Mario Party: Star Rush for Nintendo 3DS is probably one of the most unique entries in the series, and its concepts should be carried over to a mainline entry. It would be a fantastic additional mode in Mario Party Superstars, and could start off the Mario Party DLC train on strong footing.
Mario Party Superstar Needs DLC
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While Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons got DLC, it seems like Nintendo has little interest in doing the same for Mario Party. The Nintendo Switch has now seen two different Mario Party titles in the span of three years, and neither of them have gotten any additional content. Super Mario Party was released on the console in 2018, became one of the top ten best-selling games on the system, and was then dropped in favor of Mario Party Superstars. Two years after hitting store shelves, it seems Superstars will suffer the same fate.
Mario Party seems like the perfect fit for DLC packs, but Nintendo does not seem to think so. The studio could churn out additional boards, new characters, and an assortment of wild mini-games if it wanted. The games could benefit immensely from the additional content, and the fanbase would likely buy it in droves. These packs would also be ideal for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, but for some reason Nintendo has chosen not to deliver on this potential. Instead, the studio just wants to move onto whatever comes next.
Star Rush is the Perfect DLC Candidate
If Mario Party Superstars ever gets DLC, it should come in many forms. Not only should there be additional boards and mini-games, but the studio should also expand upon the Mario Party: Star Rush concept. Star Rush was unlike any Mario Party that came before it, and no Mario Party has emulated it since. It was a pretty unique and wild concept that would be perfect for an alternate DLC game mode.
Mario Party: Star Rush replaced the classic turn-based gameplay of its predecessors with a new mode called Toad Scramble. Every player controlled a variation of Toad on a game board with no set paths. Players would roll their dice simultaneously, and then move wherever they wanted around the board. They had to collect coins strewn about the map which could be used to purchase allies and items. Stars were earned through boss battles, and mini-games were played throughout. The player with the most stars and coins after every boss had been defeated would be the winner.
Mario Party: Star Rush may not have been perfect, but it did introduce some interesting new mechanics to the series that should not be forgotten. Toad Scramble should not replace the classic Party Mode that Mario Party is known for, but it should be added as an alternative game mode. Nintendo could expand the concept through DLC, and it would give Mario Party Superstars fans a reason to boot the game up again. Fans may not want to hold their breath for potential DLC, but hopefully Nintendo delivers.
Mario Party Superstars is available now on Nintendo Switch.
