Mario Partyhas been a staple of Nintendo’s spin-off catalog and friend group gatherings since the Nintendo 64. The series has gone through numerous iterations over the years, including a stint where its traditional board game structure was replaced by players riding down linear tracks together. Fans expressed displeasure in this system going against the spirit ofMario Partytitles before it, and luckily for them the two Switch entriesSuper Mario PartyandMario Party Superstarshave reversed course.
Super Mario Partyreleased in October 2018, offering fans a title with its own unique spread of boards and minigames. It was well received, though a lack of content left many wanting more. The game’s boards only supported local multiplayer until afree update letSuper Mario Partyowners play onlinein April 2021. This seemingly bizarre decision to add online functionality three years after launch may have been a test forMario Party Superstars, which included the option at launch in October 2021.Superstarsis a game that leans more into nostalgia than its predecessor, making it the perfect title to learn fromSuper Mario Party’s mistakes by receiving extensive DLC support.
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The Nintendo Switch’s Spotty DLC History
Post-launch support for Switch games has been a mixed bag.The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildgot two paid DLC packswith new items and story content, and similar things can be said forPokemon SwordandShield,Fire Emblem: Three Houses, andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. Meanwhile some titles have received free content, including the sports gamesMario Tennis AcesandMario Golf: Super Rush.Mario-centric games on the whole have been good about this, withSuper Mario Odysseyreceiving free DLC such as new outfits and the Luigi’s Baloon World mode.
However, in many cases fans have said post-launch support doesn’t go far enough to keep a game’s community thriving.Animal Crossing: New Horizonsis a curious case in this regard. The game became extremely popular amid the burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic, ever-present on social media sites like Twitter and working its way up to be the second-best selling game on Switch as of July 19, 2025, according to a Nintendo Investor Relations (IR) report. Yet it did not receive any form of paidDLC until last November’sHappy Home Paradise, leaving fans a slow drip-feed of holiday events and other content that largely just brought the game up-to par with prior entries in the series.
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How Mario Party Superstars Can Hit the Mark for Nintendo
Super Mario Partynot releasing any major content updates, limiting its post-launch legacy to additions like online play, left a lot of money on the table. According to the September 2021 IR report,Super Mario Partyis the seventh best-selling Switch title, having moved 16.48 million units - nearly three million more than its runner-upPokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu!andLet’s Go, Eevee!. A steady stream of new boards could have keep fans coming back and investing their savings, either via paid DLC orNintendo Switch Online subscriptionsto play with friends over the Internet (eventually).
That game’s development pipeline could have arguably been constrained by the work of coming up with brand-new content.Mario Party Superstarsdoesn’t have that problem. It’s designed as a celebration of the franchise, one that remasters boards from the original three N64Mario Partytitles and sees the return of fan-favorite minigames. DLC based on theGameCube or Wii-eraMario Partytitlesseems like a shoe-in, something that would appeal to both nostalgic fans and young players who got the game over the 2021 holiday season.
However, Nintendo has made no mention of plans to provide further support forMario Party Superstars. It was the best-selling title in Japan for a few weeks after release, and was nominated for Best Family Game at The Game Awards 2021, so there is an audience to buy DLC if Nintendo offers a decent package.Rumors about an upcoming Nintendo Directmay offer the company a chance to announce big plans for its latestMario Partygame in 2022, but after three months it should hurry to ensureSuperstarsremains relevant.
Mario Party Superstarsis available now for Nintendo Switch.
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