So, you've probably heard the name Mario Party: The Top 100 and thought, "Wait, is that the one on the Switch?" Nope. That’s usually the first mistake. Most people confuse this 2017 Nintendo 3DS title with its more successful younger brother, Mario Party Superstars. While they both share the "best-of" DNA, the 3DS version is its own weird, nostalgic, and slightly frustrating beast.
Honestly, the premise sounds like a slam dunk. You take 100 of the absolute best minigames from the first ten home console entries—everything from the N64 era to the Wii U—and put them in your pocket.
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It’s a greatest hits album.
But as any music fan knows, sometimes the tracklist is great, but the production feels a bit thin.
Why Mario Party: The Top 100 Still Matters
The game arrived at a very strange time. The Nintendo Switch was already out and killing it. Meanwhile, the 3DS was basically on its last legs, gasping for one final hit of air. Nintendo decided to drop this compilation right as everyone was moving on.
Why bother with it now?
Because for a specific type of fan, it’s the only way to play certain handheld-optimized versions of classics. You’ve got the 3DS touch screen and mic coming into play here. It’s not just a port; it’s a weirdly specific reimagining.
Think about Shy Guy Says or Bumper Balls. These are the games that defined sleepovers in 1999. Seeing them with sharp, updated 3DS graphics is actually kinda cool. It’s a time capsule.
The Good, the Bad, and the Missing Boards
Let's get real about the "party" aspect. Or the lack of it. This is where most players get salty. In a typical Mario Party, the board is the heart of the game. You plan your moves, you buy items, you screw over your friends.
In Mario Party: The Top 100, the "board" is barely there.
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There is exactly one map. One. It’s called Minigame Match, and it’s basically a stripped-down version of the Balloon Bash mode from Mario Party: Star Rush. Everyone moves at the same time. There’s no turn-based strategy. You just run around a small grid trying to touch balloons.
It feels... empty.
If you’re looking for that classic 20-turn experience where you lose a friendship over a stolen star, this isn't it. This game is almost entirely focused on the minigames themselves. It's a collection, not a simulator.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Selection
People complain that their favorite game didn't make the cut. "Where is Running of the Bulb?" or "Why did they pick The Beat Goes On?"
Here's the thing: ND Cube had to balance 10 games worth of history. The distribution is actually pretty skewed.
The N64 and GameCube games get a ton of love. Mario Party 2 alone has about 13 or 14 games represented. Meanwhile, the later Wii and Wii U titles—the ones where everyone was stuck in a car together—get way less attention.
- N64 Era: Heavy hitters like Face Lift and Bowser's Big Blast.
- GameCube Era: Classics like Books-squirm and Hotel Goomba.
- The "Wii" Problem: Since the 3DS doesn't have a Wii Remote, anything requiring heavy motion was either reworked for the gyro or just left out.
It’s a curation. Curation is subjective. You’re never going to please everyone when you’re cutting 800+ games down to 100.
The Hidden Gem: Minigame Island
If you're playing solo, this is actually the best part of the package. It’s a single-player campaign where you walk along a path and have to beat every single minigame to progress.
It’s surprisingly addictive.
You’re not waiting for AI to take their turns on a boring board. You’re just blasting through history. You unlock music, you unlock "packs" for multiplayer, and you eventually hit a boss fight against Bowser.
It takes maybe two or three hours to finish.
Is it short? Yeah. Is it satisfying? Sorta. It’s the perfect "airplane game" where you don't want to think too hard but want to see some cool animations and hit some buttons.
Technical Quirks and the 3DS Factor
One thing that’s actually impressive is the Download Play.
You only need one cartridge to play with four people. That’s huge. In 2026, finding four people with 3DS systems might be a challenge, but if you do, it’s the cheapest way to have a local multiplayer session.
But there’s a catch.
The 3DS buttons are small. Mashing the 'A' button on a 3DS XL feels way different than mashing a giant N64 controller. Your thumbs will hurt. Some of the touch-screen games feel a bit tacked on, too.
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Actionable Insights for the Modern Collector
If you're thinking about picking this up today, here is the honest truth.
Don't buy it if you want a "Board Game" experience. You will be bored in twenty minutes. The single board is a generic square that lacks any soul. Go buy Mario Party Superstars on the Switch instead.
Do buy it if you're a completionist. It's a great way to see how the series evolved. The "Collection" menu has a Series Guide that explains the history of every single game. It's like a museum.
Check the price. Since it’s a 3DS game, prices can be all over the place. Don't pay "new game" prices for this. It’s a budget-tier experience at this point.
Play with friends. Even with the bad board, the minigames are still fun. Bumper Balls is still Bumper Balls. If you have a group of friends who still keep their 3DS systems in a drawer, it’s worth a Friday night of nostalgia.
Basically, Mario Party: The Top 100 isn't a bad game; it's just a misunderstood one. It’s a toolbox of fun distractions that forgot to bring the actual party.
If you want to dive deeper into the specific minigame list, your best bet is to look up the "Minigame Island" unlocks. That's where the real meat of the game stays hidden until you put in the work. Otherwise, just enjoy the trip down memory lane.