Video games can be a great medium for parties and social gatherings. Over the years and decades, there's been no shortage of fun competitive and cooperative romps to invoke laughter as well as some friendly ribbing. Still, it seems like much of the genre has been monopolized by the likes of Nintendo's flagship party series, Mario Party. These multiplayer showdowns certainly have their thrills - including the newest rendition for Switch, which adds online gameplay to the mix.
Yet, many likely seek an equally enjoyable alternative that can provide bouts of fun with friends and family. So let's jump right in as we take a look at 10 games other than Mario Party that can make a splash at parties and get-togethers.
10 Fuzion Frenzy
When comparing this little-known game to Mario Party, it's easy to write it off as a "me too" variant for the original Xbox. Still, judging Fuzion Frenzy on its own merits, this launch title for Microsoft's first console offered an enjoyable multiplayer experience.
Up to 4 players could compete in this psychedelic showdown hosting a respectable 45 minigames as part of the heated Tournament Mode and free-and-loose Mini-Game Frenzy. These bite-sized games ranged from races and demolition to shooting frenzies.
9 BattleBlock Theater
Though it sports a cute, simple appearance, BattleBlock Theater from 2013 is chock-full of edge-of-your-seat action. You and up to 3 other players can play around a slew of chaotic 2D arenas. The game hosts many varying scenarios, each of which contains a different premise.
Battles run the gamut from a block-coloring game to the King of the Hill-style "Soul Snatcher" and a thrilling basketball-like showdown. Most of these minigames offer a frantic pacing and anarchic feel not unlike a simpler version of Super Smash Bros. The game also throws in plenty of customization to keep things interesting, and you can even tinker with a Level Editor to test on friends.
8 WarioWare: Smooth Moves
The WarioWare series has always been known for its wacky, rapid-fire microgames that fly by faster than you can process them. Most of the games utilize silly scenarios and hinge on motion control and/or touch-screen tech for their intrigue. One second you'll need to steer a paper airplane Starfox style, while the next you must delicately down a virtual glass of water by steadily tilting the Wiimote.
The Wii rendition rolls with this staple formula and ups the ante with an array of feverishly fun local multiplayer modes. Options include a "hot potato" hand-off game where players work together to get a high score, along with an increasingly tough elimination game.
7 Castle Crashers Remastered
With this zany romp, The Behemoth takes the appealing structure of a beat 'em up and adds a fast-paced party element. Castle Crashers - and particularly its robust remaster - provides an endlessly exciting and amusing 4-player adventure.
The arcade-style combat, ample loot-collecting, and quirky humor make this a joyous journey throughout. The swift pacing mixed with light RPG elements creates a great balance of rich depth and party-game simplicity.
6 Crash Bash
Given that Nintendo's iconic plumber has been the star of many party games, it makes sense that one of the original PlayStation mascots should too. And while it never quite got the attention or accolades of Mario Party, 2000's Crash Bash offers tons of multiplayer fun as well.
This swan song for Sony's first console grants great replayability with its 28 minigames and trio of distinct modes. Among this is the dynamic Adventure mode, where a journey through all 28 games yields collectibles and a slew of unique challenges. Minigames include elimination face-offs in crazy arenas, along with races and Pong-style showdowns.
5 Wii Party
Coming across as a mix between Wii Play and Mario Party, this 2010 title tended to get a bit overlooked, at least compared to other Wii-branded hits. And though it's not perfect, Wii Party is a fun Mii-based alternative to the party escapades of Mario and company. Wii Party features vast board game maps and charming minigames reminiscent of Mario Party, with a whopping 80 to pick from. Board games often grant twists on the typical "get from A to B," and many minigames use the motion and/or pointer controls in creative ways.
It's certainly amusing to see Mii versions of you and your friends take part in a range of goofy romps.
4 Scene It? Box Office Smash!
Movie buffs should get a kick out of this console rendition of the popular movie trivia DVD game, Scene It?. The series has seen a number of home console spinoffs leading to mixed results. Yet, Box Office Smash! shines as one of the more coherent, appealing versions, thanks in part to the solid custom buzzer controllers that come with the game. In addition to some more streamlined gameplay, you also get amusing new categories that mix up the typical movie clips.
Examples include chronological orderings of film releases and prompts that have you identify a movie based on a pixel-art graphic.
3 Jackbox Party Pack 6
Jackbox Games' series of goofy trivia and word-based romps takes a dash of Scene It? and Mario Party, while very much doing their own thing. Games intuitively work in conjunction with mobile devices that serve as your input device - as they often utilize typing and even drawing. Jackbox Party Pack 6, in particular, hosts a slew of entertaining games with a humorous bent. This includes Balderdash-style wordplay and a horror-themed trivia showdown with tons of gameplay twists.
The game uses improvisational wit, trivia knowledge, and creativity to round out a delightful party experience sure to invoke laughter.
2 Wii Play
If Wii Sports was the sports-based showcase for motion control, then Wii Play serves this function for bite-sized minigames. This party game offers 9 distinct experiences that, while simple, are rife with entertainment value and replayability. Its minigames largely draw inspiration from classics like Duck Hunt, Pong, and Tanks, while adding cool, intuitive motion-control flair.
You can also have some laughs pointing out the Miis of your friends and family thanks to the avatar-heavy "Pose Mii," along with the Wii take on Where's Waldo, called "Find Mii."
1 Overcooked 2
Team17's Overcooked 2 feels like a full-fledged Mario Party minigame, a thrilling cooking sim, and a communication exercise all in one measure. Overcooked 2 has you and up to 3 other players scrambling to cook and assemble dishes in the kitchen to appease customers.
Often viewed as one of the most enjoyable local co-op games ever - this fast-paced party game puts your teamwork skills and general wits to the test. The robust sequel adds a range of new recipes, characters, and crazier kitchen arenas to play around with, along with an addictive online mode.