With the release of Super Mario Party Superstars this month, it's clear to see how the Mario franchise has dominated the party genre for 25 years. A variety of characters, mini-games, world creativity, and a questionable reward system keep the gameplay fresh with every installment.
There's plenty of other video game series out there from Nintendo and others with creative gameplay and large character rosters that are simply crying out for a party game. Like Mario's colorful level design and challenging mini-games, the same could easily be said from some of the most popular video game franchises out there. If a series like Animal Crossing could make a Mario Party clone, then surely these franchises could.
10 Worms
If Worms wasn't considered a tactical artillery game then you could say there have been moments in the franchise that felt like a party game. The games have become a lot more colorful and explosive in recent releases and the variety of weapons from Worms could easily be implemented into a party game.
It's best to imagine the weapons as pickups as players move around the board to then use on the other Worms. That way the aspect of Worms being turn-based and artillery is still there with the gameplay of a party title.
9 Kirby
The color and character variety in Kirby video games matches that of Super Mario Party and it would be great to see the adorable characters in a similar style of game. The series has featured a variety of tools, collectibles, and mini-games over the years which would compliment party game unlockables and rounds.
Kirby games always have the most aesthetically pleasing levels, whether they're in space, a field, or underground, the designs dedicated to Kirby are so enticing. It's certainly a series that would benefit a copy and paste Mario Party.
8 The Legend Of Zelda
There isn't another series that has the reputation Super Mario Bros has like The Legend Of Zelda. For the last 35 years, the Zelda series has produced countless titles, some considered to be up there with the best games of all time.
Due to its history and success as a series, it's surprising that there haven't been more Zelda spin-offs, not that there haven't been a few. Like the Kirby franchise, The Legend Of Zelda has tons of characters and landscapes that would be fitting for a Super Mario Party clone. There's certainly a big fan base out there just waiting.
7 Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy has one of the biggest catalogs and a variety of characters outside most Nintendo franchises, especially when it spills into other games like Kingdom Hearts. With the more explorative and modern approach to FFXV as well as the popular online multiplayer FFXIV, the world of Final Fantasy would be a popular step into the party game world.
Its franchise has a dedicated fan base, and the modern designs look so colorful and detailed, that a game itself would be eye-catching. Also with that many games, there's plenty of areas to pull from for map ideas.
6 Resident Evil
Imagine if you will a horror-based party game which features players in mini-games that has them shooting enemies. There could easily be a Resident Evil party game that has different objectives as its end results. Maybe there's a different enemy per board, and maybe there's a different objective where the winner isn't consumed by zombies.
With its long history of settings, enemies, and lead characters, Resident Evil has a big of everything that suits party games. It's also a game with danger around every corner which would be implemented into different danger squares to stand on.
5 The Sims
Imagine a party game with plenty of character customization before the game begins. Whilst that may take a while to set up, it's certainly a lot of people's favorite aspect of Sims. Sims is a series that is enjoyed individually, but by so many people and it's time there was a multi-player aspect.
With Sims' video games being online only these days, it would make sense if this was an online multi-player where people could design their character first and then enter a lobby game where mini-games could be based on events in Sims such as cooking and not burning food. The simplicity in Sims' design would work well for a simple board for online matches.
4 The Simpsons
With the success of the last Simpsons game, Tapped Out! It showcased the possibility of player interaction in a world of Simpsons buildings. For a series that's released who knows how many board games, it's a surprise they've never released a party game. Furthermore, one that could include maps of Springfield and an endless roster.
Through Disney+ and the resurgence of classic Simpsons episodes, there is no better time to bring the characters back into the video game world. You could simply bring classic board games to life with a Simpsons makeover.
3 Fallout
Who doesn't want to be trawling a party game that's post-nuclear? The Fallout series has previously released a table-top board game and so they have created a multi-player gaming concept. However, the expansive world and characters designs from Fallout are certainly lacking a more-group experience.
Fallout's concept and variety of horrifying creatures make it a perfect game to join the party genre. It's a world with threats around every corner and the desire to survive which can easily be interpreted into a map to work around.
2 Little Big Planet
The creativity demonstrated throughout the Little Big Planet series, especially that of its crafted worlds is a prime reason it needs a party game. From already having an enjoyable multi-player aspect in its later games, it's a series that breathes inventive gameplay that could be well implemented into building a board game.
It's the kind of series that could see a lot of progress through fan-creativity where players could design their own boards and maps through items collected or presented to them. Little Big Planet has always felt like there are endless possibilities and this is also the amount of Sackboy customization there is out there.
1 Pokemon
There isn't a franchise with a roster like Pokemon and technically you could say there has been a party game. These would be the mini-games from Pokemon Stadium featuring such classics as the Clefairy move remembrance test. However, because this wasn't a stand-alone party game it doesn't count. On the other hand, because of these mini-games, it's easy to see how that style could be implemented into a Pokemon party game.
It's a series with eight different main-game regions and furthermore many different landscapes. On top of this, there are characters galore. Even if it were just the starter Pokemon, so many boards and mini-games in the style of Mario Party could be made to great success. There have been plenty of Pokemon spin-offs recently, but nothing quite like this.