Racing down the latest Mario Kart course is one way to share some quality time with friends in the Super Mario world. That’s not the only way to let Mario take care of your leisure time, though.
Throughout the long-standing record of Nintendo’s time-honored mascot, some Super Mario games go above and beyond. Given the rich legacy of the franchise, there are plenty of ways inspired by its theme for players to get their gold coin fix and smash a few adversaries along the way.
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With the upcoming release of the jewel in the crown of the Super Mario franchise, fans are already racing through a new maze of expectations. Whether the latest Nintendo Direct exceeds or defies your expectations, board games dedicated to the Super Mario world can be a solid companion for your reflections on this hot topic.
Legends like the Super Mario games don’t stop calling you for new adventures just because you put down the game console. Although, with all the games confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2, some game consoles can be pretty hard to put down. In the meantime, players can keep putting their mastery to the test with one of the board games inspired by the Super Mario franchise. Each game offers plenty of new ways to beat Bowser, save Peach, and snag more of those gold coins.
As the Super Mario fan community races to secure the passage to Mario Kart World, board games turn waiting into fun and help fans keep their wits about them. After all, one could use all the wits they can in the edge-of-the-seat chaos of Mario Kart World.
6 Super Mario Blow Up! Shaky Tower
- Number of Players: 1 – 4
- Playtime: 5 minutes or less
- Recommended Age: 4 years and up
- Manufacturer: EPOCH
While it’s not a board game in the traditional sense, it’s still a delightful gem that tests each player’s patience, strategy, and luck. Players need to balance the most characters before the shaky tower falls. The winner is the one who pulls off the best balancing act or at least doesn’t bring down the castle first. Playing this board game creates an almost perfect atmosphere to discuss the nuances of balancing free roaming in Mario Kart World with your fellow Super Mario mates.
No doubt, this game is a great treat for a family of Super Mario fans. More so, dealing with shaky towers and balancing Goombas on brick walls aren’t all there is to this game. In the box, players will be delighted to find collectible figurines, especially since they’re compatible with other related games from EPOCH.
5 Super Mario Labyrinth
- Number of Players: 2 – 4
- Playtime: 20 – 30 minutes
- Recommended Age: 7 years and up
- Manufacturer: Ravensburger
Hunting for your favorite characters in the Super Smash Bros. Battle Royal character menu is a tough enough deal. Super Mario fans can now test their keen eyes and skills in a slightly different arena. With this board game, players have to traverse many maze tiles while seeking out their friends. Each of the 24 characters in the game has a card, and the player who manages to find the most characters wins.
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4 Super Mario Checkers & Tic-Tac-Toe Collector’s Game Set
- Number of Players: 2
- Playtime: 10 + minutes
- Recommended Age: 6 years and up
- Manufacturer: USAOPOLY
Sometimes it pays to get strategic in games and real life alike. As a case in point, thinking strategically about pricing for Mario Kart World might help defeat frustration with the long-awaited gem’s anticipated price tag. As for this board game, while there isn’t a Bowser to defeat or a Mushroom Kingdom to save in the game, there’s still plenty of simple strategic fun to be had.
With this gem following the Super Mario theme, fans of the series and board games alike get a two-for-one delight. The tin includes 24 Mario and Luigi Checkers as well as 2 Collectible Mario Hats and 2 Collectible Luigi Hats for “Kinging.” It also comes with a double-sided game board and basic game instructions.
3 Super Mario Chess Collector’s Edition
- Number of Players: 2
- Playtime: 60 – 240 minutes
- Recommended Age: 7 years and up
- Manufacturer: USAOPOLY
Going toe to toe with Bowser may not always be as straightforward as some Super Mario fans might expect. This collector’s edition of chess is centered around the Super Mario theme, and players get to fight Bowser on the battlefield of this timeless classic. With 32 pieces of collection-worthy figurines, this edition of chess can make snagging gold coins and jumping Koopa shells more interesting than ever before.
Each figurine is hand-painted, thus adding a unique touch that many tabletop lovers are bound to enjoy. Additionally, some fans might get a kick out of Mario and Luigi being the king and the queen all the while Peach and her sister Daisy come to the rescue this time around as bishops. Regardless of who saves who, with enough gold coin pawns and friends, Bowser and his son don’t stand a chance. This makes a heart-warming way to greet these iconic characters who are confirmed for Mario Kart World.
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2 The Game Of Life: Super Mario
- Number of Players: 2 – 4
- Playtime: 30 – 120 minutes
- Recommended Age: 8 years and up
- Manufacturer: Hasbro
Saving the Mushroom Kingdom is the way of life for Mario and his many friends. At least that’s the main objective in this version of The Game of Life with a dedicated Super Mario twist. Players don’t have to worry about retirement or other modern-life struggles in this version of the game. This gem is all about collecting stars, defeating the mighty turtle, and playing a cool mini-game in between.
Players get to play as one of the four iconic characters: Mario, Luigi, Peach, or Yoshi. Each of these beloved heroes has their own little figurine, making the atmosphere of the game even more delightful. In fact, the game doesn’t even make you worried about the final battle. Just like the free roam mode anticipated in Mario Kart World, the game leaves plenty of ways to power up and prepare for the final countdown.
1 The Super Mario Bros. Movie Monopoly
- Number of Players: 2 – 6
- Playtime: 60 – 375 minutes
- Recommended Age: 8 years and up
- Manufacturer: Hasbro
Fans of the movie can now enjoy their favorite movie moments with another version of the time-honored Monopoly – this time based on the Super Mario theme. Saving the Mushroom Kingdom won’t be plain sailing, though. Players will have to fend off more than their own friends’ schemes, rent rate ploys, and more while plotting their next move. This is perfect to set the tone for exploring the new exciting opportunity to snatch vehicles in Mario Kart World upon the game’s release.
Just like in the Super Mario world, Bowser is here to swipe, steal, and imprison everything on his way around the board. Luckily, some spots on the board make dodging this fiery turtle much easier. The trusty green warp pipes are here to help players dodge their scheming friends and Bowser alike. Fans also get to play with the following tokens inspired by the Super Mario theme: Peach’s Crown, Mario’s Hat, Toad’s Frying Pan, Luigi’s Flashlight, a Supermushroom, and Donkey Kong’s Barrel.
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