First Mario Party of the generation, the proven formula brought into GameCube 3D. Classic board play, varied mini games and a family-party feel that still works. No revolution but a perennial evening crowd-pleaser, still valid today.
Your verdict
Category
Party / Minigame4 players3+
Description
Mario and friends participate in varied mini-games in this Nintendo GameCube Mario Party 4. Published by Nintendo, released in Japan in November 2002. Party game with game board, varied mini-games for 1 to 4 players and competitive modes in the Mario universe.
Mario Party 4 review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Moving along the board, grabbing stars and fighting for victory in a shower of mini-games: the party formula still holds up beautifully. Luck jostles skill, alliances shatter and reversals draw as many shouts as belly laughs. With four players, it's a guaranteed evening where nobody stays a spectator.
First Mario Party of the GameCube generation, carrying the board-and-minigame formula into 3D. Its collector interest has firmed up over time: physical Mario Party entries on this machine became safe bets, their complete copies climbing markedly as retro game nights revive demand. The Japanese run, more discreet on the Western market, draws collectors aiming for the original edition in its language. Desirability rests less on raw scarcity than on a steadily rising value, driven by its status as a family classic.
Is Mario Party 4 still worth playing in 2026?
The first Mario Party on GameCube, entry 4 brings the board-plus-minigames formula behind the series' success into 3D. The new minigames take advantage of the machine's power and the board keeps its share of chaos and reversals. Solo appeal is limited, but four-player on a couch keeps the festive mood, and the randomness knows how to spice up matches. A party game dated in structure yet still effective for an evening, especially for fans of the Mario Party streak.
