The Mario Party series has been a fan-favorite since its debut on the Nintendo 64, bringing joy, laughter, and a healthy dose of friendly competition to living rooms around the world. With each new installment, players can enjoy exciting mini-games, colorful boards, and — perhaps most importantly — a wide range of iconic characters from the Mushroom Kingdom.
If you’ve been wondering how to unlock characters in Mario Party, you’re not alone. Many players are eager to expand their roster and experience the thrill of playing as their favorite Nintendo heroes (and villains). Whether you’re playing Super Mario Party, Mario Party Superstars, or the newest 2025 version, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to unlock characters, hidden modes, and special bonuses.
Why Unlocking Characters Matters
Before diving into how to unlock characters in Mario Party, let’s talk about why it’s worth doing. Unlocking characters isn’t just about filling up your roster — it also adds depth and excitement to the game. Each character often comes with unique animations, voice lines, and sometimes even special abilities or dice blocks that can change the course of a match.
For example, in Super Mario Party, certain characters have their own signature dice blocks — Bowser’s block, for instance, has higher risk but greater reward, while Daisy’s block provides steady, balanced rolls. Unlocking more characters gives you flexibility to strategize and keeps the gameplay fresh.
1. Unlocking Characters in Super Mario Party (Nintendo Switch)
Let’s start with one of the most popular entries — Super Mario Party for the Nintendo Switch. At launch, the game comes with a set of playable characters, but four more are locked behind specific challenges. Here’s how to unlock characters in Mario Party (Super Mario Party version):
Donkey Kong:
To unlock Donkey Kong, play and complete three different boards in the standard Party Mode. After that, he’ll appear near the River Survival Mode section in the Party Plaza. Talk to him, and he’ll join your roster permanently.Pom Pom:
Pom Pom can be unlocked by completing the Challenge Road mode. Once you finish all the levels, she becomes available as a playable character.Diddy Kong:
Diddy Kong also appears as part of the Challenge Road reward. Complete the final world in that mode, and he’ll automatically unlock.Dry Bones:
Dry Bones unlocks randomly after completing a few Party or River Survival games. Keep playing different boards, and he’ll eventually appear in the Party Plaza.
That’s it! You now have access to every character in Super Mario Party, expanding your team to 20 fun-filled characters.
2. Unlocking Characters in Mario Party Superstars (2021 and Beyond)
If you’re wondering how to unlock characters in Mario Party Superstars, here’s some good news — all characters are available from the start! Nintendo decided to make the game more accessible by allowing players to pick from the full roster right away.
However, while you can’t unlock additional characters, you can unlock plenty of other content — including stickers, music tracks, and in-game items using coins earned from playing mini-games and Party Mode.
Still, understanding how to unlock characters in Mario Party remains useful for older titles or potential future updates, as Nintendo sometimes adds new characters through DLC or seasonal updates.
3. Unlocking Characters in Mario Party 10 and Older Titles
Fans of older Mario Party games will remember that unlocking characters was a big part of the fun. In Mario Party 10 for the Wii U, you could unlock Bowser as a playable character in Bowser Party Mode after meeting specific in-game requirements.
In earlier titles like Mario Party 4–9, characters were usually available from the start, though hidden mini-games, boards, and bonus modes could be unlocked through progression.
If you’re playing on older consoles or emulators, exploring how to unlock characters in Mario Party can give you a nostalgic trip through Nintendo’s evolving gameplay systems.
4. Speculations for Future Mario Party Titles (2025 Edition)
The latest Mario Party rumors for 2025 suggest that Nintendo might return to its roots by reintroducing unlockable characters and secret modes. Players could potentially earn new characters through online achievements, special events, or even by connecting with other Nintendo titles.
Imagine unlocking Rosalina by achieving a high score in a space-themed mini-game, or earning Waluigi by completing a “Mischief Challenge.” As fans eagerly await updates, understanding how to unlock characters in Mario Party will remain a vital part of the excitement and anticipation.
5. Tips and Tricks for Unlocking Characters Faster
If you want to make the process of unlocking characters smoother and faster, here are a few expert tips:
Explore All Game Modes:
Don’t just stick to Party Mode — try Challenge Road, River Survival, or Minigame Marathon. Each mode contributes to unlocking different features.Talk to Every NPC:
Some characters, like Donkey Kong, only appear in specific areas after certain conditions are met. Explore the Party Plaza and interact with every character.Play with Friends:
Unlocking progress often accelerates when playing multiplayer matches instead of solo games.Collect Party Points:
Earn Party Points through gameplay and spend them on unlockable content, which may include characters or bonuses in certain editions.Save Your Progress Regularly:
Don’t risk losing your progress! Make sure autosave is enabled so you don’t have to redo challenges.
Following these steps ensures you’ll master how to unlock characters in Mario Party efficiently while enjoying every aspect of the game.
6. What Makes Each Character Special
Unlocking characters isn’t just about bragging rights — it adds strategic variety. Characters like Bowser or Donkey Kong come with powerful dice blocks, while Toadette and Daisy provide balanced rolls that work for beginners.
Each addition brings a new playstyle, and experimenting with combinations of characters can significantly impact your chances of victory. Knowing how to unlock characters in Mario Party gives you the freedom to mix and match until you find your perfect setup.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re playing Super Mario Party, Mario Party Superstars, or any of the earlier entries, learning how to unlock characters in Mario Party makes the experience more rewarding. It’s about exploration, strategy, and discovering new ways to enjoy one of Nintendo’s most beloved franchises.
Unlocking characters adds layers of fun — you not only expand your roster but also unlock hidden surprises, new interactions, and unique dice blocks that enhance replayability.
So grab your Joy-Cons, gather your friends, and dive back into the Mushroom Kingdom. The more you play, the more you unlock — and the closer you get to mastering how to unlock characters in Mario Party like a true pro!
