There are some additional DLC Nintendo characters in Mario Kart 8 that make the game more fun and interesting, and Mario Party games could benefit from including similar features. Mario Party has traditionally had only Mario characters, items, and game boards, but the series could use some new additions to revitalize it. Although Mario Party Superstars was successful in bringing back old Mario Party boards and mini-games, players should be able to look forward to a new experience as well.
Mario Party could have other Nintendo characters as unlockables that players will need to complete challenges in order to obtain. There could also be game boards or items related to certain major Nintendo characters like Link from The Legend of Zelda or Isabelle from Animal Crossing. Although it would be nice to have these characters or features as unlockables, they can also be added in as part of an expansion to an existing Mario Party game similar to the way new characters were added to Mario Kart 8.
Along with additional characters, Mario Party can also adopt the strategic focus that Mario Kart has. Mario Party has become more and more about luck with each new game, but Mario Kart focuses more on the player's skill level and the strategic maneuvers they employ. With less randomized game mechanics and star locations in Mario Party, players can rely more on their ability to play the game well and defeat their opponents skillfully.
How Mario Party Can Improve Using Features From Mario Kart 8
The DLC for Mario Kart 8 lets players experience the game as characters from The Legend of Zelda, Splatoon, and Animal Crossing, and it also allows players to use their Mii to compete. Although there weren't many alternate game-themed items or maps included in the DLC, to improve upon the initial character inclusion, Mario Party could add unlockable game boards and items linked to other games. Playing Mario Party on a Hyrule-themed board could give the game a fresh feel while staying true to the overall core gameplay.
There are a few other things that Mario Party could take away from the success of Mario Kart 8. Mario Party has always been a four-player game. Adding a mode to have more single-players competing at once would allow for bigger groups of people to play together, and would make it easier to connect with multiple friends online. Players could find online matches for mini-games or full Mario Party board matches with a larger number of people competing, which might help players in last place get ahead because there would be more opponents to focus on. It's typically easier to come back from last place in Mario Kart than in Mario Party and that's partly due to the number of players in a match.
Mario Party has a lot to offer players looking for a fun and competitive multiplayer experience. However, there are some areas where the game can be improved and can learn from another highly successful series, Mario Kart. With more players and unlockable characters from other Nintendo games, Mario Party could become an intense competition that continues to give players unique experiences with each match.