Super Mario Party Unlock Characters Every Character Unlock Requirement Explained

8 August 2026 | 67

Super Mario Party brings classic board game excitement to the Nintendo Switch with an impressive roster of playable figures. While many fan-favorite heroes and villains are available right from the start, a handful of secret combatants require extra effort to access. Understanding the specific milestones needed to complete your roster ensures you can enjoy the full strategic depth of the game with all your friends.

How to Access Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong

Unlocking the iconic jungle duo requires players to venture out into the game's cooperative multiplayer environments. To add Donkey Kong to your permanent selection screen, you must complete three entirely different routes in the River Survival mode. Keep a close eye out for him waving from the riverbanks at the end of your journeys to confirm your success.

His trusty companion Diddy Kong is tied to a completely separate path hidden within the single-player Challenge Tower. Players must successfully conquer the entirety of the second world in this game mode to convince him to join the roster. Reaching this milestone demands a firm grasp of various minigame mechanics under escalating difficulty parameters.

Requirements for Pom Pom and Dry Bowser

Adding the acrobatic Pom Pom to your party setup involves progressing through the diverse challenges of the Challenge Road feature. This character becomes available immediately after you clear the dynamic trials presented in the fifth world of this mode. It serves as an excellent test of skill for dedicated solo players looking to master the game.

Dry Bowser provides a menacing presence on the board but requires significant dedication across all standard game modes to acquire. Players need to earn every single regular Gem by showcasing peak performance in party boards, partner battles, and rhythm challenges. Once all five standard components are secured, this bony antagonist will automatically appear in the Plaza.

Locating the New Characters in the Plaza

Securing the criteria for these hidden personalities is only the first step toward actually playing as them. Newly available contenders do not immediately crowd the selection screen but instead wander around the interactive Party Plaza area. You must manually walk up to each character and strike up a conversation to officially welcome them to the party.

If you have met the prerequisites but cannot see the characters, try exploring the outer edges of the main hub grounds. This physical recruitment system adds a charming layer of discovery that makes completing the full roster feel incredibly rewarding. Tracking down every single option gives you access to specialized dice blocks that completely transform your movement strategies.