For more on Mario Party: Island Tour, check out our full Mario Party: Island Tour review. Or, for more of the best Nintendo 3DS games for a 6 year old, why not try our Family Game Finder
What is Mario Party: Island Tour?
Mario Party: Island Tour is a multiplayer, board-game themed mini-game collection on the 3DS. While there's plenty for someone playing on their own to enjoy, it's a game best enjoyed in multiplayer, with up to four friends playing together. Support for single card download play means you only need a single copy of the game to play together with up to four friends, so long as they all own 3DSs.
How do you play Mario Party: Island Tour?
Although it has a variety of boards on offer, each course follows a similar theme - all you have to do is roll the dice, and try to get to the end of the linear course first, before your fellow players. Land on a Vs. square, and you'll trigger a competitive mini-game, which are easily the highlight of the Mario Party experience. With dozens on offer, from the purely luck based (pick up shells on a beach, hope you get one with pearls in), to ones that rely on reactions (spin the analogue stick as fast as you can to wind up a cannon), to full on puzzle games, mazes, colouring puzzles (really), there's a huge variety here - and, most importantly, they're all easy to pick up and play.
How easy is Mario Party: Island Tour to pick up and play?
In terms of accessibility, the Mario Party games have always been designed to be easy to get to grips with, and Island Tour is no different. With a handy explanation of what you have to do in each game before you start playing - and very simple controls for each - it's certainly pick up and play fun.
For the youngest of players, though, a reading ability is a requirement, as the instructions for each mini-game are text based. With no tutorial video for the mini-games (unlike on Wii Party U), and no voice over, your child will have to be able to interpret the instructions for each mini-game to know what to do. While they're fairly intuitive (and younger children can easily play along with older siblings who can explain for them), a basic reading ability is a must. Sample sentences include:
- "A - Jump. Abseil down the cliff while avoiding the bushes by jumping over them"
- "Rotate Circle Pad - Advance or rewind film. A - Confirm. Search the film reel for the scene that matches the lower screen."
- "Circle Pad - Move. Try to last as long as possible without being crushed by the Toy Boxes"
Mario Party: Island Tour has nothing in the way of violence, swearing, or gore, and is thoroughly family friendly.
Age Ratings
Format Reviewed: Nintendo 3DS
