Mario Party 3

Mario Party 3 is a multiplayer party board game developed by Hudson Soft and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Players compete as familiar Mario characters while traveling across themed boards, collecting coins and Stars, and disrupting one another with items and special events. Its large collection of action, puzzle, racing, and luck-based minigames supports up to four players. The game was well received for expanding the series with new boards, Duel Mode, character-specific narrative framing, and more strategic item play, although its reliance on luck and repeated Stick rotation remained familiar points of criticism.

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681.8Kplays

2000Release

Catalog entry maintained by EmuGamers Editorial TeamUpdated Aug 3, 2026

Documented for this version

Which controls does this version use?

Actions

Mario Party 3 action controls
`Control Stick`	Move the character or cursor The exact use depends on the board or minigame.
`A`	Confirm selections and perform context-sensitive actions Used for many minigame actions.
`B`	Cancel or perform a context-sensitive secondary action The function varies by mode.
`Z`	Use a context-sensitive action or item The function varies by board and minigame.
`C Buttons`	Perform context-sensitive minigame or menu actions Not every C Button is used in every activity.

Control notes

Controls vary substantially between minigames.
The game uses the Nintendo 64 Controller.

How it plays

How does Mario Party 3 play?

Players take turns moving around a board by rolling a number from 1 to 10. Coins are earned through movement, events, and minigames, while Stars are purchased at changing locations. Items can alter movement, steal resources, or interfere with opponents.

After each round, a minigame is selected according to the players' team arrangement. The game includes standard Party Mode, one-on-one Duel Mode, and several extra activities. Board objectives and event spaces differ between maps, so route planning and item timing matter alongside minigame performance.

Plan your run

What is the best way to play Mario Party 3?

Prioritize coins as well as Stars: a strong minigame result can fund purchases, items, and recovery after an event.

Watch the Star's possible locations and the board's event spaces before choosing a route. Save movement or disruption items for turns where they meaningfully change access to the Star, and in Duel Mode protect your partner and manage hearts carefully.

Meet the cast