Like the previous Mario Party titles, two to four players move around a virtual board and play minigames. A new gameplay element in all of the boards is that all four players move around together in one car.[4][5] The number of spaces the player moves is determined by a roll of the dice block found within the game. Instead of trying to collect coins to buy stars, players receive Mini Stars if they pass by them. Whoever collects the most Mini Stars wins the game. While doing that, players must also try to avoid Mini Ztars, which deduct their current amount of Mini Stars. Mini Stars and Mini Ztars are replaced with bananas and Z-bananas on the board "DK's Jungle Ruins".
Minigames have a larger focus on the gameplay than they did in the previous game.[6][7] However, the minigames don't appear after everyone moves, but only when a player ends up on any of the spaces or events that triggers a minigame.[citation needed] A person can play on solo mode to unlock the final stage, as well as two playable characters.
Another new feature is that each board culminates in a boss battle that is played with all players in the vehicle.[8] There is also a boss battle at the halfway point of a board. There are 82 minigames in Mario Party 9, divided into five categories: Free-for-all, 1-vs.-Rivals, Bowser Jr., Boss Battle, and Extra.[9]
At the end of each stage, the number of Mini Stars the player collects is converted into Party Points, which can be used to buy new stages, constellations, vehicles, difficulties, and sounds in the museum.
Playable characters[edit]
Mario Party 9 features twelve playable characters, with two (Shy Guy and Kamek) being unlockable through the Solo Mode.
Mario
Luigi
Princess Peach
Princess Daisy
Wario
Waluigi
Yoshi
Birdo
Toad
Koopa Troopa
Shy Guy
Kamek