Yes, Mario Party Superstars Only Has 5 Boards

As a passionate Mario Party fan, the first question on my mind when Superstars was announced was – how many boards will be included? After over 20 years and dozens of unique boards, which classics would make the cut?

So I‘m here with a definitive answer – Mario Party Superstars contains only 5 boards at launch, with no way to unlock more.

The Boards Included

Let‘s dive into the selection of boards and what each one offers:

Yoshi‘s Tropical Island – Originally the first board ever in Mario Party 1, this vibrant island features branching paths and changing shortcuts through Boo and Koopa Kid spaces. It‘s simple yet unpredictable fun.

Space Land – The second board from Mario Party 1 takes place high above the clouds with teleporters linking sections. Unique theming and zero gravity twists make memorable games.

Peach‘s Birthday Cake – From Mario Party 2, coins are key on this massive pink frosted cake to buy stars before rivals. Creative cake slice theming that still dazzles today.

Horror Land – My personal favorite Horror Land returns from MP2 with haunted hotel and creepy amusement park zones with day/night cycles changing the board‘s layout randomly!

Woody Woods – Last is Woody Woods from MP3 with winding forest paths and intersections thatreally test your luck navigating to stars. Tall Piranha Plants block routes unpredictably keeping you on your toes!

While only halfway into the series‘ life, these five capture many distinct themes and gameplay mechanics core to Mario Party over the years. But how does this board selection compare historically?

Board Count Comparison

Here‘s a comparison of Mario Party games by total boards included:

So Superstars falls a bit shorter than the original Trilogy‘s board selection. Even the content-light recent Mario Party 10 still contained 5 themed boards plus Bowser Party mode‘s levels.

Analyzing the Reduced Board Selection

This was disappointing for some hardcore Mario Party fans hoping for more classic board revivals. Over 20 unique boards exist – so why just five?

Based on the developers ND Cube‘s comments, I believe focusing on showcasing five boards enabled:

• Remastering the visuals and gameplay of each board with great attention to detail
• Balancing boards to all feel fair and fun in modern online play
• Including a sizable selection of 100 classic minigames alongside the boards

Rather than a flat port, ND Cube built on the original boards to create an addicting party package. When playing with friends, these five boards hit the sweet spot between familiar yet deep strategy.

But still, after experiencing Superstars‘ fantastic gameplay foundations, I can‘t help but crave more locations. The potential is there for adding even more classic boards. So why hasn‘t Nintendo capitalized on it yet with updates or DLC?

Lack of Updates Disappoints Fans

In a January 2022 Nintendo Direct fans watched eagerly for new Superstars DLC announcements. But so far, no additional boards or minigames have been added in the six months since launch.

Many fans responded with disappointment online:

"I wish they would add DLC boards to Mario Party Superstars. It‘s already a great game but a few more boards would make it phenomenal."

"Here‘s hoping one day they‘ll surprise us with DLC boards from MP4-7…"

"The game is already complete in my eyes but more content is always welcome!"

And I agree! With Mario Party seeing a major resurgence lately, building on Superstars over time just makes sense. DLC packs adding boards, characters and minigames could drive engagement for years while monetizing fans happy to keep the party going.

Will More Boards Still Come?

While no concrete DLC plans have been shared yet, I remain hopeful for additions down the road. Previously, both Mario Tennis Aces and Mario Golf: Super Rush received new characters and courses months after launch responding to fan feedback.

And other Mario Party remasters like 100 Classic Minigames added entirely new minigames as free updates post-launch on the 3DS.

So there is definitely precedent to expand on nostalgic Mario spin-off remasters. However, only time will tell if the Mushroom Kingdom party receives any surprises.

At least we can always rely on the fantastic five Superstars boards and 100 minigames for hours of competitive fun now! But my dream choices to bring back next would have to be Waluigi‘s Island, Faire Square and Neon Heights…

What about you – which classic Mario Party board would you love to see revived next in a future update? Let the speculation begin!