Mario Party 9 is a party board game developed by NDCube for the Wii, released in 2012 and supporting up to four players. The game introduces two major departures from earlier entries in the franchise: players now share a vehicle as they move across stages together, taking turns as Captain to roll Dice Blocks and advance the group, and each stage concludes with a boss battle against enemies such as Bowser or King Boo. While cooperation is required to defeat these bosses, players simultaneously compete to accumulate Mini Stars stolen by Bowser's forces. The game includes 80 minigames spanning activities like pizza-making, haunted mansion escapes, and snowmobile racing. Each of the themed stages — ranging from Toad Road to Boo's Horror Castle — features branching paths and Captain Events that vary the outcome from session to session. Additional modes include Free Play, Goomba Bowling, and the puzzle-oriented Castle Clearout, alongside a Party Points system that unlocks items and extras over time.
