A forgotten Paper Mario board game from China has been given a second life, more than 20 years after its original release! Originally released exclusively in China through iQue, iQue Míngxīng Qí, translated as iQue Superstar Board Game, has now been recreated in English for Tabletop Simulator. The fan-made project gives Paper Mario fans outside China a chance to try a bizarre and little-known piece of Nintendo history.
A Paper Mario party game
The recreation comes from YouTuber Paper King, who has been digging into the board game’s history and working to make it accessible to a wider audience. The original game appears to have been designed as an introduction to the world of Paper Mario. Its gameplay takes inspiration from the classic Mario Party formula, with players moving around a board, collecting stars and competing to come out on top. The story also takes a familiar route. Bowser has stolen the wish-granting Star Rod, and players must make their way around the board in an attempt to reach the star station and purchase a star. The original playable roster was surprisingly small, featuring just Mario, Peach and Bowser. Paper King’s digital version expands that selection to 27 characters, bringing in favourites from across the Paper Mario series. That includes characters such as Goombella, Koops and Vivian, giving players plenty more options when choosing who they want to take into battle.
Two ways to play
Paper King’s recreation includes the original ruleset, where the aim is to be the first player to travel around the board, reach the star station and buy a star. However, the project also adds a separate Mario Party mode. This version changes the objective, with the winner being the player who has collected the most stars by the end of the game. It is a small change, but one that should make the recreation feel more familiar to fans of Nintendo’s party game series. The project has been recreated inside Tabletop Simulator, Steam’s digital tabletop platform. This means players can explore the board game without having to track down the original physical release, which was never widely available outside China.
Preserving forgotten games
This is not the first time Paper King has used Tabletop Simulator to bring an obscure Paper Mario game back into the spotlight. The creator previously recreated Paper Mario Ponjan Club 22, another unusual board game based on the series. That title was produced by Japanese toy company Takara and is another example of Paper Mario merchandise that has largely faded from public memory. The latest project would not have been possible without help from the Chinese Nintendo fan account, which supplied scans of the original game. The Super Mario Wiki also played a role, having already translated many of the cards used in the game.
For Paper Mario fans, this is a fascinating bit of lost history finally becoming playable again. It might not be a brand-new Nintendo release, but thanks to one dedicated fan, a forgotten board game has managed to escape the dusty shelves of the past!
