Up to four human players can participate in the game, or you can go against the AI-controlled opponents. Using a board game format, you roll the dice to determine the number of spaces you move, with a choice of several different boards the goal is to obtain the most stars and coins on your way. To keep things exciting, various interesting characters appear on the boards, such as the happy mushroom Toad and Bowser's men. You can hire Boos, the not-so-scary ghosts, to capture your rivals' coins or stars.

Adding an extra layer of challenge are items you can acquire, which are useful for bonus rolls of the dice or for accessing closed areas. More than 60 intriguing mini-games will call for you to do things like bake cakes or stand your ground on a moving platform with cannons blasting away at you. The Duel Match and Practice round options, along with the great graphics, are just a few of many new features of this fast-paced game.