Skeleton Key
| Skeleton Key | |
|---|---|
 Artwork fromSuper Mario Party Jamboree | |
| First appearance | Mario Party 2 (1999) |
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV (2025) |
| Effect | Opens a gate |
- “I truly enjoyed the time we shared. I miss the way the inside of your pocket smells.”
- —Skeleton Key,Mario Party Superstars
TheSkeleton Key is an item in a few games of theMario Party series, debuting inMario Party 2. It is akey with a golden bow on its head (replaced by angry black eyebrows inMario Party 3 only) that can unlock certain doors on a board, usually opening access to areas that cannot be reached otherwise. The Skeleton Key likes being with its owner, being relieved if they choose not to unlock a path, whilst being sad if they do use it. It isLuigi's favorite item inMario Party 2 and3. The Skeleton Key shares a name with areal-life key.
Mario Party 4 appears to haveMini Mushrooms as its functional equivalent, as they allow access to different paths usingtiny pipes.
History[edit]
Mario Party 2[edit]
The Skeleton Key can always be bought atItem Shops for 10Coins inMario Party 2, except inBowser Land, unless Baby Bowser forces the player to buy one for 12 Coins. A Skeleton Key cannot be thrown away, but only used on a door.
Mario Party 3[edit]
SinceMario Party 3, the Skeleton Key costs three coins to buy at Item Shops, and it also allows players to throw away their Skeleton Key without going to a door first. It is sold at Item Shops fromToad andKoopa Kid alike. Unlike inMario Party 2, after using the Skeleton Key on a door, players are forced to enter it.
Mario Party Superstars[edit]
The Skeleton Key returns inMario Party Superstars, exclusively on the boardsSpace Land,Horror Land, andWoody Woods. It also makes an appearance as a selectable reaction.
Super Mario Party Jamboree /Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV[edit]
The Skeleton Key retains its main role inSuper Mario Party Jamboree and itsNintendo Switch 2 port. It appears only in the boardsWestern Land andKing Bowser's Keep, and is one of the eight items that can chosen for either board during Pro Rules. There is the "Friends Forever" achievement that can be obtained by having a Skeleton Key and not using it throughout the game. Like the previous game, it makes an appearance as a selectable reaction.
In Party-Planner Trek,Kamek gives a Skeleton Key to the player at King Bowser's Keep, wanting them to use it on the gate nearby.[1] The Skeleton Key cannot be used on the gate until the player honors its request of riding through the red pipe with it.[2]
Profiles[edit]
Mario Party 2[edit]
- Instruction booklet description:
- English:
Use this Item to open Locked Gates on the ADVENTURE BOARDS. This can only be used when you are in front of a Locked Gate.[3]
- English:
Mario Party 3[edit]
- Instruction booklet description:
- English:
The Skeleton Key unlocks gates to certain paths on the boards. It's a must for shortcut lovers.[4]
- English:
Mario Party Superstars /Super Mario Party Jamboree[edit]
- In-game description:
- English:
Open a gate. Can only be used when you're next to a gate.
- English:
Gallery[edit]
Mario Party 2
Mario Party 2
Mario Party 2 (Bowser Slots)
Mario Party 2 (dialogue box)
Mario Party 3
Mario Party 3 (player inventory)
Mario Party 3 (Hey, Batter, Batter!)
Mario Party 3 (dialogue box)
Mario Party Superstars
Mario Party Superstars
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | アカズキーちゃん[?] Akazukīchan | Pun on「開かず」(akazu, "can't open"), "key", and「赤ずきんちゃん」(Akazukin-chan, "Little Red Riding Hood") | Mario Party 2 /Mario Party Superstars |
| キーマン[?] Kīman | Key Man | Mario Party 3 | |
| Chinese(Simplified) | 开不开钥匙[?] Kāi bù kāi yàoshi | Can't open the key | |
| Chinese(Traditional) | 開不開鑰匙[?] Kāi bù kāi yàoshi | Can't open the key | |
| Dutch | Hoofdsleutel[?] | Means "main key" or "head key" | |
| French(Canadian) | Passe-partout[5] | Skeleton Key | |
| French(European) | Clé sésame[6] | "Open sesame" key | Super Mario Party Jamboree |
| Clé Squelette[?] | Literally means "Skeleton Key" | Mario Party 2,Mario Party 3 | |
| Clé squelette[7] | Mario Party Superstars | ||
| German | Generalschlüssel[8] | Master Key | |
| Skelett-Schlüssel[?] | Literally means "Skeleton Key" | Mario Party 2,Mario Party 3 | |
| Italian | Schelechiave[?] | Skele-key | Mario Party 2 |
| Chiave[?] | Key | Mario Party Superstars | |
| Korean | 게이트 키[?] Geiteu Ki | Gate Key | |
| Portuguese | Chave mestra[?] | Master Key | |
| Russian | Мастер-ключ[?] Master-klyuch | Master Key | |
| Spanish(Latin American) | Llave maestra[?] | Master Key | |
| Spanish(European) | Llave maestra[?] | Master Key | SinceMario Party Superstars |
| Llave Skeleton[?] | Skeleton Key | Mario Party 2 | |
| Llave Esqueleto[?] | Mario Party 3 | ||
| Thai | กุญแจผีน้อย[9] Gunjɛɛpǐinɔ́ɔi | Little Ghost Key |
References[edit]
- ^"Test out thisSkeleton Key for me. Use it at thegate closest to here and tell me how it goes." –Kamek (2024).Super Mario Party Jamboree.Nintendo.
- ^JSkeleton's Nintendo World (October 18, 2024).Super Mario Party Jamboree - Party Planner Trek (King Bowser's Keep 100%) (37:11).YouTube. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
- ^2000.Mario Party 2 Instruction Booklet (PDF).Nintendo (English). Page 14. Retrieved October 25, 2024 from Nintendo of Europe.
- ^2001.Mario Party 3 Instruction Booklet (PDF).Nintendo of America (English). Page 22. Retrieved October 25, 2024 from Internet Archive.
- ^Polo (November 10, 2021).JE SUIS DEVENU UN PRO SUR MARIO PARTY SUPERSTARS EN LIGNE ! (12:29).YouTube (French). Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^Super Mario Party Jamboree | Base secrète de Bowser #5 🐢 by Shibo on YouTube.
- ^Guillaume & Kim (October 30, 2021).MARIO PARTY SUPERSTARS EPISODE 2 : STATION SPATIALE (NINTENDO SWITCH) (22:55).YouTube (French). Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^Domtendo (November 4, 2021).MARIO PARTY SUPERSTARS 🎲 #13: Astronomische Party im Space Land (7:44).YouTube (German). Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^In-game name displayed inSuper Mario Party Jamboree.
