Bonus Star

"You may have chased Stars earlier! But these Bonus Stars come to you! Each counts toward your Star total!"

- MC Ballyhoo

Bonus Stars are Stars that are given out at the end of a Battle Royal map in every Mario Party game except Mario Party Advance and Mario Party: Island Tour. They are last-minute bonuses given to players (or teams) who have excelled in a particular field of gameplay during the game itself. So to say, the player who appears to be in first place at the end of the final turn may ultimately lose if an opponent receives enough Bonus Stars to surpass them.

Although Bonus Stars are optional, one must play with them during Mario Party and the Story Modes of Mario Party 3, Mario Party 4 and Mario Party 9. There are always three Bonus Stars to be handed out, and while they remained the same for the first six games, later games have mixed things up a fair bit. Starting with Mario Party 7, games have had six potential Bonus Stars that could be awarded, although only three would ever be chosen, and it was random as to which ones would get picked.

In the event of a tie for a Bonus Star, both, three, or all four players would receive one. In Battle Royale and Tag Team Mode, no one would get a Star in the event of a tie. The same goes for Duel Mode in Mario Party DS.

Up until Mario Party 4, Bonus Stars were identical in appearance to standard Stars. However, starting with Mario Party 5, each Bonus Star was given a unique look, with its own color and emblem on it.

In Mario Party 10, only two Bonus Stars are awarded. In Mario Party: Star Rush, this was changed back to three. However, in Super Mario Party, it was once again changed to two, but gives three if the game lasts 20 turns.

Coin Star
This Bonus Star first appeared in Mario Party and appeared in every subsequent game up to Mario Party 5. It is awarded to whomever held the greatest number of coins at any time during gameplay.

Happening Star
Also known as the Event Star, Green Star or ? Star, the Happening Star has appeared in every Mario Party game until Mario Party 9. It is awarded to whomever landed on the most ? Spaces during gameplay.

Mini-Game Star
This Bonus Star has appeared in every Mario Party game to date. It is awarded to whomever collected the greatest amount of coins or Mini Stars in every minigame altogether. Coins won from Battle (pre-Mario Party 5), Duel, Game Guy and Donkey Kong mini-games are not accounted for. In the DS version, whoever won the most mini-games will also receive this Bonus Star.

Orb Star
Appearing in Mario Party 6 and Mario Party 7, this star is given out to whomever used the most Orbs during gameplay. It replaces the Coin Star in Mario Party.

Red Star
This Bonus Star appeared in both Mario Party 7 and 8. It is given to whomever landed on the most Red Spaces during gameplay.

Running Star
So far, this Bonus Star has appeared in Mario Party 7, Mario Party 8 and Mario Party DS. It is given to whomever moved the most spaces altogether by rolling the Dice Block.

Shopping Star
This Bonus Star appeared in both Mario Party 7 and 8. It is given to whomever spent the greatest amount of coins at either Orb Huts or Candy Shops, depending on the game.

Candy Star
Appearing only in Mario Party 8, this Bonus Star is given to whomever ate the most Candies during gameplay. It essentially serves the same purpose as the Orb Star.

Friendship Star
Appearing only in Mario Party DS, this Bonus Star is given to whomever landed on the most Friend Spaces during gameplay.

Hex Star
Appearing only in Mario Party DS, this Bonus Star is given to whomever threw the most Hexes.

Item Star
Appearing only in Mario Party DS, this Bonus Star is given to whomever used the most items throughout the course of the game.

Introduced in Mario Party 9
These stars, with the new coinless and starless mechanic of Mario Party 9, give the player five Mini Stars (ten bananas on DK's Jungle Ruins instead).

Dice Block Star
This Bonus Star is given to whomever used the most Special Dice Blocks throughout the course of the game.

Far Star
This Bonus Star is given to whomever had the highest total from hitting dice blocks throughout the course of the game. (This is similar to the Running Star, but has a description to fit the new vehicular movement mechanic).

Minus Star
This Bonus Star is given to whomever hit the most Mini Ztars (or Z-Bananas, in DK's Jungle Ruins) throughout the course of the game.

Slow Star
This Bonus Star is given to whomever rolled the lowest dice block total throughout the course of the game.

Spin Star
Appearing only in Mario Party 9, this Bonus Star is given to whomever landed on the most Spin Spaces throughout the course of the game.

Introduced in Mario Party: Star Rush
Bonus Stars are exclusive to the Balloon Bash mode of the game, as in the regular Toad Scramble, they are called "Bonuses" instead and players receive coins if rewarded with a bonus.

Balloon Star
This Bonus Star is given to whoever popped the most Balloons.

Sightseer Star
This Bonus Star is given to whoever has moved the most on the board.

Slowpoke Star
This Bonus Star is given to whoever has moved the least on the board.

Item Star
This Bonus Star is given to whoever has used the most items.

Champion Star
This bonus star is given to whoever is the "undeniable minigame champion". This likely means winning every single minigame in a round or winning the most out of everyone.