Lab Brats

Lab Brats is a rare minigame found in Mario Party 6. Its name is a pun on "lab rats", which are rats used for scientific researches.

Introduction
In the minigame's introduction, Professor Elvin Gadd states that he invented a maze-making machine, called the Maze Manufactory. He taunts the player, saying that they can't solve the mazes before time is up, then he wishes the player good luck in solving them.

Gameplay
The aim of the game is to reach the end of five mazes in five minutes. It is one of the only three 1-player minigames available in Mario Party 6. On every level, the player can also find another character wandering around: these include a Penguin, a Ukiki, a Koopa, a Goomba, and a Shy Guy. Only one appears on each floor, and they appear in a random order. Though they do not help the player directly, finding them contributes to the player's rank. A trampoline propels the player to the next maze. At the end, E. Gadd gives the player a rank, as high as 16 and as low as 1.

Ranks

 * 16 - Lord of the Labyrinth: "The Maze Manufactory bows before your awesome maze-cracking abilities!" (obtained by finding all characters and completing all mazes in under two minutes and thirty seconds)
 * 15 - Grandmaster Maze-cracker: "You fear no labyrinth!" (obtained by finding all characters and completing all mazes in over two minutes and thirty seconds, but under three minutes)
 * 14 - Maze Master: "Close to perfection, but not quite!" (obtained by finding all characters and completing all mazes in over three minutes, but under three minutes and thirty seconds)
 * 13 - Conundrum Destroyer: "Few mazes can stand in your way..." (obtained by finding all characters and completing all mazes in over three minutes and thirty seconds, but under four minutes)
 * 12 - Route-finding Fiend: "You are an unstoppable maze-solving force! (obtained by finding all characters and completing all mazes in over four minutes, but under four minutes and thirty seconds)
 * 11 - Maze Ninja: "Even the most complex mazes fear your wrath!" (obtained by finding all characters and completing all mazes in over four minutes and thirty seconds)
 * 10 - Black Belt Maze-cracker (obtained by completing all mazes and finding four characters)
 * 9 - Maze Boss: "You may be the boss, but my mazes can still stump you!" (obtained by completing all mazes and finding three characters)
 * 8 - Maze Sprinter: "Maybe it's just my failing eyes, but you're a blur!" (obtained by completing all mazes and finding two characters)
 * 7 - Maze Jogger: "Way to hustle, youngster!" (obtained by completing all mazes and finding one character)
 * 6 - Brown Belt Maze-cracker (obtained by completing all five mazes without finding any characters)
 * 5 - White Belt Maze-cracker: "Don't let a simple white belt get to your head!" (obtained by completing four mazes)
 * 4 - Labyrinth Lurker: "You must enjoy spending time in the maze, because you aren't finding the exit!" (obtained by completing three mazes)
 * 3 - Maze Contestant: "At least you're trying..." (obtained by completing two mazes)
 * 2 - Normal Navigator: "Average in every way." (obtained by completing one maze)
 * 1 - Laid-back Labyrinth Loser: "You couldn't navigate your way out of a sleeping bag!" (obtained by not completing a single maze)

Controls

 * – Move
 * – Overhead view

In-game text

 * Rules – "Find the end of Prof. E. Gadd's maze! You get a rank based on your speed and how many friends you find."
 * Advice – "Use the overhead view to find the path to the exit and where the lost characters are."