Skeleton Key

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Skeleton Key
Artwork of a Skeleton Key from Super Mario Party Jamboree
Artwork from Super Mario Party Jamboree
First appearance Mario Party 2 (1999)
Latest appearance Super Mario Run (version 3.2.4, cameo) (2024)
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

The Skeleton Key is an item in a few games of the Mario Party series, debuting in Mario Party 2. It is a key with a golden bow on its head (replaced by angry black eyebrows in Mario 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 is Luigi's favorite item in Mario Party 2 and 3. The Skeleton Key shares a name with a real-life key.

Mario Party 4 appears to have Mini Mushrooms as its functional equivalent, as they allow access to different paths using tiny pipes.

History[edit]

Mario Party 2[edit]

Skeleton Key

The Skeleton Key can always be bought at Item Shops for 10 Coins in Mario Party 2, except in Bowser 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]

Skeleton Key

Since Mario 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 from Toad and Koopa Kid alike.

Mario Party Superstars[edit]

The Skeleton Key returns in Mario Party Superstars, exclusively on the boards Space Land, Horror Land, and Woody 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 in Super Mario Party Jamboree and its Nintendo Switch 2 port. It appears only in the boards Western Land and King 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]

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]

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.

Gallery[edit]

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 (NOA) Passe-partout[5] Skeleton Key
French (NOE) Clé squelette[6] Skeleton Key
Clé Squelette[?] Mario Party 2, Mario Party 3
German Generalschlüssel[7] 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 (NOA) Llave maestra[?] Master Key
Spanish (NOE) Llave maestra[?] Master Key Since Mario Party Superstars
Llave Skeleton[?] Skeleton Key Mario Party 2
Llave Esqueleto[?] Mario Party 3

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Test out this Skeleton Key for me. Use it at the gate closest to here and tell me how it goes." – Kamek (2024). Super Mario Party Jamboree. Nintendo.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 2000. Mario Party 2 Instruction Booklet (PDF). Nintendo (English). Page 14. Retrieved October 25, 2024 from Nintendo of Europe.
  4. ^ 2001. Mario Party 3 Instruction Booklet (PDF). Nintendo of America (English). Page 22. Retrieved October 25, 2024 from Internet Archive.
  5. ^ Polo (November 10, 2021). JE SUIS DEVENU UN PRO SUR MARIO PARTY SUPERSTARS EN LIGNE ! (12:29). YouTube (French). Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  6. ^ Guillaume & Kim (October 30, 2021). MARIO PARTY SUPERSTARS EPISODE 2 : STATION SPATIALE (NINTENDO SWITCH) (22:55). YouTube (French). Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  7. ^ Domtendo (November 4, 2021). MARIO PARTY SUPERSTARS 🎲 #13: Astronomische Party im Space Land (7:44). YouTube (German). Retrieved September 25, 2024.
[Edit]
Mario Party 2
Main characters Mario • Luigi • Princess Peach • Yoshi • Wario • Donkey Kong
Other characters Bowser • Toad • Goomba • Boo • Koopa Troopa • Thwomp • Kamek • Whomp • Big Boo • Mr. I • Mushroom Genie • Steamer • Snifit Patrol • Shy Guy • Sushi • Baby Bowser • Woody • Professor Fungi • Battle T. • Totem Bros.
Items Mushroom • Skeleton Key • Plunder Chest • Dueling Glove • Warp Block • Golden Mushroom • Magic Lamp • Boo Bell • Bowser Suit • Bowser Bomb
Spaces Blue Space • Red Space • Item Space • Happening Space • Battle Space • Bowser Space • Star Space • Chance Time Space • Bank Space
Boards Pirate Land • Western Land • Space Land • Mystery Land • Horror Land • Bowser Land
Other Crazy Counting • Dinky Rinky • Goodness Rakes • Melon Mayhem • Nintendo 64 Funtastic Series Personality Test • Nomiss • Rules Land • Gallery • Mario Land • Media • Minigames • Pre-release and unused content • Quotes • Sound test • Staff
[Edit]
Mario Party 3
Main characters Mario • Luigi • Princess Peach • Yoshi • Wario • Donkey Kong • Princess Daisy • Waluigi
Other characters Amp • Bowser • Millennium Star • Tumble • Belltop • Game Guy • Battle T. • Koopa Kid • Arijigokun • Bob-omb • Boo • Chain Chomp • Evil Woody • Goomba • Koopa Troopa • Mr. Blizzard • Mushroom Genie • Mushroom Jeanie • Piranha Plant • Snifit • Sushi • Thwomp • Toad • Whomp • Whomp King • Woody • Yajirushi Ankō
Items Mushroom • Warp Block • Cellular Shopper • Dueling Glove • Golden Mushroom • Boo Repellant • Magic Lamp • Reverse Mushroom • Poison Mushroom • Bowser Phone • Plunder Chest • Lucky Lamp • Boo Bell • Bowser Suit • Skeleton Key • Item Bag • Wacky Watch • Barter Box • Koopa Kard • Lucky Charm • Star Stamp
Battle Royale spaces Blue Space • Red Space • Item Space • Happening Space • Battle Space • Bowser Space • Star Space • Chance Time Space • Bank Space • Game Guy Space
Duel spaces Back Space • Basic Space • Power Up Space • Minigame Space • Happening Space • Game Guy Space
Battle Royale maps Chilly Waters • Deep Bloober Sea • Spiny Desert • Woody Woods • Creepy Cavern • Waluigi's Island
Duel maps Gate Guy • Arrowhead • Pipesqueak • Blowhard • Mr. Mover • Backtrack
Other Gallery • Media • Minigames • Pre-release and unused content • Quotes • Sound test • Staff • Mario Party 3 e-Card
[Edit]
Mario Party Superstars
Playable characters Mario • Luigi • Princess Peach • Princess Daisy • Wario • Waluigi • Yoshi • Rosalina • Donkey Kong • Birdo
Other characters Toad • Toadette • Koopa Troopa • Bowser • Bowser Jr. • Junior Clown Car • Kamek • Shy Guy • Fly Guy • Snifit • Hammer Bro • Paratroopa • Goomba • Galoomba • Bob-omb • Piranha Plant • Petey Piranha • Monty Mole • Lakitu • Spiny Egg • Blooper • Chain Chomp • Thwomp • Whomp • Pokey • Bullet Bill • Boo • King Boo • Peepa • Mr. I • Swoop • Cheep Cheep • Cheep Chomp • Urchin • Huckit Crab • Buzzy Beetle • Penguin • Baby Penguin • Ukiki • King Bob-omb • Gold Goomba • Big Piranha Plant • Toads • Woody • Evil Woody • Piranha Pod • Mecha Fly Guy • Big Cheep Cheep • Spiny • Lava Bubble • Amp • Yoshis
Boards Yoshi's Tropical Island • Space Land • Peach's Birthday Cake • Woody Woods • Horror Land
Items Boo Bell • Chomp Call • Cursed Dice Block • Custom Dice Block • Double Dice • Double Star Card • Dueling Glove • Golden Pipe • Hidden-Block Card • Item Bag • Mushroom • Plunder Chest • Skeleton Key • Super Warp Block • Triple Dice • Warp Block
Spaces Blue Space • Bowser Space • Chance Time Space • Event Space • Item Space • Koopa Bank • Lucky Space • Minigame Space • Red Space • Start Space
Miscellaneous Gallery • Glitches • Media • Minigames • Quotes • Sound test • Staff • Stickers • Village Square (Data House · Friend House · Mt. Minigames · Option House · Toad's Shop)
[Edit]
Super Mario Party Jamboree
Playable characters Mario • Luigi • Princess Peach • Princess Daisy • Wario • Waluigi • Yoshi • Toadette • Toad • Rosalina • Pauline • Donkey Kong • Birdo • Bowser • Goomba • Shy Guy • Koopa Troopa • Monty Mole • Bowser Jr. • Boo • Spike • Ninji
Other characters Amp • Ant Trooper • Baby Penguin • Biddybud • Blooper • Blooper Baby • Blooper Nanny • Bob-omb • Boo • Boom Boom • Bomber Bill • Boomerang Bro • Broozer • Bullet Bill • Buzzy Beetle • Chain Chomp • Chargin' Chuck • Cheep Cheep • Cooligan • Dorrie • Dragoneel • Dry Bones • Fire Bro • Fuzzy • Galoomba • Gold Goomba • Goomba • Goombrat • Grrrol • Hammer Bro • Horned Ant Trooper • Huckit Crab • Ice Bro • Impostor Bowser • Kamek • King Bob-omb • King Boo • Koopa Paratroopa • Koopa Troopa • Lakitu • Lava Bubble • Look-alike • Magmaargh • Mega Para-Biddybud • Mega Wiggler • Moo Moo • Monty Mole • Para-Beetle • Para-Biddybud • Peepa • Penguin • Piranha Plant • Plessie • Pokey • Pom Pom • Petey Piranha • Rocky Wrench • Shy Guy • Sledge Bro • Spiny • Snifit • Spike • Steamer • Stingby • Sushi • Swoop • Thwomp • Toad • Toady • Ty-foo • Ukiki • Walleye • Whomp • Wiggler • Yoshi
Boards Mega Wiggler's Tree Party • Roll 'em Raceway • Goomba Lagoon • Rainbow Galleria • Western Land • Mario's Rainbow Castle • King Bowser's Keep
Items Mario Party 10-Coin Steal Trap • Boo Bell • Bowser Byway Lever • Bowser Phone • Cellular Shopper • Chomp Call • Creepy Dice Block • Creepy Dice Block Tickets • Custom Dice Block • Double Dice • Dueling Glove • Golden Pipe • Half-Coins Steal Trap • Hidden-Block Card • Item Bag • Loadstone • Markup Sticker • Mini Star • Mushroom • Mushroom Tickets • Payday Double Dice • Payday Triple Dice • Pipe • Plunder Chest • Shop Hop Box • Skeleton Key • Star • Star Steal Trap • Steamer Ticket • Super Creepy Dice • Super Dueling Glove • Super Swap Mirror • Swap Mirror • Tide Shell • Tower Turner • Triple Dice • Turbo Dice • Warp Box • Wiggler Bell
Koopathlon Amp • Blooper • Bullet Bill • Coin Bag • Double Medal • Impostor Bowser • Kamek • Star
Bowser Kaboom Squad Banana • Bowser Bell • Dash Panel • Hammer • Heart • Iron Hammer • Lightning • Mighty Glove • Trampoline • Super Heart
Spaces Blue Space • Bowser Space • Chance Time Space • Event Space • Item Space • Lucky Space • Red Space • Star Exchange • Start Space • Unlucky Space • VS Space
Other Achievements • Bowser Kaboom Squad • Gallery • Jamboree Buddy • Minigames • Quotes • Sound test • Staff
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