Skeleton Key

Skeleton Key
Artwork from Super Mario Party Jamboree
Description
"Opens a gate. Can only be used when you're next to a gate. " Description from Super Mario Party Jamboree
First appearance	Mario Party 2 (1999)
Latest appearance	Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)

“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 a key in the Mario Party series. It is named after an actual kind of key used on some types of locks. The Skeleton Key can unlock special doors throughout the various boards, usually for opening up secret paths or shortcuts. To use a Skeleton Key, a player must reach a door and choose to use it. Its dialogue characterizes it as enjoying its holder's company, showing relief when the user refuses to unlock a door, and feeling sorrowful when used.

Skeleton Keys are a spiritual predecessor to the Mini Mushrooms in Mario Party 4, which allow access to new paths via gates.

History

Mario Party 2

In Mario Party 2, the Skeleton Key has a golden bow on its head and is Luigi's favorite item. It is always for sale at Item Shops. The exception to this rule are the shops in Bowser Land where Baby Bowser forces players to buy a particular item, though he can force a player to buy a Skeleton Key. The only way to discard an unwanted Skeleton Key is by using it on a door, even if the player does not wish to travel through it.

Mario Party 3

In Mario Party 3, the Skeleton Key was redesigned to have big black eyebrows instead and continues to be Luigi's favorite item. It is always for sale at Item Shops, regardless of whether or not Toad or Koopa Kid is running it. Unlike Mario Party 2, it is possible for players to "use" a Skeleton Key on their turn like a normal item, which gives them the option to throw it away.

Mario Party Superstars

In Mario Party Superstars, the Skeleton Key returns with its Mario Party 2 design. It can be discarded the same way as in that game if the player has no use for it.

Super Mario Party Jamboree

This section is referring to a subject in an upcoming or recently released game. When the game is released, or more information about this subject is found, this section may need major rewriting.
This notice should be removed after a month has passed since the game was first released.

In Super Mario Party Jamboree, the Skeleton Key once again returns with its Mario Party 2 design. It's one of 8 Items that can be selected to start a game using Pro rules, but only on Western Land and King Bowser's Keep, as they are the only boards with Gates.

In Party-Planner Trek, Kamek is in possession of a Skeleton Key in King Bowser's Keep, which is given to the player to use on a gate. This particular key, however, has a request to make before it can be used: it has a dream to ride the red pipe one more time. After temporary making the Goomba that is in front of it move, the player and the Skeleton Key go through the red pipe, fulfilling its dream and finally allowing it to be used on the gate, with it saying that it knew that they would come to the gate eventually.

Price

The following is a price list showing how much the Skeleton Key costs within the Item Shop in each game.

Game	Price	Notes
Mario Party 2	10 Coins	Cannot be discarded.
Mario Party 3	5 Coins
Mario Party Superstars	3 Coins	Only available in Space Land, Horror Land and Woody Woods.
Super Mario Party Jamboree	3 Coins	Only available on Western Land and King Bowser's Keep in Koopa's Shops.

Profiles

Mario Party 2

• Manual description: "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."

Mario Party 3

• Manual description: "The Skeleton Key unlocks gates to certain paths on the boards. It's a must for shortcut lovers."

Mario Party Superstars / Super Mario Party Jamboree

• In-game description: "Open a gate. Can only be used when you're next to a gate."

Gallery

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  Super Mario-kun

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  Mario Party 2

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  Mario Party 2

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  Mario Party 2

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  Mario Party 3

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  Mario Party Superstars

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  Mario Party Superstars

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  Mario Party Superstars

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  Super Mario Party Jamboree

Names in other languages

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	Skeleton Key
French (NOE)	Clé squelette	Skeleton Key
	Clé Squelette[?]		Mario Party 2, Mario Party 3
German	Generalschlüssel	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