Carnival Games
North American Wii box art
Developer(s)Cat Daddy Games
Publisher(s)Global Star Software (Wii)
2K (DS, iPhone)
Platform(s)Wii, Nintendo DS, iOS (iPhone)
ReleaseWii
  • NA: August 27, 2007
  • AU: October 19, 2007
  • EU: October 26, 2007
DS
  • NA: July 8, 2008
  • EU: August 22, 2008
  • AU: September 4, 2008
iPhone
August 5, 2010
Genre(s)Party
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Carnival Games (known in Europe and Australia as Carnival Funfair Games) is a video game for Wii, Nintendo DS and iPhone, with a re-release for Nintendo Switch. It was the last game published by Global Star Software, before it was absorbed into Take-Two Interactive (and what is now 2K).

Despite mixed reviews by most gaming websites and critics, the game was a commercial success. The Wii and DS versions of the game sold over six million units as of June 2010,[1] which, according to the NPD Group, was the third best-selling third-party game on the Wii.

As a result of the original's success, a follow-up for the Wii was announced, and launched in the fall of 2008, titled Carnival Games: Mini-Golf.[2] A proper sequel, New Carnival Games, was released on September 21, 2010, for the Wii and Nintendo DS.[3] A new game for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, simply called Carnival Games, was released on November 6, 2018,[4] and for Microsoft Windows (Steam) on November 19, 2020.

Gameplay

The game consists of various mini-games with a carnival theme, such as Alley Bowling, Lucky Cups, Nerves of Steel, Hoops, Day at the Races, and Buckets Of Fun. These are set up through five different themed areas of the carnival. The player can even win virtual prizes depending on their score. There are many easter eggs hidden as well. The player can also play the multiplayer mode with up to four players by selecting a booth. Games includes ka-pow and hole in 1.

Reception

The Wii version received "mixed" reviews, while the DS version received "generally unfavorable reviews", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[5][6]

The former version received a "Double Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),[22] indicating sales of at least 600,000 units in the UK.[23]

Sequels

A follow-up entitled Carnival Games: Mini-Golf was released in the United States on October 21, 2008.[24]

A proper sequel, New Carnival Games, was released on September 21, 2010 and published by 2K Play.[3] New Carnival Games features over 30 minigames. It supports but does not require the Wii MotionPlus accessory. For the Wii version, there is a four player multiplayer mode, which involves cooperative and competitive gameplay.[25]

A virtual reality installment titled Carnival Games VR was released for SteamVR on October 28, 2016,[26] and later ported to PlayStation VR on January 23, 2017.[27] As of 2018, the series had sold over 9.5 million units.[4]

Year Title Publisher Platform(s)
2008 Carnival Games: Mini-Golf 2K Play Wii
2010 New Carnival Games 2K Play Nintendo DS, Wii
2011 Carnival Games: Monkey See, Monkey Do! 2K Play Xbox 360
2011 Carnival Games Wild West 3D 2K Play Nintendo 3DS
2016 Carnival Games VR 2K HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, Valve Index
2017 Carnival Games VR: Alley Adventure 2K HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, Samsung Gear VR, Valve Index
2018 Carnival Games (2018) 2K Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One

Carnival Games (2018)

A new game in the series, simply called Carnival Games, was released on November 6, 2018, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, and on November 19, 2020, for Windows (Steam). It was developed by Mass Media Games. The Switch version received "generally unfavorable reviews", according to Metacritic.[28]

References

  1. ^ Pattison, Narayan (June 16, 2010). "E3 2010: New Carnival Games Preview". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  2. ^ "Step Right Up! 2K Play Expands Its Carnival Games Franchise With Carnival Games For Nintendo DS And Carnival Games: Mini-Golf Exclusive". Take-Two Interactive. March 11, 2008. Archived from the original on March 13, 2008.
  3. ^ a b Reilly, Jim (June 8, 2010). "New Carnival Games Announced". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "2K Announces Carnival Games® for Nintendo Switch™". Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. June 28, 2018. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Carnival Games for DS Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Carnival Games for Wii Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Gibson, Ellie (November 11, 2007). "Carnival Games Review (Wii)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  8. ^ Reeves, Ben (November 2007). "Carnival Games (Wii)". Game Informer. No. 175. GameStop. Archived from the original on January 19, 2008. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  9. ^ EmaWii (September 5, 2007). "Review: Carnival Games (Wii)". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 18, 2008. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  10. ^ Windy (September 25, 2007). "Carnival Games Review (Wii)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  11. ^ Dodson, Joe (August 22, 2008). "Carnival Games Review (DS)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  12. ^ Navarro, Andy (September 7, 2007). "Carnival Games Review (Wii) [date mislabeled as "September 17, 2007"]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  13. ^ Leahy, Dan (October 5, 2007). "GameSpy: Carnival Games (Wii)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  14. ^ "Carnival Games Review (Wii)". GameTrailers. Viacom. September 8, 2007. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  15. ^ Aceinet (August 20, 2008). "Carnival Games - NDS - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 26, 2008. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  16. ^ Platt, Dylan (September 12, 2007). "Carnival Games - WII - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 26, 2008. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  17. ^ Harris, Craig (September 26, 2008). "Carnival Games Review (NDS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  18. ^ Birnbaum, Mark (September 17, 2007). "Carnival Games Review (Wii)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  19. ^ "Carnival Games (DS)". Nintendo Power. Vol. 231. Future US. August 2008. p. 90.
  20. ^ "Carnival Games (Wii)". Nintendo Power. Vol. 220. Nintendo of America. October 2007. p. 88.
  21. ^ Jordan, Jon (August 31, 2008). "Carnival Funfair Games". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  22. ^ "ELSPA Sales Awards: Double Platinum". Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. Archived from the original on May 20, 2009.
  23. ^ Caoili, Eric (November 26, 2008). "ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK". Game Developer. Informa. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  24. ^ "Carnival Games Minigolf". Nintendo. Archived from the original on October 25, 2008. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  25. ^ "2K Play". 2kgames.com. Archived from the original on 2015-10-28. Retrieved 2011-06-29.
  26. ^ "Carnival Games® VR". Steam. Valve Corporation. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  27. ^ "Carnival Games® VR". PlayStation Store. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  28. ^ a b "Carnival Games for Nintendo Switch for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  29. ^ Reseigh-Lincoln, Dom (November 12, 2018). "Carnival Games Review (Switch)". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  30. ^ Ronaghan, Neal (November 5, 2018). "Carnival Games (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. NINWR, LLC. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.

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