In these special times during the COVID-19 pandemic and while staying at home and practicing social distancing day and night, I thought about having an online game night with friends and remembered the good old classic You Don’t Know Jack game I had on my PC ages ago.
Turns out, I actually bought a few Jackbox Party Packs and some other Jackbox Games via HumbleBundle over the years and I just completed my Steam collection via a special offer on Green Man Gaming.
So I wanted to give a quick run-down on which games there are, which one I/we like most and what worked well for us.
Jackbox Games actually released a tutorial page on how to play their games with remote friends. Somehow Twitch and Youtube don’t (yet) work well for me, but both Skype and Zoom did a fine job (despite the sound coming through the mic together with my speech).
Also they have some games on sale, or even for free, right now on Steam and elsewhere.
For all games you need one computer running the games and a (mobile) device with a browser for each player. That’s it. And while the number of players is limited, many of the games allow for an almost unlimited number of spectators (audience), which can still take part as an extended jury.
If you feel like playing a bit, just ping me directly on Steam or elsewhere ;)
Jackbox Party Pack
The first pack contains the 2015 version of You Don’t Know Jack , an XL version of Fibbage, Drawful, Word Spud and Lie Swatter. Obviously, You Don’t Know Jack (up to four players) is a classic and lot’s of fun, but I like Fibbage XL and Drawful even more in larger groups (up to eight players). Fibbage is about making up the best lies and tricking your friends while Drawful as about drawing weird things/subjects so your friends can recognise them. If you happen to be even more players, Lie Swatter can take up to 100 players (not sure how well that works remotely though) and is also fun.
Jackbox Party Pack 2
The second pack contains Fibbage 2, Quiplash XL, Earwax, Bidiots, and Bomb Corp; though only the first two really took off for us. Where Fibbage 2 is a remake with new content and a few changes, Quiplash XL is about coming with the best response/answer in one-on-one battles with the other players.
Jackbox Party Pack 3
Pack number three includes Trivia Murder Party, Quiplash 2, Guesspionage, Tee K.O. and Fakin’ It; where Trivia Murder Party is a great trivia game with a twist and Quiplash 2 is a worthy continuation of the something already good.
Some of the others have yet to be tested, and the details will be updated accordingly.
Jackbox Party Pack 4
The forth pack features Fibbage 3, Survive the Internet, Monster Seeking Monster, Bracketeering as well as Civic Doodle. Fibbage 3 is a must and Civic Doodle is fun of you like drawing (and drawings of others).
Some of the others have yet to be tested, and the details will be updated accordingly.
Jackbox Party Pack 5
In number five you can find You Don’t Know Jack: Full Stream, Split the Room; Mad Verse City, Patently Stupid and Zeeple Dome. Obviously, You Don’t Know Jack: Full Stream (now with eight-player support) is already worth the pack. Split the Room has got a nice touch to it, a bit of a reverse-strategy game. If you like rhyming and always wanted to take part in a rap battle, Mad Verse City might be for you.
Some of the others have yet to be tested, and the details will be updated accordingly.
Jackbox Party Pack 6
Pack number six has Trivia Murder Party 2, Dictionarium, Push The Button, Joke Boat and Role Models. Here Trivia Murder Party 2 is lots of fun.
Some of the others have yet to be tested, and the details will be updated accordingly.
Other (standalone) games
Other than the pack Jackbox Games already has Drawful 2 in store, which represents a well-done sequel to its first iteration.