These range from basic trivia to bomb-defusing to silly T-shirt illustrations. The ability to use a mobile device as a controller further enhances the experience and makes for quick, easy-to-play romps that anyone can enjoy.
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Updated January 5, 2023, by Stephen LaGioia: Since its debut in 2014, the Jackbox Party Pack bundles have remained go-to games for social gatherings and holiday celebrations. The series has continued expanding with new renditions, featuring jacked-up sequels to prior minigames with fun new concepts. With the rise in online gaming, mobile devices, and streaming—all of which have proven fitting —this franchise has found a great place in gaming culture.
The 9th rendition has hit the scene, reestablishing the series as a popular pick for fun party romps with efforts like the creative guessing game “Nonsensory” and a new version of the bluffing game, “Fibbage”. With so many minigames rounding out the Jackbox list, and the release of Party Pack 9, it seemed like a good time to revisit this list of the best Jackbox Party Pack games.
20 Job Job - Jackbox 8 (3-10 Players)
Wrapped in a stuffy office job interview motif, this deceptively dry theme gives way to some truly hilarious party gameplay. Players are tasked with answering random icebreaker questions in any manner they choose. What follows is a sort of zany take on the “Mab Libs” concept, as players are thrown a hodgepodge of already-used words to cobble together funny answers.
Points are then doled out according to favorite answers and the ownership of the words being used. It doesn’t quite rise to the hilarity of the fan-favorite comedy game “Quiplash,” but “Job Job” is definitely good for some juvenile laughs.
19 Wheel of Enormous Proportions - Jackbox 8 (2-8 Players)
This is a creative, off-kilter trivia game that takes on more of a board game-like feel. It revolves around gathering coveted wedges, which later down the line represent the player in tense wheel spins. Players must answer questions that often involve multiple or numerical answers, matching up choices, and even writing answers with a mobile device. This gives way to various game-changing factors beyond just wheel spins.
Minigames can be played to drastically mix up points, and a potentially game-ending “Winner Wheel” kicks in once a player meets a 20,000-point threshold. Chaotic and full of curveballs, this interesting take on wheel-spinning trivia will keep players on their toes.
18 Split The Room - Jackbox 5 (3-8 Players)
“Split the Room” is a fairly taboo, underrated scenario game that forces players to be creative, crafty—and generally aware of opponents’ mentalities. To kick things off, each player is given often bizarre hypotheticals with a fill-in-the-blank answer to complete the scene.
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An example poses the question as to whether or not a player would “steal the idea for a common cold cure that a child came up with, and being the only adult that knows about it” (the bold being the filled-in answer). The goal is to craft scenarios that are tough to decide, as players gain points by “splitting the room” and having the decision be divided amongst players.
17 Earwax - Jackbox 2 (3-8 Players)
Those seeking an easy-going game and some quick yuks should look no further than this romp from Jackbox Party Pack 2.
With the audio-based Earwax, players will be asked to select from a series of typically funny, cartoony sounds to sum up a particular subject. Those who can muster the funniest and/or most creative sounds will earn votes from the Judge. It certainly serves as a great way to invoke one’s inner immature child, with its range of animal and bodily noises.
16 Blather ‘Round - Jackbox 7 (2-6 Players)
This game from the latest Jackbox can be described as a simplified, reverse version of the popular trivia game “Taboo.” But instead of having to skirt around words to describe a prompt, players will be forced to pick from a select few words to be fed into a pre-made sentence.
This can make for some fun and intense games, as players will be put on the clock, using clues and descriptors that aren’t always ideal. It may seem tough, but those in the audience will have unlimited cracks at rattling off answers.
15 Mad Verse City - Jackbox 5 (3-8 Players)
This one serves as a great practice tool for improv actors and free-style rappers - plus it’s just good for some laughs. Mad Verse City draws from the template of Mad Libs and dials up the craziness by forcing players to come up with impromptu rhymes — which are then hilariously recited by robots.
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The fun visuals - and the gimmick of the monotonous voice speaking goofy, risqué rap lines make it a hit worth checking out.
14 Bracketeering - Jackbox 4 (3-16)
Take the competitive structure of a college basketball tournament, and fuse it with a variety of wacky prompts, and the result would be Bracketeering. Players must put their answers to the test in an elimination-style competition against those of fellow players.
Those who come up with the strongest, funniest, or most inventive will live to fight another day. The game also throws some amusing curve balls by swapping out the prompts and matching them with other answers, usually invoking some chuckles. What’s really cool is that up to 16 players can participate in this epic clash.
13 Joke Boat - Jackbox 6 (3-8 Players)
In a clever twist on telling jokes, this amusing minigame feels akin to a training simulation for amateur stand-up comics. The premise is that the player — a rising comedian — is taking a gig on a run-down cruise ship.
The kicker is that players will concoct a handful of goofy words and catchphrases which are passed along to their teammates. Players then use keywords/phrases fed by other players as ammunition to craft one’s own hastily-crafted jokes. It’s a game that’s sure to provide some laughs while flexing one’s sense of humor (or lack thereof).
12 Dictionarium - Jackbox 6 (3-8 Players)
Much of Jackbox Party Pack’s appeal is its selection of games that are both easy-going and hilarious. One of the newest party games, which is a highlight of Jackbox 6, is “Dictionarium”; a game that toys with the concept of crafting silly-sounding words and definitions.
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Players are fed a couple of randomly made-up words and synonyms, then partake in the amusing task of crafting definitions for them. It’s a simple concept, but it works by providing laughter while getting the creative juices flowing.
11 Tee K.O. - Jackbox 3 (3-8 Players)
Regarding Jackbox’s games with a creative or artistic bent, it’s tough to beat this drawing-based exercise. “Tee K.O.” combines cooperation with competition as players will craft a slew of goofy phrases and poorly-crafted sketches on their mobile devices.
Players will then be tasked with coupling the words and pictures from others together that offer the most humorous potential, which will appear on t-shirts. The game cleverly blends visual artistry—loosely speaking—with wordsmithing wit.
And yes, real, tangible versions of these shirts can actually be purchased, assuming players are bold enough to sport this silly display in public.
10 Bomb Corp - Jackbox 2 (1-4 Players)
“Bomb Corp” is a crafty, tough puzzler that grants players a series of bombs with color-coded wires, which they must diffuse using various subtle hints.
The game encourages communication and cooperation in a manner that’s quite creative, as different players will be tipped-off with different clues as to which wires need to be cut. In a basic example—a player might be told to “treat red wires as yellow wires,” while another is informed yellow wires need to be cut.
It’s essentially a convoluted series of logic puzzles, which, when combined, allow for a consensus. Players should be methodical, but quick, as that timer keeps on ticking as the codes are cracked!
9 Guesspionage - Jackbox 3 (2-8 Players)
Those who find themselves fascinated by random statistics and polls dealing with interesting topics should get a kick out of “Guesspionage. "
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The game revolves around players guessing a series of obscure statistics, such as — “what percentage of people have picked their nose in public?” Players will then ballpark a percentage and will get points depending on how close they are.
Blackjack-style double-downs can also be used later to make things more interesting. It’s pretty cut-and-dry, but this is a party game that relies more on its strange statistical facts for its entertainment vs its actual competitive gameplay.
8 Roomerang - Jackbox 9 (4-9 Players)
Fusing the zaniness of “Quiplash’s” on-the-fly answers of prompts with a roleplaying overlay, “Roomerang” has become a fan-favorite with its creative and funny moments. Players will begin their Real World-style show with situational prompts that describe actions their cartoony avatars will be taking. And in true reality show fashion, players are asked who to vote for, as well as a character to eliminate, justifying with a reason why.
Additional rounds mix things up by pairing players together and coming up with funny-yet-suitable answers for both, along with a blame game in which everyone accuses a player of anything of their choosing. “Roomerang” prove amusing in its (relative) depth and creative angle, which still allows players to showcase their goofy side “Quiplash” style.
7 Champ’d Up - Jackbox 7 (3-8 Players)
This one can be partly described as a more animated—and often even sillier—version of “Tee K.O”. Players will be tasked with cobbling together silly, usually poor fighter designs based on vague topics or descriptors. These will then be pitted in an area against an opponent, at which point players will vote on the most humorous or fitting combatant.
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Seeing the hilarious drawings of friends is entertaining enough, but having them (partly) animated in real-time really gives Champ’d Up that extra kick. And what’s even better—poor artistic skills are not only suitable here, but they actually make this romp even funnier.
6 Quixort - Jackbox 9 (1-10 Players)
This standout entry of Jackbox Party Pack 9 entices players with the rare ability to play solo, along with an expansive 10-player limit, making it a great all-around option. “Quixort” is a game for those who fancy organization and arranging.
This romp takes the form of a prompt-sorting trivia game, where teams will work together to shuffle the assortment of answers on blocks in their proper order (oldest to newest gaming consoles, for instance). Communication and speed are key here, especially during the second round, which throws curveballs by way of fake, discardable answers.
5 Fakin’ It - Jackbox 3 (3-6 Players)
For those who fancy themselves good liars or seek to improve their poker face, “Fakin’ It” might be a winner. This creative party game makes for a ton of laughs amongst family and/or friends, as it coaxes a myriad of amusing revelations and wacky faces during each round.
The name of the game is to sniff out which amongst a group of players is the “faker,” who’s tipped off by their mobile device to just try and “blend in.” Meanwhile, other players are asked basic questions about various preferences, the number of times something occurred in their lives, etc.
Players will then be tasked with finding the “fishiest” looking answers around the room. This culminates with a final question — which the faker will receive their own version having a bit of overlap. It’s a fun brain-buster and hilarious party romp that makes one question everything and everyone.
4 You Don’t Know Jack - Jackbox 1 & 5 (1-4 Players For JB1, 1-8 Players For JB5)
It’s tough not to place the classic trivia game that started it all in the top tier of Jackbox party games. This competitive trivia-fest is just as enjoyable as it was in its more primitive CD-ROM form as an early ’90s PC game.
The most recent iteration, which can be found as the headlining game in Jackbox Party Pack 5, has been even further fleshed out while remaining as accessible as ever. The game offers the ability to stream with ease and allows 8 “audience members” in addition to up to 8 competitors.
The game presents straightforward multiple-choice questions—though they’re often given cheeky, creative twists that force players to “think outside the box” a little.
3 Trivia Murder Party - Jackbox 3 & 6 (1-8 Players)
The two iterations of “Trivia Murder Party,” especially its more robust sequel, make YDKJ seem tame in terms of its themes and its off-the-wall minigames. The crux of the gameplay is basic trivia - which is a bit more random and contains more general topics rather than YDKJ’s focus on entertainment.
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What really gives this experience its charm is its delightfully cheesy horror themes, enhanced by a host that sounds both ominous and silly. “Trivia Murder Party” really shines at the “killing floor” parts, which serve as penalties that trigger when a question is missed. These intense bouts throw unpredictable games at desperate players, which range from rapid-fire math problems to memory puzzles and password decryption.
This all builds up to a mad scramble to the exit of the spooky hotel or hospital setting—which is really intense in the sequel, as players will need aclean sweep on the final question to clear the room and earn their victory.
2 Quiplash - Jackbox 2, & 3 (3-8 Players)
This hilarious series of prompts is as simple as it is entertaining, which makes it one of the all-time classics on Jackbox. It’s the game that friends always seem to go to when seeking a fun, free-and-loose game to generate some yuks at parties or family get-togethers.
Each player is given a couple of statements or prompts, which are answered or completed with the funniest quip they can muster. Everyone playing will then vote on the funniest and/or most creative answer as two people are pitted against each other. The amusing voice work by the colorful host, Schmitty, completes the experience and adds some character.
The most recent edition in Jackbox Party Pack 7 ups the ante by introducing the “Thrip Lash” round, where three brief responses are filled in and triple the points are awarded.
1 Fibbage - Jackbox 1, 2, & 4, 9 (2-8 Players)
While “Fibbage” might not have the free-wheeling “laugh out loud” style that “Quiplash” boasts, it also proves to be the most clever and enjoyable. The game somewhat takes the premise of the hit board game Balderdash and makes it a bit more palatable and streamlined; adding its own twists in the process.
The goal is for players to come up with convincing-sounding lies opponents could fall for—typically dealing with obscure facts or historical events. Each of the “Fibbage” renditions is pretty great, though the third from Jackbox 4 may take the cake with its fun ’70s themes and added elements including the more personal “Enough About You” variant.
The latest rendition of the game on Jackbox Party Pack 9 builds on the solid foundation of prior entries and adds even more to the fold, along with a post-modern visual tinge. “Figgage 4” brings more intensity with two-question (one-word) rounds, along with video and fan-submitted questions. It also throws in a revamped “Enough About You” mode, posing questions such as — “when so-and-so was bored in school, they’d often daydream about x”.
The Jackbox Party Pack’s latest release is October 19, 2022, and is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and a few other minor platforms.
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