The compilation of cheeky party and trivia games, known as the Jackbox Party Packs, have seemingly come out of nowhere beginning in 2014, offering tons of fun and hilarious multiplayer romps. Yet, developer Jackbox Games has been cranking out their zany trivia game that started it all, You Don’t Know Jack, since the early 90’s on PC.
With 6 Jackbox Party Pack bundles now released for PC, consoles, and even streaming devices, the studio has built on the creative and appealing formula of You Don’t Know Jack and crafted a plethora of delightfully fun and humorous party games.
These games range from basic trivia to bomb-defusing to silly T-shirt illustrations. The ability to use your mobile device as your controller further enhances the experience and makes for quick, easy-to-play romps that anyone can get in on.
Updated November 17th, 2020 by Stephen LaGioia: Since this writing, Jackbox Games has released their 7th party game compilation in this amusing series, featuring some colorful new themes and a slew of new creative and wacky games. Jackbox Party Pack 7 has reinforced the series’ as a go-to romp at parties — and a great diversion in a year where many are spending more time indoors. Between this release, and the array of other worthy entries we’ve left out, we felt it appropriate to update this list with more great games from this series.
15 Earwax (Jackbox 2)
Those seeking an easy-going game good for some quick yuks should look no further than this silly entry from Jackbox Party Pack 2.
With the audio-based Earwax, players will be asked to select from a series of typically silly, 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 your inner immature child, with its range of animal and bodily noises.
14 Blather ‘Round (Jackbox 7)
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 the most ideal. It may seem tough, but those in the audience will have unlimited cracks at rattling off answers.
13 Mad Verse City (Jackbox 5)
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.
The fun visuals – and the gimmick of the monotonous voice speaking goofy, risqué rap lines make it a hit worth checking out.
12 Bracketeering (Jackbox 4)
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.
11 Joke Boat (Jackbox 6)
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 you, as an up-and-coming comedian, are taking a gig on a shoddy cruise ship. The kicker is that you’ll be generating a handful of goofy words and catchphrases which will be passed along to your teammates. You’ll then use keywords/phrases fed by other players as ammunition to inject into your own hastily-crafted jokes. It’s a game that’s sure to provide some laughs while you show off your sense of humor (or lack thereof).
10 Dictionarium (Jackbox 6)
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 making your own silly sounding words and definitions.
You’re fed a couple of randomly made-up words, at which points players will come up with synonyms, and engage in the even more enjoyable task of crafting definitions for them. It’s a simple concept, but it works in providing laughter, while getting the creative juices flowing.
9 Tee K.O. (Jackbox 3)
In terms of Jackbox’s games with a more 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 (if you can call it that) with wordsmithing wit.
And yes, real, tangible versions of these shirts can actually be purchased, assuming you’re bold enough to wear this silly display in public…
8 Bomb Corp (Jackbox 2)
“Bomb Corp.” is a crafty puzzler which, as you might imagine, tosses you a series of bombs laced with color-coded wires, which you 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 simplistic example – you might be told to “treat red wires as yellow wires,” while another player is informed yellow wires need to be cut.
It’s essentially a convoluted series of logic puzzles, which, when combined, allow you to come to your consensus. You’ll want to be orderly, but quick, as that timer keeps on ticking as you play!
7 Guesspionage (Jackbox 3)
Have you ever been curious as to seemingly random, minute, and pointless statistics regarding groups of people? If so, then you should definitely get a kick out of “Guesspionage. “
The game revolves around players guessing a series of usually off-the-wall statistics, such as – “what percentage of people have picked their nose in public?” Players will then ballpark a percentage and will net 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 goofy statistical facts for its entertainment vs its actual competitive gameplay.
6 Champ’d Up (Jackbox 7)
This one can be partly described as a more animated — and often even goofier — 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.
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.
5 Fakin’ It (Jackbox 3)
If you fancy yourself a good liar or seek to improve your poker face, then “Fakin’ It” might be for you. This creative party game makes for a ton of laughs amongst family and/or friends, as it coaxes a myriad of amusing revelations and goofy 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, a number of times something occurred in their lives, etc.
The players will then be tasked with seeking out the “fishiest” looking answers around the room. This culminates with a final question – which the faker will receive their own version containing a bit of overlap. It’s both a fun brain-buster and hilarious party romp that makes you question everything and everybody.
4 You Don’t Know Jack 2015 & Full Stream (Jackbox 1 & 5)
It’s tough not to place the classic trivia game that started it all in the upper echelon 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 contains seemingly straight-forward multiple-choice questions, though they’re often outlined in creative, cheeky twists that force you to “think outside the box” a little.
3 Trivia Murder Party 1 & 2 (Jackbox 3 & 6)
The 2 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.
But the real thrill of this experience lies in its deliciously cheesy horror themes, enhanced by a host that manages to sound both ominous and silly. “Trivia Murder Party” really shines in the “killing floor” sections which trigger when a question is missed, and features games ranging from rapid-fire math problems to memory puzzles.
2 Quiplash XL, 2, & 3 (Jackbox 2, & 3)
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 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 1, 2, & 3 (Jackbox 1, 2, & 4)
While “Fibbage” might not have the free-wheeling “laugh out loud” nature 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 faster-paced, while adding its own twists too.
The goal is for each player to come up with a convincing sounding lie for others to fall for – after they’ve read a typically strange/obscure fact or historical event.
All 3 iterations of “Fibbage” are pretty great, though the third and final rendition takes the cake with its fun ’70s themes and additional elements including the more personal “Enough About You” variant.
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