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player ready...The term “party game” often is a misnomer when it comes to those of the video variety. Breaking out anything other than, say, “Rock Band,” is a red flag that you’re at a really lame party. Sorry, Mario, it’s true.
But a fantastic collection of quirky games from Chicago-based developer Jackbox Games (formerly Jellyvision) means it soon may be safe to turn on the Xbox at your next shindig without earning eye rolls.
Part of the genius of the “Jackbox Party Pack” is the low barrier of entry required. There’s no need to teach your technophobic friends how to use a PlayStation controller, which can be intimidating to gaming newbies. Instead, everyone syncs their smartphone or tablet to the game and uses that as their control device. And let’s face it: These days, everyone has one of those.
Among the five included offerings:
“You Don’t Know Jack 2015” contains 50 new episodes of the interactive trivia show infamous for its snarky sense of humor. Host Cookie Masterson reads questions you’ll be hard pressed to find in any other trivia competition on the planet (let’s just say there’s a recurring category called: “Kangaroo, Peanut, Albert Einstein or Uranus?”).
“Fibbage XL” is an expanded version of a game that asks players to fill in the blanks of an obscure question with a believable lie in order to trick up your opponents into choosing your fib. It’s an amusing marriage of Mad Libs and the board game Balderdash.
“Lie Swatter” also has you constantly questioning your own internal BS meter. You’re shown several statements projected on multicolored mosquito-like bugs and asked to separate fact from fiction by swatting those containing the fib.
Like a group version of Pictionary, “Drawful” asks players to sketch an object in a very limited time and then vote on what each drawing represents.
The weakest of the bunch, “Word Spud” works as something of a portmanteau generator where players string together random words and phrases and vote on their favorites.
The “Jackbox Party Pack” succeeds where other video party games have failed, because each of the games is simple to learn, fun and can be played by three to eight people (“Lie Swatter” even offers support for up to 100 players) in a matter of a few minutes. Party on.
Available on: PC, PlayStation 3 & 4, Xbox One
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 4
Ryan Smith is a RedEye special contributor.