The Jackbox Party Pack (XB1) Review

The perfect party game compilation.

Almost everyone loves party and trivia games, and consoles have always had a hard time delivering that experience without requiring several extra controllers. The recently released Jackbox Party Game remedies all of that by allowing everyone to play with their PC, or even smartphone. This is the perfect party game, and for the price tag, there is no beating all that is included.

So let’s break down the games bundled in the package.

Wee Willie indeed.

MSRP: $24.99
Platforms: XB1, PC, PS3, PS4
Price I’d Pay: $24.99
Multiplayer: Up to 100 players

You Don’t Know Jack 2015

Quite possibly the greatest adult trivia game of all time. This four-player romp is hosted by Cookie Masterson, who may be the most hilarious game show host of all-time. He will constantly poke fun at the players, all while delivering smart questions. The series has been around for a long time, and for good reason. This is clearly the tent pole of this awesome collection.

Drawful

So this game is probably the most surprising of the package. It can be played with 3-8 players, and it involves drawing and guessing. Every player will get something to draw, then are given a set amount of time to draw it. Then everyone gets to guess what each thing is, and if others guess yours, points are earned. It can become chaotic, and of course a bit juvenile when players start drawing inappropriate items, but it is still a blast to play.

Fibbage XL

This version of Fibbage comes with a bunch of new questions, hence the XL moniker. This game is all about bluffing. Everyone is asked a question and has to make up an answer. Then all of the answers are displayed, and everyone has to pick which answer is correct. Picking the right one, or having others pick yours as the correct one, earns points. As one would imagine, the stories that come out of this game are hilarious at times.

Word Spud

This is easily the biggest dud in the pack. This game revolves around a player being given a word, which then they must add another word to. If the other players vote yes on it, it becomes the next word for someone to add on to – definitely not the popular choice among the pack.

Well it certainly feels that way sometimes.

Lie Swatter

This is basically a true or false exercise. The game posts random facts and everyone votes on whether they are real or not. The best part is this game supports up to 100 players, so imagine the insanity. Of course, no one will ever have 100 people in their home, so this is an ideal candidate for streaming.

The Jackbox Party Pack is a no-brainer, especially with the holidays coming up. Being able to play from any PC or smartphone makes it easier to get everyone in on the fun. For $24.99 this is definitely recommended, and almost required to make those family gatherings this season a little less awkward.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • Playing without a controller
  • So much to choose from
  • Works seamlessly
Bad
  • Word Spud
8
Great
Written by
Ken is the Editor-in-Chief of this hole in the wall and he loves to troll for the fun of it. He also enjoys long walks through Arkham Asylum and the cool air of Shadow Moses Island. His turn-ons include Mortal Kombat, Metal Gear Solid and StarCraft.