Jackbox Party Pack 11 has all new games in a variety of different forms which are fantastic to play with your friends.
With ten party packs under their belt, for a total of thirty products on Steam, it was just a matter of times before they got around to Jackbox Party Pack 11. For those unaware of the Party Pack formula, the concept is pretty simple; Your phone works as a controller to play a variety of different, medium-length party games. I specifically say medium-length because plenty of short-form multiplayer games exist out there, while Jackbox really nails the party-game feel with it’s 5-15m runtime and the replayability that comes from the massive amounts of content included.
Jackbox Party Pack 11 comes complete with five games, and unlike some of the previous packs, these are all new games rather than follow-ups to successful ones.
Doominate
Doominate is Jackbox Party Pack 11‘s writing game, which is quite a funny one that realizes on your sense of humor. In this mini-game, you are taking something — a phrase, an item, etc — and ruining it. Taking prompts like ‘Your Mother’s Warm Lasagne’ and adding things like ‘but it’s made of rotten meat’ and then voting on who ruined it the worst (or the best maybe?!) and there is a round where you fix the ruined thing. It’s all very interesting and can be quite funny. I love this writing game and feel it’s probably one of Jackbox’s strongest. It’s just a lot of fun.
Hear Say
Hear Say is a brand new type of game for Jackbox, and actually uses your phone’s microphone, allowing you to make noises and answer questions with audio, which is then played later. They string together videos, that make the noises even more silly, and there are these secondary mini-games in-between levels that have you using noise volumes to control a character on the screen, scoring points as a break from making noises. This is one that is a little quirky in that everyone will be in the same room making noises, but it’s just such a unique and fun concept – I really enjoy the prompts too.
Cookie Haus
Cookie Haus is the drawing mini-game in Jackbox Party Pack 11, which is always a favorite in our household. This drawing game has you decorating cookies for customers who are often looking for cookies that fit a specific criterial. These cookies don’t need to match the shapes you’re given, as you get three to choose from. Unlike other drawing games in other packs, there are a lot of color options, along with three brush sizes and a handful of sprinkles (including googly-eyes for everyone), which can make some very fun stuff. The second round of this game allows you to switch up a cookie that previously did well, making them match a different theme, which has some really fun results.
Suspectives
Suspectives is the social deduction game within the pack, and for me, not one of my favorites. This game really relies on having friends the gel together and think the same as you, as you will be trying to decide who caused a crime. That person knows they are the baddie, but then they all need to answer a bunch of questions. These are sort of clues as to who did the crime, though there is one clue which is just incorrect. It’s a whole thing – lots of deduction and talking in order to really figure it out!
Legends of Trivia
Obviously, Jackbox first started as trivia game, so it makes sense that every party pack has a trivia mini-game inside of it. Legends of Trivia is a Dungeons and Dragons inspired trivia game, which has you all working together instead of against each other — which is very much welcome. There are different paths to choose from, that have you answering multiple choice levels, riddles, running into shops, etc. You can tactically pick answers, sometimes splitting votes, as answering things correctly allows you to attack the creatures you are up against. Although I am not the biggest fan of trivia games, I do like the length of this one and the way that everyone works together.
Jackbox Party Pack 11 is a fantastic offering, with so many new, charming mini-games that feel like a good time. It’s a fantastic addition to anyone that likes hosting parties and playing with friends! There really is something for everyone and with such a good variety, it’s always a good time.
Jackbox Party Pack 11 is available now for PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.
