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Jackbox Party Starter
By Angelica Guarino,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Re-release of hit party games is more accessible than ever.
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Jackbox Party Starter
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What’s It About?
JACKBOX PARTY STARTER is a game pack designed for users new to Jackbox Party games. This release contains three games instead of the usual five released in Jackbox Party Packs: Quiplash, Tee-K.O., and Trivia Murder Party 2. For those unfamiliar with Jackbox games, they're unique because anyone with a mobile phone, tablet with internet access, or laptop is able to join, no matter what platform the game is hosted on. By entering a randomly generated four-letter room code into jackbox.tv, parties of up to eight players are connected to the game instantly. The other feature that sets Jackbox games apart is the freedom that players have to insert their own jokes, ideas, and stories into game prompts. Quiplash, for instance, is a game where players are asked to give text-based responses to prompts like "The most surprising place to find a missing contact lens" or "Three things you'll find in any fanny pack." Groups of friends are able to personalize the game by including inside jokes or references to real-life examples that are relevant to their group, including writing their own prompts for Quiplash and Tee K.O.
Is It Any Good?
What always felt revolutionary about Jackbox games was just how easy it is to connect players to the game using their personal devices. Jackbox Party Starter keeps the same feature of not sharing controllers or worrying about lengthy online co-op connection times. This feature is just as exciting now as it was when it was first released with the original party pack in 2014, keeping Jackbox games relevant and accessible in a way that few franchises can sustainably keep up with. The rules for each game are very easy to pick up, and players can instantly jump in and out of rooms between rounds of games, which rarely go over 20 to 25 minutes. And though the Jackbox Party Starter doesn't include any new games, its improved accessibility features may make a significant difference in the groups of people who are able to use the pack. That makes this release's place within the series of Jackbox games feel more than earned.
Though all three of the games included are fan favorites for a reason, Quiplash 3 is a standout. Few things feel better than getting your friends to laugh at an answer you've submitted, and because answers are always player-generated and assigned to different sets of players, the replay value is extensive even if a repeat prompt shows up every once in a while. Additionally, it's great to see the barrier to entry for Jackbox games being lowered on this pack, which has a lower price point than the full 5-pack of games. Without this party starter release, players would need to purchase Jackbox Party Packs 3, 6, and 7 to gain access to all three of these games, which would come out to more than four times the cost of Jackbox Party Starter.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about accessibility in video games. Why might a feature like subtitles make it so that new players can play the game? Who are some people that subtitles might be able to help?
How can we make sure that everyone's prompts and jokes remain respectful of all people, even those from groups who aren't in the room with us when we play?
Game Details
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch , Xbox One , Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , PlayStation 4 , Windows
- Pricing structure: Paid ($19.99)
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Jackbox Games, Inc.
- Release date: June 30, 2022
- Genre: Party
- ESRB rating: NR for No Descriptions
- Last updated: June 14, 2022
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