Players are given a secret prompt and must guide the others to guess what it is using lists of pre-generated words. Last, we have Blather ‘Round, a sort of text-based spin on charades with a pop culture lean. The result can be the strangest compilation of TED Talks imaginable. Jackbox has a set structure to help facilitate for those who are stumped or less inclined to public speaking: an introduction, a text slide, a photo slide, and so on. First, each player completes three prompts for speech topics, like “why I deserve all of the (blank).” Players choose a topic from this list and take turns giving speeches to the others, with one other player serving as their Assistant, queuing up stock photos as visual aids. Game #4, Talking Points, is practically an improv game in its own right. As usual, the game is playable (if not better) even if the players are bad artists. The process repeats in the second round, except players can substitute their creations from the first round during voting. Each contestant is given a prompt and must draw a fighter on their smartphone that suits it - for instance, “the champion of cool” or “the champion of needing to dial it down.” The drawing and its name, but not the prompt, are sent to another player, who has to draw an opponent to contend against them for the title, and the other players vote for their favourites. The third game is this year’s drawing game, Champ’d Up. Thirty different scenarios would keep it fresh on multiple replays, as well. It’s also the most video game-like experience in the franchise, at least since Volume 5’s ill-advised Zeeple Dome. The balance between team and selfish tasks, and the various tasks required, led to a lot of friendly shouting as players struggled to work together.
This might have been the most fun game of the pack. The key is to complete goals as a whole while also competing to be the top scorer, and shutting down others’ selfish tasks.
Other tasks are “selfish.” They award a lot of points toward one player’s total but don’t help the family’s overarching goal, and if too many are done, they can trigger a crisis for the entire team. Some tasks are accomplished with teamwork at one point I needed everyone else on the team to pitch in before we could pass a mandatory task. Completing tasks earns points toward the family score, and each individual player is also ranked for their contributions to the whole. A handful of tasks must be completed to succeed each round. Tasks are performed by following prompts and touching their screens: tap or don’t tap the screen at a certain time, rotate an object, look up the phone number for a plumber in a phone book and dial it, etc. mow the lawn, muck out the gutters, stand in the garage and sigh”). Players assume roles in a family of devils acclimatizing to life in a suburban area, taking on domestic chores listed on their devices (“ie. Next is The Devil and the Details, a somewhat unique entry. This time the final round is a Thriplash, requiring three answers per prompt: for example, “three signs you’re falling in love” or “honestly, the three greatest achievements of mankind have been (blank).” Quiplash is one of the most fun and accessible games in the series, and that remains true here. Quiplash presents players with two secret prompts on their device they submit their answers, and the collective votes for their favourite answers - more votes, more points.
The first game is Quiplash 3, an update of a classic previously featured in volumes 2 and 3, and as a standalone. This year’s offering, however, may stand out as one of the better collections. The host system provides a room code, then participants log in and play along with the presentation on screen. You’re probably familiar with the franchise by now: the studio behind hit PlayStation 1 trivia game You Don’t Know Jack! have created a variety of minigames suited for parties or streaming, with players using their smartphones to participate.
Another autumn, another installment in the Jackbox series from Jackbox Games.