Tired of yelling “TeeKO!” at your phone screen? Craving the social chaos of a party game without the app fatigue? Look no further! This list is your ticket to board game nights that are as side-splitting and competitive as your favoriteJackboxParty Pack.
Fromcreative doodlefeststo deception-filled tabletop showdowns, get ready to ditch the controllers and phones and unleash the laughter with these board game gems for your table.
Just One
Laughter and Teamwork in a Box
Just One is a party game where you and your friends work together to guess secret words. It’s like a collaborative charades - each person gives a one-word clue, but if someone else wrote the same thing, it gets tossed! It’s simple, funny, and keeps everyone guessing.
Just One is a uniquecooperative word board gamethat peoplejust can’t help but love. Why? This game plays like charades where everyone works together to decipher a secret word. It comes with a deck of cards filled with various words, and in each round, one player becomes the “guesser” while everyone else acts as their clue-giver.
Each clue-giver can only write down one word on a small wipe-off board to help the guesser identify the secret word. If any two players write the same clue, both those clues get eliminated! This adds a layer of strategic thinking (and comedy) as players try to craft unique hints that spark recognition without being too obvious.
Coup
A Bluffer’s Paradise in a Dystopian World
Coup is a fast-paced bluffing game where you play as powerful families vying for control. Take turns claiming powerful roles like Duke or Assassin, but if someone doubts you, you’ll need to prove it or lose influence.
Coup transports you to acutthroat sci-fi tabletop worldwhere influence is the key to survival. Players take on hidden roles, each with unique abilities.The Dukecan extort taxes,the Captaincan steal from the treasury, andthe Assassincan, well,eliminate opponents.
You only have two cards representing these roles, and there are only 15 cards in the entire deck! This means bluffing is key. On your turn, you can claim an ability associated with a role (like stealing coins or assassinating another player) – even if you don’t actually have that card.
But beware! Other players can challenge your bluff, forcing you to reveal your card. If you’re caught lying, you lose influence (represented by hidden cards). The last player standing with any influence wins!
Codenames
Let Your Words Become Your Weapons
Codenames is a party game where teammates work together based on one-word clues! A spymaster secretly links words to their agents on a grid. Their teammates race to guess the right words, avoiding the other team’s agents and the dreaded assassin!
Thissocial deduction gameis perfect for groups of four or more and will have you working together with your teammates in a hilarious battle of wits. Your party is split into two teams—rival spy agencies battling it out. Each team has a spymaster who knows the secret identities of undercover agents hidden amongst a grid of random words.
The teammates, however, are clueless (pun intended) – they can only identify their agents based on one-word clues from their spymaster. The beauty (and challenge) lies in crafting clever clues that link multiple words on the grid to your team’s agents.
Your teammates then race to guess the correct words, avoiding those belonging to the opposing team and the dreaded assassin card (guessing that one loses the game!). It’s a collaborative charade where you use word association as your secret weapon.
Ransom Notes - The Ridiculous Word Magnet Party Game
Crafting Hilarious Mayhem with Magnetic Words
Ransom Notes is a party game where players respond to outrageous prompts (like “apologize for spilling wine on your boss”) using a wacky pool of words. Get ready for sidesplitting laughter and endless entertainment.
Ransom Notes is a game that injects laughter, creativity, and a dash of absurdity into your next game night. Players grab a handful of magnetic words and a metal tray. A prompt card is flipped over, revealing a hysterical scenario.
The challenge?
You must use your limited word pool to create the funniest possible response on your tray.
Think ransom notes gone hilariously wrong! A timer is set, and after it goes off, everyone shares their creations. The judge (a rotating role) then picks the most chuckle-worthy masterpiece.
Be warned, though – some prompt cards and words can be a bit on the spicy side. If you’re playing with a family-friendly group, a quick card sort beforehand might be necessary.
Cash ‘N Guns (Second Edition)
Point, Bluff, and Blast Your Way to Loot!
Cash ‘N Guns 2nd Edition is a hilarious party game where you pretend to be bickering gangsters! Players bluff and foam-blast their way to the biggest share of the loot. It’s like poker with pistols (well, foam ones) – perfect for a fun and chaotic game night.
Are you a fan of heist-themed movies? Think you may do a better job than Danny Ocean? Well, Cash ‘N Guns presents theperfect opportunityfor you to live out your dream heist! In this game, you and your fellow players are bickering gangsters fresh off a heist. Now, everyone wants the lion’s share of the loot.
Players take turns as the “godfather,” overseeing the loot division.The real challenge? Bluffing your way to the biggest cut. You’ll point foam pistols at each other, secretly holding cards that say “bang” or “click.” The goal is to scare your opponents into backing down and leaving more loot for you.
But be careful –getting “shot” three times eliminates you from the round!It’s like a hilarious poker game with foam pistols instead of chips.
Blank Slate
A Party Game Where You Read Minds
Blank Slate is a party game where you write secret answers and score points for matching what others think. It’s like a social guessing game that’s perfect for groups of all sizes!
Blank Slate is a fun and easy game where players secretly write down words that they think best complete a phrase. You score points for matching what others write, but not for being totally unique.
Players see a word prompt like “blank town.” Maybe everyone thinks of a famous city, or perhaps an inside joke pops into someone’s head. The key is to write down a word you think others will choose too!
The game is all about the laughter and unexpected connections that arise as players share their thought processes. It’s a game that celebrates shared experiences and creates lasting memories.
FAQs
Is Jackbox a board game?
No, Jackbox games are not traditional board games. They are digital party games played on a video console or computer. Players use their phones or tablets as controllers to interact with the game.
Is Jackbox Party Pack appropriate for all ages?
The appropriateness of Jackbox Party Packs depends on the specific game and the age of the players. Some games have more mature content (including adult humor, language, or innuendo) than others. It’s always best to review the content rating and description of each game before playing with younger audiences.
