The Jackbox Party Pack 9 [PlayStation 5] | REVIEW

The annual release of the The Jackbox Party Pack series has always been a treat for my friends and I, especially on a night full of drinks and snacks. The ninth entry marks another great release in the series too, with the blend of both fresh and varied games and a familiar favourite sure to keep returning gamers hooked to their screens and laughing for hours on end.

Check out some screenshots down below:

• 

• 

• 

Once again, players have five games to play through in Jackbox Party Pack 9 – Fibbage 4 (which includes Fibbage: Enough About You), Nonsensory, Junktopia, Quixort, and Roomerang.

Fibbage 4 will be familiar to those who have played the series in the past, with it proving a popular favourite thanks to its zany lying-based gameplay. The game sees players answering a series of (often ridiculous) prompts with their own fake answers, with those answers then mixed with the real answer and given to everyone to solve. If someone thinks your answer is correct? They’ll look stupid and you’ll earn points. And if you manage to get the correct answer? You’ll earn points for that too. It’s all about making up answers that are ridiculous, but also potentially believable.

It’s spiced up this time around thanks to the introduction of video rounds, which offer a whole new way to diversify your lying. It took a few rounds playing to get used to them, but they often provided some of the funniest answers in the game. Meanwhile, Fibbage: Enough About You offers bonus gameplay based around lying about yourself, which offers a neat twist on the formula – even IF it doesn’t feel quite as enjoyable as the main game. Either way, Fibbage is one of the jewels in Jackbox Party Pack’s crown and the latest edition remains just as entertaining to play.

Nonsensory is a bit more unconventional and, if I’m being honest, a bit tricky to explain in words. It sees players having to draw and write answers to prompts (sometimes just one, sometimes multiple), with those answers then rated by other players between one and ten. Your goal is to try and get your answer to hit a certain score, whether that’s a perfect ten where it’s clear as day, a seven out of ten where it’s somewhat understandable, or even a three out of ten where it’s completely cryptic.

You following? I wouldn’t be surprised if you weren’t, and if I’m being honest, it’s the game that caused the most confusion amongst my friends. I wouldn’t say Nonsensory is bad because it’s a genuinely interesting concept that can work quite well when all players fully grasp what’s going on, but it does feel like the weakest addition this time around – especially when you want something quick and easy to play that players of all ages will understand immediately.

“This year’s collection of games are great to play, with plenty of variety and creativity offered between them to ensure there’s something here for everyone.”

Junktopia sees players purchasing an array of weird antiques, naming them, and creating their own ridiculous backstory that’ll make them stand out the most when compared to those your rivals have amassed. Players will then vote on the items that are most interesting, giving it a set value that’s added your total – whoever makes the most cash wins, with their playable frog then turned back into a human. I did mention that you play as a frog and that a wizard will only turn you back into a human if you win the game, right?

This is the game where players will really get to show off their creativity, with the most absurd of stories typically the ones that stood out the most. Whilst there are pre-set options in place when providing a backstory and the option to have the game present them for you, Junktopia is really at its best when players go all out and come up with bizarre descriptions of their own. It’s simple but a lot of fun, especially when playing with youngsters who have particularly wild imaginations.

Quixort is probably my favourite game of the whole collection, with it challenging players to work in teams in order to sort in order (or dispose of) a bunch of different words based upon the prompt they’re given. With challenges such organising the lyrics of a TV theme song, remembering the layout of the Solar System, or judging sports teams some of the prompts you get to play with, there’s plenty of diversity on offer with the questions – there’s the option to choose a pre-revealed topic or a mystery one at the start of each round too, adding an extra element of unpredictability to each round.

What makes it especially interesting is that players have to organise the answers as they fall from the top of the screen Tetris-style, making Quixort feel more… well… ‘gamey’ than some of the other options available in Jackbox Party Pack 9. It adds an extra element of urgency to your answers, and with the focus on team-play and working together, can make for lots of comical situations as you try to help clueless players. It’s REALLY good and without a doubt the game I’ve spent the most time playing so far.

Check out some screenshots down below:

• 

• 

• 

Finally, there’s Roomerang, which tries to replicate a reality show on TV by having players take on the role of contestants, develop a personality for them, answer an array of prompts, and then vote to eliminate other players until someone is deemed the winner. Don’t worry though, if you’re eliminated you can re-enter as another character, but will lose some of the points you were assigned at the start of the game.

It might sound a little convoluted, but it’s actually a simple setup that does work really well. However, it is one that does rely a bit on roleplaying, which differs from some of the other games featured this year. Players will have to embrace the role of their character and vote according to THAT as opposed to their own gut feeling, which can get a little bit confusing. Once you get to grips with it all though? It makes for a very unique experience that’s unlike anything else included in the package this time around. It’s one of those games that’s best played with a lot of players but be warned: it takes a LOT longer to get through too, so it can feel a little bit drawn out.

In all, this year’s collection of games are great to play, with plenty of variety and creativity offered between them all to ensure there’s something here for everyone. Whilst Nonsensory feels like the weakest of the bunch, there weren’t any that I actively found myself avoiding playing – there’s consistency across the board and each bring something different. Add to that the same quirky and charming presentation players would have been used to from previous games as well as some fantastic music, and it’ll become clear that Jackbox Party Pack 9 is another big success in the series.

Developer: Jackbox Games
Publisher: Jackbox Games
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Website: https://www.jackboxgames.com/