Jackbox 12

I've always had a soft spot for the Jackbox Party Pack games. They're a fantastic way to get friends (I have friends…. I do) together, have a few drinks, and discover just how unfunny everyone can be when put on the spot. Some entries have given us absolute classics, while others have been spectacular stinkers. With The Jackbox Party Pack 12, however, it feels as though the developers aimed for a consistently solid collection rather than taking any major risks. While I appreciate the effort to introduce five entirely new games, the results are a little underwhelming.


Jack is playing it safe, but confident

That's not to say there's nothing worthwhile here. Quite the opposite, actually. There's a refreshing mix of ideas, and I appreciate the willingness to experiment rather than rely on sequels or rehashes of previous favourites. However, while some games have the potential to be absolute bangers with the right crowd, others struggle to leave much of an impression.

First off, here’s what's included in Jackbox 12! MegaPals: A word association game where players try to think alike, matching each other's answers to score points. Hyperface: A photo-editing game where players warp, stretch, and draw on selfies or stock images to respond to silly prompts. We Forgot a Card: A comedy writing game where players create ridiculous greeting cards by combining funny messages with images. Idol Factions: A team-based trivia game where players work together to sort a stream of answers into the correct categories. Debate and Switch: A debating game where players argue for their opinions on silly topics and try to convince everyone else they're right.

There are no sequels or major rehashes of other popular games, which is a bold and much appreciated choice for this Jackbox. Right, on with the review.


Finding the right crowd… to shout and agrue with delight

Let's start with Debate and Switch, which I suspect will be a fan favourite. It's easy to see why, too. The premise is straightforward: argue your case, defend your position, and try to convince everyone that you're right. With the right group, this can be an absolute riot, especially if you've got friends who love to chatter, crack jokes, and make fools of themselves for everyone's amusement. The little mechanics sprinkled throughout also help keep things lively.

However, there's a catch. You really do need the right crowd. If you're playing with people who aren't particularly comfortable thinking on their feet or making jokes, things can quickly become rather dull. It's a game that relies heavily on the personalities around the table, and while that can be a strength, I found the overall experience a little underwhelming. It's a perfectly reasonable addition to the collection, but I was hoping for more interesting mechanics to give it some extra depth. Instead, it feels like a safe idea that doesn't quite reach its potential.

Hyperface, meanwhile, is a refreshing change of pace, but ultimately rather forgettable. Warping photographs to create increasingly bizarre results is amusing enough, and there's certainly fun in the ridiculous faces you'll end up producing. It's simple to understand, easy to jump into, and can generate some wonderfully strange results.

Unfortunately, I don't think it has much lasting appeal. I was hoping for something along the lines of Champ'd Up, or a proper drawing game that would let players unleash their creativity. Instead, Hyperface feels more like a novelty that provides a few laughs before you've seen most of what it has to offer. It's not terrible, but I can't help feeling that the collection is missing something without a dedicated drawing game.

We Forgot a Card fares a little better. It's reminiscent of Surviving the Internet, asking players to come up with amusing responses and combinations that can produce some genuinely funny moments. As with several games in this collection, having the right people makes all the difference. With a group that knows how to have fun, it can be great, but it doesn't quite reach the heights of Surviving the Internet, or Champ'd Up. Still, it has enough going for it to earn its place. But when those mismatched inputs and pictures collide, some golden moments are sure to happen.


The standouts

Thankfully, not everything feels quite so safe. Idol Factions can be a little chaotic at first, and it takes some time to get your head around what's happening. Once everything clicks, though, it becomes a surprisingly enjoyable experience. I can understand why some groups might find it overwhelming, but I didn't find it particularly difficult to follow, and my group had a good time. Your mileage may vary, of course, but I think it's a solid game.

Then there's MegaPals, which is easily my favourite of the bunch.

It's simple to understand, focuses on interaction rather than straightforward competition, and encourages players to engage with one another in genuinely entertaining ways. Something is refreshing about a game that doesn't need a complicated premise or a pile of mechanics to keep everyone interested. It gets people involved, creates opportunities for amusing moments, and proves that sometimes the simplest ideas are the best.

In fact, I'd argue that MegaPals is one of the more interesting group games in the series. It's the kind of experience that makes you appreciate what Jackbox does best, bringing people together and letting their personalities do the rest. While some of the other games struggle to find their footing, MegaPals feels confident in what it wants to achieve.


Overall?

My summary would be “A mixed bag, but a welcome change”.

Ultimately, I appreciate what The Jackbox Party Pack 12 is trying to do. There's a refreshing mix of ideas here, and I admire the developers for attempting something new rather than leaning entirely on established favourites. However, I can't shake the feeling that the collection plays it a little too safe, with several games lacking the depth or staying power to become genuine series highlights.

MegaPals is the clear winner, while Idol Factions can be great fun once you get to grips with it. We Forgot a Card has its moments, and Hyperface can produce some laughs, even if its novelty wears off rather quickly. Debate and Switch could easily be the fan favourite, but its reliance on having the right group, combined with its relatively simple mechanics, left me wanting more.

It's a perfectly enjoyable collection, and one that I'd happily return to with friends. However, when previous entries have given us games like Surviving the Internet and Champ'd Up, it's difficult not to wish for something a little more ambitious.

The Jackbox Party Pack 12 is a welcome change of pace, but while its ideas are refreshing, not all of them are executed well enough to stand alongside the series' best. It's definitely worth a look for MegaPals alone. Hyperface is a good laugh, and We Forgot a Card can click with the right prompts and inputs; some of the ones I got with my friends were f***ing legendary! And while Debate and Switch felt a bit low-effort, they could also become standouts with the hardcore Jackbox fanbase.

While I'd have liked to see this party take a few more risks, Jackbox 12 is certainly more entertaining than some of the worse entries in the series.

++ All refreshing game concepts compared to the norm of Jackbox
++ Great for larger groups
+ Some modern Jackbox classics are here for sure

-- Feeling a little too safe
- Some games I don't see having lasting appeal

A copy of Jackbox 12 was kindly provided for the purpose of this review