The Jackbox Party Pack 5
" Diverse casual party pack with clever trivia and creative games but uneven quality and pacing "
The Jackbox Party Pack 5 Review
The Jackbox Party Pack 5 delivers a mixed but largely positive party game experience, featuring a variety of games with different mechanics and appeal. You Don't Know Jack: Full Stream stands out as a clever trivia game that challenges players with multi-part questions, offering a fresh twist on classic trivia. Mad Verse City adds a unique rapping duel element that appeals to creative players, while Patently Stupid is praised for its engaging drawing and pitching gameplay, reminiscent of Shark Tank.
However, not all games hit the mark. Zeeple Dome is generally seen as a less enjoyable action game that feels out of place in the pack and is recommended only in casual or party settings. Split the Room introduces a fun hypothetical voting mechanic but is considered just okay. Overall, the pack is best enjoyed in group settings, with some games standing out as highlights and others feeling like misses. Buying on sale is recommended due to variable game quality.
Highlights
Players particularly praise the innovative gameplay mechanics in You Don't Know Jack: Full Stream and Mad Verse City, which blend trivia and creative rapping respectively. Patently Stupid is also highly regarded for its imaginative drawing and pitching format, encouraging player creativity and interaction. The pack features colorful, clean graphics that suit the party atmosphere, and the variety of games offers something for different tastes. The trivia questions and rapping battles provide engaging challenges, while the overall presentation maintains a fun, chaotic party vibe.
Criticisms
Zeeple Dome is commonly criticized as the weakest entry, with many players finding it dull and less fitting for the pack’s party style. Some players note that trivia questions in You Don't Know Jack can be confusing and that the pacing of rounds could be improved. Additionally, the music in Zeeple Dome has been described as annoying, with suggestions to mute it. The pack’s overall value is questioned unless purchased at a discount, given the uneven quality across the included games.
Pros
- • You Don't Know Jack offers clever and challenging trivia with multi-part questions.
- • Mad Verse City provides a unique and entertaining rap battle mechanic.
- • Patently Stupid encourages creativity with drawing and pitching gameplay.
- • Variety of games caters to different player preferences and party moods.
- • Clean, colorful graphics enhance the fun party atmosphere.
- • Split the Room introduces an interesting hypothetical voting concept.
- • Games generally promote social interaction and group play.
Cons
- • Zeeple Dome is considered a weak and less enjoyable game.
- • Trivia questions can be confusing and sometimes overly complex.
- • Music in Zeeple Dome is annoying and recommended to be muted.
- • Pacing issues in You Don't Know Jack rounds affect gameplay flow.
- • Some games feel like misses compared to stronger entries.
- • Value is questionable unless purchased on sale.
- • Limited replayability for certain games after initial playthrough.
Rating Criteria
It’s the biggest Party Pack yet, including the return of the classic pop culture trivia mash-up YOU DON’T KNOW JACK: Full Stream; the game of hilarious hypotheticals Split the Room; the lyric-writing, robot rap battle Mad Verse City; the inventive drawing game Patently Stupid; and the outer space fling-fest Zeeple Dome.