Jackbox Party Starter: I have twice as much fun in German – even though I can speak English

Especially in the Corona period, the jackbox games were something that my friends and I often entertained on the discord in the evening. Even though we couldn’t see each other, we were still able to interact a little with each other through this fun party game and throw inside jokes around in the many creative mini-games.

Am I a rotten potato?

One thing that bothered us about the games, however, was that they were all in English. The language itself wasn’t a big problem, each of us went to school and mostly gambles and watches in the western world language. And yet, in some places, it has resulted in a less-rounded gaming experience.

If you had to come up with funny answers to confusing questions, in which language would you intuitively do it with a group of German-speaking friends? Then when the game itself throws in an answer in English that you then have to guess, the language just ruined the first round for you. Well, at least now we know how to do it. Even though I’m fluent in English, it’s always easier for me if I can fill in the sentence gaps, t-shirt sayings or job applications in my native language.

The biggest problem, however, was that all the questions in trivia games were tailored for American players. How am I supposed to know how the school grading system works in the US or know any local celebrities? Only every third question can be answered by the average German potato. After eight small minigame collections, the Jackbox Games team has finally released a German version of the game.

And one that is not only translated, but also fully adapted to the German target group. There are three games included in this pack, each offering something from each jackbox category. Once Quiplash 3, where you have to fill in gaps in sentences or answer questions in a funny way, Tee KO, a game where you create T-shirts with your own sayings and motifs. Plus Trivia Murder Party 2, a quiz show where ignorance is punishable by death. All games that Jackbox fans already know from older versions.

I tried out this German version with a sizeable group of friends and I’m amazed at how much more fluid the whole experience is. Nobody has to ask for a word here and there and you just get the feeling that all the players are much more on an equal footing. We particularly enjoyed the quiz in the horror house and played the mini-game three or four times in a row. It’s also nice when everyone understands the questions and can do something with them.

A good mix of minigames with multiple language options

In the horror hotel, all players are asked the same question with the same four possible answers. Nothing happens to anyone who guesses correctly. However, if you guess wrong, you face a punishment where you can save your skin again. This can be math marathons, dictations and other unloved school tasks. But drawing the back tattoo that is most popular with your fellow players or a round of Quiplash 3 can save your behind again. And even if you’re only guessing as a skeleton, you can take over someone else’s body in the last round if you beat a body player in the trivia race.

Team KO looks the best visually, but has a small weakness. At the beginning everyone draws t-shirt designs. Once these have been handed in, it goes to the motivating or disturbing sayings. At the end, each player receives random motifs and slogans and puts together a t-shirt. You can also choose the color. Unfortunately, you create more motifs and sayings than are finally distributed and sent into the race. So some fun ideas get lost. The T-Shirts then compete against each other in a knockout round. A classic among jackbox games, Quiplash 3 consists of several rounds in which players evaluate the answers and sentence gap fillers of two other players.

Less relevant for me, maybe even more so for others: In addition to German, other languages ​​are also available. Here’s how to play the Party Starter Pack in English, French, Spanish, and Italian. I really really hope that it doesn’t just stay with this one translated version, because being able to play the mini-games in your own language makes the little party games more accessible on many levels. For getting started with Jackbox games, the Starter Pack is really the best. Can only recommend the game for game nights – whether online or offline.