After the second round, the monster identity of each player began to be revealed one by one, which changed the dynamic of the dating scene further. Monster powers can impact hearts and alter scores. Everyone who hooked up got a heart, and the player with the most hearts at the end wins.Įven all of that is a bit complex for a party game, but Monster Seeking Monster had more in store. Successful hookups also had their text conversations shared with the entire audience, something which resulted in a few awkward moments, and required schemers to use a bit of tact when making their arrangements. Texts sent, you then pressed a button to say who you’d like to date, and if that same person decided to date you, success, you make suggestive faces and your portraits are ushered off the screen together for a night of… these were my co-workers, I’d honestly rather not think about that. In all honesty, this part of the game was confusing, highly restricted, and more than once resulted in frustrated players shouting across the room, “KAY, JUST DATE MEEEEEE!!!” You’re only able to send four texts, though, and the time for romance is short. Each round, you can send in-app text messages to other players, trying to convince them to go on a date with you. There’s quite a bit of variety, from puppets to zombies to body swappers, each with their own, unique power and goal. You enter a pseudonym, pick a portrait, and are told what kind of monster you are. We started off the party with Monster Seeking Monster, a surprisingly complex pseudo-dating game with a monstrous twist for three to seven players. Jackbox 4 comes prepared not only with new games, but with the ability for an even bigger group to play, one title allowing up to 16 people to play at the same time. This interface is simple and familiar, though we did experience a few glitches, from graphics routinely failing to load, to a device being kicked off the network without warning, simple things that will hopefully be patched up before launch.
Like all Jackbox games, the gaming console acts as a hub, while players interact with their smartphone, tablet, or computer by going to and entering the room code. Jackbox has become a fan favorite, and so we were elated when, this Friday, we settled in with sodas, snacks and four games from the Jackbox Party Pack 4 on the Nintendo Switch.
At the end of the week, we gather to test our wits, teamwork, and/or reflexes with all kinds of games, ranging from Cards Against Humanity to Snipperclips. Friday party games have become a team-bonding tradition in my office.