Jackbox Party Pack 12 Announced: Here Are The Five New Games

Jackbox Games has officially unveiled the lineup for The Jackbox Party Pack 12. Coming to PS4 and PS5 this fall, the latest entry in the long-running series aims to focus on building deeper player connections through a fresh set of five party games.

The 12th Pack Lineup

The studio, which draws on its Chicago comedy roots to design its titles, has shared details on the five games arriving later this year:

• We Forgot a Card: Inspired by the cliches of last-minute greeting card shopping, players design cards for bizarre scenarios. The final round involves creating a talking plush to accompany the card.
• MegaPals: A word-association game where players submit as many related words as possible before the timer expires. Points are awarded for matching with others, encouraging players to get on the same wavelength.
• Idol Factions: A team-based sorting game where players must communicate quickly to categorize incoming words correctly. Game Director Warren Arnold notes this one is designed to get players "the right amount of stressed out."
• Debate and Switch: Set in a chaotic town hall, this game tasks players with forming and defending opinions on bizarre hypothetical topics. It also allows for player-created debate topics.
• Hyperface: Moving away from microphone-based gameplay, this title utilizes the phone’s camera. Players edit stock photos or their own selfies to create wild, squashed, or stretched results.

Refining the Party Experience

Studio Creative Director Arnie Niekamp emphasized that the team takes the "task of silliness" seriously, ensuring that every game is built to facilitate successful social gatherings. According to the development team, the goal for this specific collection is to encourage players to riff off each other's thought processes and engage in more collaborative, albeit chaotic, interactions.

While the studio has confirmed the PS4 and PS5 releases for this fall, players can expect the usual high-touch approach to design that has defined the series. Whether it's smudging faces in Hyperface or arguing over whether a term belongs in a "Cheese" category in Idol Factions, the pack aims to keep the focus squarely on the players' creative inputs.