During the years 2020 and 2021 the global Covid 19 pandemic upset in person meetings of essential support groups, like the UC Davis MIND Institute Social Skills where mid sized groups of children and teen with autism had a chance to come together to improve their skills at making friends and having two-sided interactive conversations. Some of the most successful online sessions were video game nights.
UC Davis MIND Institute Social Skills Group
Autistic Groups – Remote Party Game Nights
The programme providers kept members connected with each other to continue their social skills development by playing a selection of suitable games from the JackBox party pack to play over Zoom. The video game night was, very importantly, an organic continuation of the in person meetings of the already established groups. The participating teens had already practiced several key skills in their regular groups:
- reciprocal conversation
- appropriate use of humour
- taking turns in a conversation
The online game night kept practising the same skills through games, and, as a first, it was also an opportunity for the children to learn online etiquette, and playing a game together where humour, cheering each other on and practicing good sportsmanship were also in the focus. According to the autism programme leaders “the teens’ individual personality traits were not hindered by the online environment, even for the shy ones among them.”
Whatever online games or video games you find suitable for your support groups, special needs groups, scout, arts, sports etc. groups or family and friends, video games are a way to help to nurture a group during the lockdown weeks / months or as a spin off option besides regular group meetings.
If you are a group leader please let us know what recommendations you have for other support groups when it comes to trying to set up a successful online group game.
JackBox Party Pack Games
Jackbox Party Video Games
JackBox party pack games have become widely popular as the easiest to set up multiplayer video games that are platform free and controller free for most players (except for the host) The games in the JackBox Party games collections are in fact a variety of (board) video games that can be safely played in multiplayer settings. Players use their own smart phones, tablets, laptops or computers as controllers (console controllers can NOT be used) by connecting their smart devices as controllers via a website called Jackbox.tv. It is possible to play the game if only ONE of the players has a copy of the game title (all players need to have internet for a good remote game though). The owner of the game, the host, will send the private room code to the rest of the players (who need to visit jackbox.tv to log in), who log in on any smart device they have (no matter if it’s iPhone, Android, Linux, Windows, what have you). And there you go, voila, you are keeping your little community together even in – purely hypothetical – pandemic times. At the time of writing there are 7 different JackBox game packs available, each featuring 5 games (some are less entertaining, others are hilarious and easily re-playable).
Age Recommended: all Jackbox Party games are rated T (teen), but with the family filter enabled the games can be safely used from age 13, suitable for adolescents and young adults but not a great option for pre-teens (yet?)
Some of the best game titles in the Jackbox Party game series include (note: not all of them are autism friendly):
YOU DON’T KNOW JACK – perhaps one of the most popular is YDKJ in the Jackbox party game series, best for 4 players, fast paced, not suitable for streaming. Pick the latest sequel of YDNJ to avoid outdated questions (unless you have more mature players in your group / family). Good to know: Cookie the YDJK host is condescending towards the folks who get it wrong (voice acting is in American English and there are several US centric questions). Crude humour and mildly offensive words can also crop up here and there. Check the gameplay here for a short taster. No family friendly setting, mostly recommended from age 15+
FIBBAGE – popular mock trivia game where players need to be good at telling lies (also, ideally, to type / spell well), up to 8 group members can join. It includes 200 questions, may get repetitive after 30 minutes. Pick the latest sequel of Fibbage to avoid outdated trivia questions (unless you have more mature players in your group / family). Currently only Fibbage 3 has a family filter, so best recommended for 15+
DRAWFUL – hit and miss for a group, might be a flop or a huge success, no drawing skills required, just be ready to have fun, max 8 players in the group. There are 600 questions, great for longer game nights. No family friendly filter, perhaps best 15+
LIE SWATTER – one of the few games in the Jackbox game series designed for larger groups (8+), true or false games, perhaps best for family gatherings for 15+.
BIDIOTS – fast paced art bidding game – make amateur art on your phone, then vote for the best art piece. Inherently family friendly.
BOMB CORP. – a dangerous workplace where you are to defuse bombs randomly appearing in the office if you want to keep your jobs
EARWAX – sound effects game, with a wide array of decent and crude sounds, lots of potential for a good laugh. With the family filter on, it is family friendly.
QUIPLASH – voting for the best answer the players provide, quite popular with lots of sequels, mostly 3-8 players in a group. Inherently family friendly.
TRIVIA MURDER PARTY – classic Trivia game with a chilling theme, also has a sequel (number 2) which is better for non-US players as you can reduce the number of US-centred questions. Pick the latest sequel of Trivia Party Jackbox games to avoid questions that may feel obsolete (except if you have mature players in your group / family). Best for 14+ probably.
GUESSPIONAGE – guessing game about percentages of folks believing or doing something, 2-8 players. Inherently family friendly.
TEE K.O. – testing skills at designing the best T-shirt with the funniest punchlines, game for 3-8 friends. Inherently family friendly.
SURVIVE THE INTERNET – popular, fun – you’ll get a few prompts, then you promote the idea or person, but what you’re praising may not turn out to be what you had in mind based on the prompts. Enabling the family filter it is family friendly.
MONSTER SEEKING MONSTER – friends dating game, overall mechanics similar to Mafia or Werewolf. Not family-friendly.
BRACKETEERING – weaker game in the pack with very slow gameplay, usually not recommended. Inherently family friendly.
CIVIC DOODLE – improve the art of town murals. Inherently family friendly.
JOKE BOAT – mostly recommended for funny players / kids, otherwise the game boils down to a collection of flat jokes. Inherently family friendly.
DICTIONARIUM – the funniest made up dictionary definition wins. Inherently family friendly.
PUSH THE BUTTON – like Among US, you are eliminating the problem, this time aliens mixing into humans – can you jettison them out of the spaceship? Inherently family friendly.
THE DEVIL AND THE DETAILS – chaotic as many collaborative games (yelling and freaking out may happen). Inherently family friendly.
TALKING POINTS – wacky presentation game making you spontaneously making up your mind. Inherently family friendly.
BLATHER ‘ROUND (can be challenging for non native English speakers). Inherently family friendly.
If you want to share your opinion or experience using video games to keep your friends and folks together, any games, including Jackbox games or other party games to maintain group friendships, please use the comment section. Balanced guest / parent reviews are also more than welcome.