Jackbox Games Helps Users Socialize Safely

Staying Connected During a Pandemic

As families and groups of friends around the world look for ways to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic, many are turning to online party games created by Jackbox Games Inc.

The privately held Chicago-based company was founded in 1995 and gained popularity with early internet computer games that taught history and pop culture facts to kids. For the past two decades, the brand has lagged behind many other video game platforms, but this year it has seen explosive growth. This rise in Jackbox’s popularity is in part because the company’s games can be played easily on Zoom (ZM), Google Hangouts (GOOGL), and other video chat platforms. As many continue to practice social distancing, Jackbox games provide an easy way for people to have fun virtually.

Surging User Numbers

Sales of video games, from Nintendo’s (NTDOY) Animal Crossing to Sony’s (SNE) The Last of Us Part II, have surged during the pandemic. However, Jackbox’s games are aimed at consumers who might not think of themselves as gamers, so the company has reached an even wider base than other video game companies during the pandemic.

During the early months of lockdowns, Jackbox’s total sales climbed by as much as 1000% compared to the same period last year. The company’s user numbers are even higher than its sales numbers, because one person can buy the game and invite others to play it for free. An estimated 110 million people played Jackbox games during the first three months of lockdowns in the US.

Jackbox Looks Ahead

Jackbox recently came out with its Party Pack 7 which costs $29.99 and includes some of its most popular games, like Quiplash, and several new titles. One of the new games generating buzz is called Talking Points, a game in which players take turns improvising speeches about random topics while other players pick slide photos to accompany the presentation.

In past years, Jackbox has seen its highest traffic during Thanksgiving and on New Year’s Eve. This year, if people are celebrating remotely, the holidays could be a time of record breaking user numbers for the company.

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