You've been there. Everyone is slumped on the couch, staring at their own screens in silence, until someone finally asks if anyone wants to play a game. Then comes the inevitable groan. Nobody wants to dig through a dusty closet for a board game with missing pieces, and nobody wants to spend forty minutes explaining complex rules to your cousin who’s already three beers deep. This is exactly why games like jackbox that use phone controllers changed everything.
It’s the "low friction" factor. You don't need a stack of plastic peripherals or expensive proprietary controllers that inevitably drift or run out of batteries. You just need that glass rectangle already glued to your palm.
But here’s the thing: Jackbox isn't the only player in the room anymore.
The Evolution of the "Phone as a Controller" Mechanic
Back in the day, if you wanted to play a local multiplayer game, you needed a multitap or four expensive controllers. It was a barrier to entry. When AirConsole and Jackbox Games hit the scene, they realized that the most powerful gaming input device was already in the pocket of every person at the party.
Your phone isn't just a D-pad. It’s a drawing tablet. It’s a secret screen for hidden information. It’s a keyboard for typing in the weirdest inside jokes your brain can muster at 11:00 PM.
Honestly, the tech behind this is surprisingly elegant. Most of these games use a web-based relay. Your console or PC acts as the "host," and your phone connects to a specific URL (like Jackbox.tv or a dedicated app) using a four-letter room code. This bypasses the need for everyone to be on the same Wi-Fi network in some cases, though local latency is always better when you are.
Why AirConsole is the most direct rival
If you're looking for the closest thing to a "Netflix for party games," AirConsole is basically it. While Jackbox sells you packs—bundles of five games where you might only actually like three—AirConsole is a subscription-based platform.
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You open a browser on your smart TV or PC, and suddenly your phone is a steering wheel for a racing game or a button-masher for a sports sim. They have a massive library. Some of it is, frankly, filler. But games like TowerOfFate or The Neighborhood show exactly how much depth you can get out of a smartphone browser.
The coolest part? You can try it for free. Most people don't realize that. You won't get the full library, but you can see if your phone’s browser plays nice with the host screen before dropping any cash.
Looking Beyond the Party Pack Model
Not every game like Jackbox that uses phone connectivity comes in a neat little bundle. Some of the best experiences are standalone titles that decided the "phone-in-hand" approach was just better for gameplay.
Take Use Your Words. It’s often overshadowed by Quiplash, but it hits a different vibe. It uses vintage film clips and asks you to write the subtitles. It feels a bit more "adult" in its presentation—less cartoonish, more MST3K.
Then there’s Eon Altar. This one is a weird outlier but it’s brilliant. It’s a full-blown RPG. Usually, RPGs are a nightmare for local multiplayer because everyone wants to look at their stats without the whole room seeing them. Eon Altar solves this by putting your character sheet, your secret objectives, and your combat moves right on your phone. You look at the TV for the action and your phone for the strategy. It’s a genius use of the "second screen" concept that Nintendo tried to push with the Wii U, but, you know, actually successful because everyone already owns the hardware.
The Hidden Gems on Steam and Consoles
- Papa’s Quiz: This is a straightforward trivia game. It doesn't have the "wacky" edge of Murder Trivia Party, but it’s incredibly polished. If you have younger kids or a family that finds Jackbox a bit too cynical, this is the move.
- What The Dub?!: Similar to Use Your Words, but faster. You’re dubbing over missing dialogue in old public domain movies. It’s chaotic. It’s loud. It’s perfect for a group that’s already high-energy.
- Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes: While technically not a "phone controller" game in the web-browser sense, it thrives on the same energy. One person looks at a bomb on the screen. Everyone else looks at the "manual" on their phones. You have to communicate. If you can’t talk under pressure, your friendships will end. It’s great.
The Technical Hurdles Most People Ignore
We need to talk about the "browser refresh" problem. It’s the silent killer of game nights.
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When you're playing games like jackbox that use phone browsers, your phone loves to save battery by putting idle tabs to sleep. If you put your phone down to grab a slice of pizza, you might come back to find you've been disconnected.
Always tell your guests: disable "Auto-Lock" for the night.
Latency is the other big one. If you’re playing a game that requires twitch reflexes—like a racing game on AirConsole—even a half-second of lag between your phone and the TV makes the game unplayable. This is why the best "phone-controller" games are turn-based or text-based. They aren't reliant on 1:1 millisecond response times.
Is the "Phone Controller" Trend Dying?
Actually, it’s expanding. We’re seeing more "serious" developers look at this. Sony tried to make "PlayLink" a whole thing for the PS4 with games like Hidden Agenda and Knowledge is Power.
Hidden Agenda was fascinating because it was a gritty crime thriller from the developers of Until Dawn. You used your phone to vote on story choices and secretly influence the plot. It felt like a movie where the audience had the remote. Unfortunately, Sony stopped supporting the PlayLink app on newer versions of Android and iOS, which is a massive cautionary tale.
This is the risk: if the game relies on a dedicated app rather than a web browser, it has an expiration date.
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That’s why the web-based model used by Jackbox and its clones is superior. As long as a device has a basic HTML5 browser, the game stays playable. Ten years from now, your old iPhone 15 will still be able to play Drawful because it doesn't need a specialized app store update to function.
How to Host the Perfect Session
If you want to actually enjoy these games, don't just fire them up and hope for the best.
- Cast, don't just watch: If you're playing on a PC, use an HDMI cable to the TV. Don't try to "screen mirror" wirelessly from a laptop to a TV unless you have a beefy 5GHz connection. The lag will ruin the jokes.
- Audio matters: These games rely on music and announcers to keep the pace. If the TV speakers are tinny, the energy drops.
- Mix the genres: Don't do three drawing games in a row. People get "creative fatigue." Start with a trivia game to warm up the brain, move to a creative/writing game once the drinks are flowing, and end with something fast-paced.
The Verdict on the Current Market
The market for games like jackbox that use phone tech is currently split. You have the "High Production" side led by Jackbox Games, and the "Indie/Experimental" side found on platforms like Steam and itch.io.
If you're tired of the same old Jackbox prompts, look into Gartic Phone. It’s free. It’s browser-based. It’s basically "Telephone" mixed with "Pictionary." It doesn't have the flashy presentation of a paid product, but it generates more genuine belly laughs than almost any other game I’ve played in the last five years.
Also, don't sleep on Among Us. People forget it has a "local" mode. While it’s usually played online, sitting in a room with five friends and using your phones to lie to their faces is the peak of this genre.
The reality is that "social gaming" has moved away from the couch-bound plastic controller. We want games that meet us where we are. We are on our phones.
Next Steps for Your Game Night
- Check your hardware: Ensure your host device (PC, Console, or Smart TV) is updated and connected via Ethernet if possible.
- Audit your library: If you only own Jackbox Pack 3, consider picking up What The Dub?! or checking out the free version of AirConsole to vary the gameplay loop.
- Test the "Guest" Experience: Open your phone's browser and go to the game’s connection site before people arrive to ensure your router isn't blocking the relay ports.