Choose The Jackbox Party Pack 8
Choose The Jackbox Party Pack 8 if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 1,027 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Jackbox Party Pack 8 vs The Jackbox Party Starter
The Jackbox Party Pack 8 and The Jackbox Party Starter both land in Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam. The Jackbox Party Pack 8 (2021) is 1 year older than The Jackbox Party Starter (2022). The Jackbox Party Starter scores higher on Steam reviews (93.1% positive) than The Jackbox Party Pack 8 (90.3% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose The Jackbox Party Starter
Choose The Jackbox Party Starter if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 93.1% positive across 173 reviews.
Both The Jackbox Party Pack 8 and The Jackbox Party Starter sit in Strategy, Indie, and Casual on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen PvP, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 The Jackbox Party Pack 8 |  The Jackbox Party Starter | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2022 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Casual | Strategy, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 90.3% positive (1,027 reviews) | 93.1% positive (173 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Jackbox Games, Inc. | Jackbox Games, Inc. |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam.
- The Jackbox Party Pack 8 (2021) is 1 year older than The Jackbox Party Starter (2022).
- The Jackbox Party Starter scores higher on Steam reviews (93.1% positive) than The Jackbox Party Pack 8 (90.3% positive).
- The Jackbox Party Starter is currently ~33% cheaper on Steam than The Jackbox Party Pack 8 (19.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Both are Deck Verified.
The Jackbox Party Pack 8 vs The Jackbox Party Starter — FAQ
- Which is better, The Jackbox Party Pack 8 or The Jackbox Party Starter?
- On Steam reviews The Jackbox Party Starter scores higher (93.1% positive) than The Jackbox Party Pack 8 (90.3% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, The Jackbox Party Starter is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play The Jackbox Party Pack 8 or The Jackbox Party Starter first?
- If you want chronology, The Jackbox Party Pack 8 (2021) came out before The Jackbox Party Starter (2022). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are The Jackbox Party Pack 8 and The Jackbox Party Starter similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Do both The Jackbox Party Pack 8 and The Jackbox Party Starter have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: The Jackbox Party Pack 8 ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op; The Jackbox Party Starter ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.
- Do The Jackbox Party Pack 8 and The Jackbox Party Starter both run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.