The closest alternatives to Jackbox are Gartic Phone, which is free in the browser, and AirConsole, which turns phones into controllers. For a longer evening with a story, Escape & Chill (our game, with After Hours at the Museum) uses the same TV-and-phones idea for an escape game.
| Game | Price | Players | What you need | Remote play |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackbox Party Pack 10 | €29.99 on Steam (October 2026) | Up to 8 or 9 depending on the game, plus spectators | A computer or console connected to the TV, one phone each | With screen sharing |
| Gartic Phone | Free | 4 and up, works for big groups | A browser each | Yes |
| AirConsole | Free with ads, optional subscription | Varies by game | A computer or compatible TV, one phone each | Not stated by the publisher |
| Escape & Chill (our game) | First room free, then €9.99 (launch price until October 31, then €12.99), paid once | 1 to 4 | A browser on the TV or a connected computer, one phone each | Yes, each at home on a call |
Jackbox made a simple idea popular: the game appears on the TV, and each player answers from their phone, with no controller and no app to install. Trivia, drawing, bluffing, fill-in-the-blank: the rounds are short and work very well with six or eight people. But first you need to know how it works and what you need to play. Here is the setup, followed by other games that use the same idea.
We make a game on the TV ourselves, of a different kind (an escape game). It's presented separately at the end of this article, and marked as ours.
How does Jackbox work?
One person buys the game and launches it on a device connected to the TV: a computer (through Steam) or a console. The screen shows a room code. Players open jackbox.tv in their phone's browser, type the code and their name, and they're in. Their phone is used to type, draw or vote.
The games are sold in Party Packs of five games. On Steam in October 2026, the Party Pack 10 page and the Party Pack 11 page are each listed at €29.99. Depending on the game, up to 8 or 9 can play, and others can watch as spectators and vote.
Before you buy, check each pack's store page for its list of supported languages, because support varies from pack to pack.
Strengths and limits
Jackbox is hard to beat for kicking off a party: the rules take a minute to explain, rounds last about 15 minutes, and everyone plays at the same time. Spectators let you welcome a large group.
The limits come from the format. You need a computer or console near the TV. Each pack is bought separately. And these are party games: you laugh a lot, but there's no story and no progress from one game to the next.
The best alternatives to Jackbox
AirConsole: a console in the browser
AirConsole turns the TV into a console: you open the site on a computer or a compatible TV, and phones become controllers. The catalog mixes racing, sports, trivia and board games. You can play for free with ads, and a paid subscription unlocks the full catalog for the whole session. If you mostly want action games for several people, it's the most direct alternative.
Kahoot: a quiz you build yourself
Kahoot started in classrooms, but it works very well at parties. The host shows the quiz on the TV, and players answer on their phones with a code. You can use existing quizzes or build your own about your guests: a classic for a birthday or a farewell party. The basic version is free.
Couch Clues: a mystery on video
Couch Clues keeps the TV and the phones, but for a mystery: videos shot with actors play on the TV, and each player gets different information to solve the puzzles, for 2 to 5 players. We covered how it works in Couch Clues review and alternatives.
Party games without a screen
If you just want to laugh together, boxed party games do the job too, and need neither a TV nor Wi-Fi. Our game night ideas for adults cover several, depending on the size of the group.
Which one should you choose?
- A big group that wants to laugh: Jackbox, or Kahoot if you like making a custom quiz.
- Players who love action: AirConsole.
- A longer evening, with a story: a TV escape game, like Couch Clues.
- No TV or computer: a boxed game.
To compare these TV games with other ways to play at home (board games, printable kits), read our escape game at home comparison. For the setup, our guide how to play on your TV with your phone compares an HDMI cable, a smart TV and screen mirroring.
Escape & Chill (we make it)
We make Escape & Chill, which uses the same idea as Jackbox (the TV for everyone, one phone each) for an escape game. In After Hours at the Museum, the TV shows a 3D room, and each player searches it with their phone's flashlight and receives documents the others don't have. Nothing to install: a browser on the TV, or on a computer connected by HDMI, is enough.
| Jackbox | Escape & Chill | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Short party games | An escape game with a story |
| Players | Up to 8 or 9 depending on the game, plus spectators | 1 to 4 |
| Length | About 15 minutes per game | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| You need | A computer (Steam) or a console | A browser |
| To try it | Buy the pack | First room free |
The two go well together: Jackbox to open the evening with a big group, and an escape game when the group wants to play together for longer.