You know how sometimes you stumble on something and it just sticks with you? Like the smell of an old bookstore or that weird feeling when you walk alone in a silent hallway. That’s kinda how I’m feeling about the new Jackbox Party Pack 11. It’s not just a bunch of games—it’s like a collection of quirky adventures waiting to unfold on your Xbox this fall. Five new games, all buzzing with uniqueness. One’s about writing jokes. Another lets you doodle in the coziest way possible. There’s something with sound effects, a social deduction game for when you and your friends feel sneaky, and then there’s this thing called Legends of Trivia. It’s like trivia, but with a fantasy RPG twist. Imagine facing off against monsters just by answering questions. Sounds bizarre, right? But kind of brilliant!
I had a little chat—or maybe I just sat and listened—about this Legends of Trivia game with some of the creative minds behind it: Warren Arnold, the Game Director, Hector Padilla, the artisan of visual wonders, and Nate Sandberg who can probably make music out of thin air.
So, at its core, Legends of Trivia is like this: you and your buddies get trivia questions, and if you know your stuff, the monsters take a hit. Get it wrong, and, surprise, they retaliate. The key is teamwork, and to be labeled “Legendary,” you’ve gotta rack up points like a champ. Warren was all about how this one’s pretty ambitious, given all the smashing animations and balancing acts they’ve got going on. You know, heavy-duty stuff compared to past Jackbox concoctions.
And get this—Hector, the visual genius? He pitched the game idea ages ago, which is kinda wild. Made his first prototype five or six years back, and while everyone loved it, they had to shelve it for a while. But then, out of nowhere, Nate decides it’s time to dig up old dreams and voila! They formed a small team, and slowly but surely, they got the green light. It’s like finding an old treasure map, and then suddenly the pirate adventure kicks off.
Let’s talk inspirations. Nate’s all about the 8-bit magic of Final Fantasy—if you know, you know. He’s infused Legends of Trivia with a kaleidoscope of sounds: think analog synths mixed with lutes, and maybe the occasional Irish whistle. Meanwhile, Hector’s channeling the vibes of Pokémon’s art—Ken Sugimori’s legacy, to be exact. His struggle? Getting the UI and layouts just right. Relatable, huh?
Characters often become like family, don’t they? Hector’s favorite? Azura, The Princess Mage. He spent so much time animating her, it’s like she owns a piece of his heart now. A magical girl somewhere in there, surely? And of course, there’s Bingo, The Rogue Jester—clowns need some love too!
Nate’s all in for the soundscapes, of course. His highlight? Crafting the audio for this larger-than-life ogre boss riding a tiny donkey. Picture using xylophones for the donkey’s comical plods next to this booming ogre voice. Delightfully absurd, right?
And really, all they want is for players to feel wrapped up in the whimsy of it all, to make choices that feel important—even if it’s just for 20 minutes. Nate’s hoping the soundtracks linger with you like those memorable RPG tunes from yesteryears. I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be quite the nostalgic ride.
Keep your eyes peeled for The Jackbox Party Pack 11 this fall on Xbox. Follow Jackbox Games on Instagram and TikTok for more random bits of joy until it drops!
