No stranger to the Jackbox Games brand of party game fun, I’ve been trying out their latest release, Murder Trivia Party 3. A general knowledge game for two or more players that looks unnervingly like the offspring of Tim Burton & Sackboy, you’ll engage in a battle of wits against fellow victims, sorry, players to escape the murderous clutches of a bloodthirsty Camp Director who’s imprisoned you at Camp Mass Acre. Only one will make it out alive, so just try to make sure it’s you.
Engaging in rounds of trivia knowledge against currently living players whilst building your score, it’s only a matter of time before someone slips up and gets punished. By punished, I mean they’ll have to engage in a mini-game that will see you face off against your fellow competitors. Dodge the chainsaw, guess the 5 letter word, poison drinks, all of these will end in at least one of you catching a severe case of death, often with an oddly juxtaposed cute yet horrific killing animation and turning into a ghost.
Ghosts aren’t immediately out of the game and can continue to build up score against those still living. After enough rounds to leave only a single competitor drawing breath, you’ll be faced with a final challenge, a dash to the escape vehicle whilst being chased by your chatty assailant. It’s here that ghosts have the opportunity to sap the life from the living and still escape or otherwise face the wrath of the captor.
Keep answering the multiple choice teasers correctly to stay ahead of your opponents and you’ll dive to the safety of the escaping pickup truck. Fail and you’ll falter, falling one step further behind and ever closer to the spinning blade of the buzzsaw strimmer hybrid monstrosity that will chop you up into puffs of fluff and textiles.
As ever, Jackbox Games have produced yet another darkly amusing and entertaining take on what could easily be quite a dry subject, applying their unique brand of multi-player genius in a way that I can’t help but find hugely appealing. Just like always, games are super simple to set up and easily allow up to 8 players to jump in using only your smartphone to conduct intellectual combat to prove just who has what it takes to escape the clutches of your murderous abductor.
Not all Jackbox games have been absolute bangers but Trivia Murder Party 3 has instantly gone into our family’s top 3 favourites. It’s the blend of straight up knowledge, quick-witted mini-games and just a little dash of blind luck that creates a compelling concoction that’s easy to grasp and has just enough competitive edge to keep you coming back for just one more round.
Be sure to pack your spare pants and general knowledge skills as Trivia Murder Party 3 comes to Steam and the Epic Store in early access on September 17th.
