Alternative picks
We mine the library for gold. This month: must-play party games
JACKBOX PARTY PACK
Jess Kinghorn fights for her right to play This series has been an office favourite for some time. It’s hard to pick just one pack but favourites have emerged over the years: Quiplash taught us to give as good as we got, Survive The Internet taught us that anything can be a meme if you try hard enough, and Fibbage taught us never to trust ever again. As the games are playable from your smartphone, the series is great for good, potentially not-so-clean fun for the whole family.
HELLFRONT: HONEYMOON
Oscar Taylor-Kent will visit Hell for a party This might be the only strategy game that can light up a party. Played on one screen, up to four players must quickly build turrets and barracks and command their marines to overtake each other’s forces. Matches are fast and frantic, and plenty of maps ensure you keep wanting to try to get one up over the other players. There’s a coop challenge mode too, but it’s the quickfire PvP that gets any party popping.
ROCK BAND 4
Ian Dean asks for more cowbell
If you can find someone brave enough to take on vocals, and find all the peripherals, then there’s not a lot better than jamming through rock’s greatest hits with three friends. Rock Band 4 is Guitar Hero turned up to 11, and when it finally clicks remains one of PS4’s most unique things to do with lumps of plastic. Released five years ago it can be hard to find, but it’s well worth tracking down. Spandex is always optional.
HELLFRONT MIGHT BE THE ONLY STRATEGY GAME THAT CAN LIGHT UP A PARTY.