Catch up on the essentials
- A worthwhile pickup at $9.99 for anyone planning to play with a friend or two, and a fair solo dive if you don't mind slower matchmaking and self-directed exploration.
- Pick this up if you want a breezy open-world hacking playground that rewards experimenting with gadgets alongside a friend, and you can stomach a required Ubisoft launcher account.
- A solid pick for groups that already own few Jackbox packs and want fresh prompts, but veterans may find four of the five games skippable.
Selected from this article · 2026-10-06
Read on for the full picture01REMNANT II® is a great co-op souls-like adventure for friends who enjoy varied runs and tough boss hunts together
STEAM DEAL · 80% OFF
REMNANT II®
A worthwhile pickup at $9.99 for anyone planning to play with a friend or two, and a fair solo dive if you don't mind slower matchmaking and self-directed exploration. The big discount makes the grind easier to stomach, but expect a steep learning curve and some rough edges.
Game highlights
Designed around three-player co-op
The store page bills the experience as solo or three-player co-op across multiple worlds overrun by mythical creatures. Player accounts back this up, repeatedly framing the toughest fights as a team activity and pointing out that without a comms channel, voice chat with friends is the intended setup. Going random carries risk of miscommunication, so the game really rewards scheduling regular sessions with the same squad.
Procedurally remixed worlds and dungeons
Official details describe dynamically generated dungeons and branching quest lines across multiple worlds, with rewards tied to in-run choices. Reviewers echo this by describing unique playthroughs where encounters, world stories, and side arcs swap between runs, making a second or third campaign feel meaningfully different rather than a repeat tour.
Build-crafting through the Archetype system
The store page highlights an expanded Archetype system with passive bonuses, stunning powers, and multi-Archetype loadouts. Players describe leaning into specific roles such as support or tank and then mixing archetypes later, which keeps build experimentation lively across multiple campaigns and supports varied co-op roles.
Chunky storage and mid-to-high PC requirements
Reviewers flag the install as a sizable download and the system demands as on the heavier side for a shooter-RPG, with one helpful breakdown labeling the difficulty as requiring real brain usage and the install as capable of eating a noticeable slice of a 1TB drive. Plan disk space and a reasonably modern rig before inviting the group over.
What players are saying
What keeps coming up positively
- Combat feel and boss design are repeatedly called satisfying, with timing-based dodges and ranged-melee mixups that reward practice
- Co-op with friends is the standout mode, with multiple players reporting hundreds of hours sunk in coordinated sessions
- Replay value is strong because world layouts, side stories, and rewards shift between playthroughs
- Build variety from Archetypes and weapon/mutator combos makes experimentation across runs a real draw
Where the friction shows
- Multiple long-time players report save or progress resets after crashes or sessions ending at specific zones, sometimes forcing a fresh character
- Several reviews describe hidden secrets and progression steps that feel like wiki-checklist chores rather than organic discovery
- Performance complaints from other posts mention frame drops, traversal glitches, and inconsistent enemy audio cues
- Some co-op missions draw sharp criticism for frustrating puzzle or escort design that drags down otherwise strong content
Is it worth buying?
At $9.99 versus a $49.99 regular price, the 80% off discount is a fair entry point for a group that can commit to regular co-op nights and three full campaigns. Solo players get a complete experience but lose some of the chaos that makes the price a special no-brainer, and anyone wary of save-loss bugs should weigh that risk before inviting a friend whose machine may crash mid-run.
Price checked 2026-10-06：$9.99，down from $49.99（80% off）。Player-fit tags
Good fit
- Friends scheduling regular three-player co-op nights who want varied runs and boss hunts
- Players who enjoy souls-like combat with shooter mechanics and like replaying campaigns
- Build enthusiasts who want to experiment with Archetype combinations across multiple playthroughs
- Solo explorers who don't mind self-directed progression without matchmaking chatter
- Players with a modern PC and free disk space who want long-term co-op value from one purchase
Probably not for you
- Anyone needing a relaxed, low-pressure session, since difficulty spikes and boss pressure keep winding up
- Players who hate wiki-driven progression and want every secret discoverable in-game
- Groups larger than three, since co-op caps at that size
- Buyers expecting polished performance across long play sessions, given recurring frame, audio, and traversal complaints
02Watch_Dogs® 2 review: sunny San Francisco co-op sandbox where hackers turn city gadgets into chaotic puzzles
STEAM DEAL · 95% OFF
Watch_Dogs® 2
Pick this up if you want a breezy open-world hacking playground that rewards experimenting with gadgets alongside a friend, and you can stomach a required Ubisoft launcher account. Skip it if Linux/Steam Deck play or a tight, serious story is your priority.
Game highlights
San Francisco open-world built for gadget chaos
Players drop into the San Francisco Bay Area as Marcus Holloway, a young hacker joining DedSec to take down ctOS 2.0. Every connected device in the city is a potential tool, so chasing objectives through traffic systems, cranes, and city infrastructure becomes the core toybox. The map is designed for sandbox experimentation rather than corridor shooting, so wandering with the RC car and quadcopter often beats going in loud.
Co-op and adversarial multiplayer baked in
The game ships with co-op modes and seamless multiplayer so you can run missions or free-roam chaos with friends without juggling separate apps. Season Pass content, which is included in the Gold Edition here, adds co-op difficulty modes and customization, but the base co-op is the real draw for groups. Solo play is fully supported, but the social layer is clearly a first-class feature.
Skill tree, 3D-printed weapons, and remote gadgets
Hacking tools include an RC car, a quadcopter drone, 3D printed weapons, and a wider skill tree you can shape to your style. Stealth, non-lethal takedowns, and remote disruption are all viable, so two players solving the same objective can take completely different paths. There is real variety in how you approach missions, which keeps experimentation rewarding across a long playthrough.
Optional Tobii eye tracking for target selection
Compatible Tobii Eye Tracking hardware can use your gaze to highlight enemies, pick cover, and snap to hackable objects, layering an extra control option on top of the controller and mouse schemes. It is purely optional and does not gate progression, but it gives curious players a reason to revisit the campaign with a different input style.
Season Pass content bundled in Gold Edition
The Gold Edition listed here bundles the Deluxe Pack with the Season Pass, adding hours of extra missions, outfits, vehicles, and co-op difficulty options on top of the base game. It is a meaningful pile of content for players who plan to stick around after the main story, and it removes the usual post-launch paywall for new missions.
What players are saying
What keeps coming up positively
- Players repeatedly call out the hacking sandbox as the highlight, especially setting up chain reactions between cops and gangs while downloading objectives from rooftops.
- The Bay Area setting and lighter tone are widely preferred over the first game's grim revenge plot, with many returning players calling it their favorite childhood sandbox.
- Non-lethal stealth and gadget-based mission solving are praised for letting players avoid gunplay entirely when they want to.
- Co-op is frequently mentioned as the feature that keeps the game alive years after launch, with groups running free-roam chaos together.
Where the friction shows
- A persistent sky-flicker and lighting glitch on RTX/NVIDIA hardware is reported across many recent reviews, sometimes tanking performance until a manual fix is applied.
- The mandatory Ubisoft launcher and online account requirement causes friction, including account suspensions, Linux/Steam Deck incompatibility, and loss of access if the Ubisoft account is closed.
- Many players find the DedSec cast and tone cringeworthy, contrasting sharply with the first game's more grounded protagonist and story.
- The Ubisoft open-world formula with towers, collectibles, and resource gathering is criticized as repetitive and grindy once the story loses momentum.
Is it worth buying?
At $2.49 versus a $49.99 regular price (95% off, observed 2026-10-06), the dollar risk is small if your hardware is friendly and you accept the launcher. Wait only if you specifically want a deep discount on the Season Pass version, or if you need to verify that the RTX sky-flicker workaround works on your setup before committing.
Price checked 2026-10-06：$2.49，down from $49.99（95% off）。Player-fit tags
Good fit
- Friends who want a co-op sandbox to mess around in for hours without strict mission pacing
- Players who enjoy experimenting with gadgets and creative chain-reaction hacks over straight gunfights
- Returning open-world fans curious about a lighter, more colorful take on the Watch_Dogs formula
- Tinkerers with Tobii eye-tracking hardware who want extra input options layered onto hacking
- Story-skippers who mostly want free-roam chaos and mini-game collectibles between co-op sessions
Probably not for you
- Linux or Steam Deck players, because the mandatory Ubisoft launcher and anti-cheat make it unplayable on those systems
- Players who want a serious, grounded revenge story rather than a quippy, meme-heavy cast
- Owners of RTX NVIDIA cards unwilling to apply community workarounds for the sky-flicker and lighting bug
- Anyone opposed to required third-party launcher accounts that can lock you out of a purchased Steam game
- Solo-only players hoping for a tight, linear narrative, since the best content leans on co-op experimentation
03Hunt: Showdown 1896 review: brutal extraction co-op with sound-driven PvPvE that rewards patient team play
STEAM DEAL · 60% OFF
Hunt: Showdown 1896
If you and a couple of friends can stomach a steep early-hours learning curve and don't mind losing your hunter over and over, Hunt: Showdown 1896 at $11.99 delivers a genuinely tense extraction shooter; just be ready for rough edges that veterans regularly complain about.
Game highlights
Extraction PvPvE built around bounty runs
Hunt: Showdown 1896 drops you into corrupted 1890s backwaters with your squad to track monsters, collect a bounty, and extract before other hunters kill you for it. Every player is competing for the same prize, so even monster kills can be riddled with hostile PvP contact. The official pitch leans hard into 'every second matters, every bullet counts' tension rather than arcade pacing.
Sound design as a core gameplay pillar
The developer description repeatedly calls out audio as vital: creaking floorboards, reloading clinks, barking dogs, and monster warning cries all feed into how you read a fight. Because combat is balanced so anyone has a fair chance, the player who hears first often wins, which makes headsets feel mandatory rather than optional. Pair that with transformable weather across four large maps and you get a lot of readable, changing terrain to learn.
Deep loadout tinkering in a streamlined inventory
Weapons, gear, and tools cover a wide spectrum, from period-accurate firearms to improvised hammers, Beetles, and Tarot Cards. The official copy stresses lightweight inventory management so you stay focused on the fight instead of menuing. Multiple reviews highlight building your own kit to match your style as a long-term hook, with hundreds of unlocks and Hunter variants to chase.
Solo play exists, but co-op is the design center
Duos and trios are explicitly framed as 'another pair of eyes can be the difference between life and death,' and the Steam category list calls out Online Co-op and Co-op alongside PvP. Solo is offered as a harder challenge you take 'when you're ready.' If you're primarily looking to queue with friends, the design intent lines up with that goal.
Seasonal cadence with cosmetic and event grind
Seasons bring fresh map changes, weather conditions, and event tracks, and Crytek runs battle passes and Blood Bonds cosmetics on top. Several recent reviews flag this loop as 'farm points, unlock the same recycled skins, finish a shallow battle pass,' so the seasonal treadmill is real and is something to factor into your budget of attention.
What players are saying
What keeps coming up positively
- Group play in duos and trios is repeatedly described as the intended and most rewarding way to experience matches, with comms and shared bounty extraction being a major hook.
- Sound design, atmosphere, and the tense, gothic Western mood are called out as standout strengths that make fights feel uniquely punishing.
- Long-term progression through hunter unlocks, loadout variety, and learning the maps keeps players engaged across hundreds of hours once the basics click.
Where the friction shows
- Cheating, wall-tracking, and high-MMR ping abuse from non-region-locked players are the most consistent complaints, with multiple veteran reviewers saying it drove them to uninstall.
- Monetization around Blood Bonds, paid story content, and cosmetic FOMO loops is regularly criticized as predatory, especially when stacked on top of grinding for ranks.
- Stability issues including crashes, anti-cheat launch failures, and reconnect problems are mentioned often enough to be a real friction point.
- The onboarding is steep and punishing, and several reviewers note the opening hours feel miserable before the game 'clicks' for new squads.
Is it worth buying?
At $11.99 versus $29.99 (60% off) this is a noticeably cheaper entry than the usual price, which helps offset the steep learning curve and the patience required to grind a hunter back up after losing one. If you're buying specifically to play co-op with a regular group, the value is solid; if you're solo or hoping for casual drop-in matches, the friction reviewers describe makes the discount less compelling. Cheating complaints are loud but skew toward high-MMR lobbies, so lower-ranked play is generally less painful.
Price checked 2026-10-06：$11.99，down from $29.99（60% off）。Player-fit tags
Good fit
- Patient duos or trios who want tense, communication-heavy extraction runs together
- Players who enjoy audio-focused PvPvE and don't mind losing their hunter repeatedly while learning
- Groups willing to push through a steep opening curve for a long-tail, map-and-loadout mastery game
- Cosmetic hunters who like seasonal battle passes and Blood Bonds unlocks as a side progression layer
- Veterans of hardcore shooters who want slower, deliberate gunfights rather than arcade pacing
Probably not for you
- Anyone unwilling to grind through a brutal onboarding where most early matches end in quick losses
- Solo-only players without a reliable duo or trio, since co-op is clearly the intended experience
- Players sensitive to cheating, high-MMR ping abuse, or unstable sessions with crashes and anti-cheat launch issues
- Anyone who dislikes cosmetic monetization, FOMO timers, or paying Blood Bonds for story content
04No Man's Sky on Steam: massive procedural space sandbox for explorers, builders, and co-op friends
STEAM DEAL · 60% OFF
No Man's Sky
A sprawling procedurally generated space sandbox that pays off patient solo explorers and small co-op crews, especially at this discount. Expect a real learning curve early and resource-driven repetition throughout.
Game highlights
Procedural exploration across a shared galaxy
The game drops you into a procedurally generated universe with seamless travel from deep space to planet surfaces and no loading screens. Planets, lifeforms, and landmarks are unique to each player and every other explorer lives in the same galaxy. Players can opt in to sharing discoveries on a shared map of known space and run into the consequences of other Travelers' actions.
Multiple role paths, not a single track
Official materials lay out fighter, trader, and explorer identities along with pirate, builder, and farmer options, and player write-ups echo that breadth. You can upgrade ship, suit, and weapons, command an armada, pilot a Corvette with friends, or simply wander. Several long-time players explicitly call out the ability to do whatever you feel like doing in a given session.
Free updates and no microtransaction pressure
Years of post-launch updates through Foundation, NEXT, BEYOND, ORIGINS, WAYPOINT, VOYAGERS, COSMOS and more are folded into the base product, with cross-play and cross-save across PC, console, Switch, VR, and Steam Deck. Reviewers repeatedly highlight the absence of paid DLC, battle passes, or paid cosmetics. The ongoing cadence is widely cited as the main reason the game still feels alive.
Co-op is real, but with friction
Official categories include Online Co-op, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, and shared Corvettes, and several helpful reviews describe bonding with a partner, child, or sibling in the same galaxy. However, a recurring negative review and other reports flag multiplayer friction: personalized base computers, terraforming tools that undo each other, and ships that friends cannot enter together in some modes.
Onboarding and repetition are the real costs
Several helpful reviews and the negative review loop both call out a weak or opaque tutorial before the game opens up. Resource gathering, base building inputs, and progression loops are described as broad but shallow, with heavy repetition and weak reasons to engage once the novelty wears thin. Players who push past the first hours usually report dozens to hundreds of hours, but a smaller group quits citing grind and a lack of meaningful endgame goals.
What players are saying
What keeps coming up positively
- The sheer breadth of activities - exploration, base building, fleet command, pet taming, fishing, piracy - keeps sessions from feeling scripted
- Seamless space-to-surface traversal and continually surprising procedural planets draw players back for hundreds of hours
- A decade of free major updates with no battle passes, paid DLC, or paid cosmetics is treated as remarkable and rewarding loyalty
- Co-op play with a partner, child, or sibling is repeatedly described as memorable, with cross-play and cross-save making grouping easy across hardware
Where the friction shows
- The early-game tutorial is thin, so core mechanics like inventory, survival, or base building have to be learned through trial and error
- Resource gathering and crafting loops become repetitive, with several players describing the progression as a grind
- Multiplayer has known friction: personalized base computers, terraforming edits that undo each other, and ships friends cannot board in some modes
- Many game systems are broad but shallow, leaving players without a clear extrinsic goal or reason to keep engaging after the novelty fades
Is it worth buying?
At $23.99 against a $59.99 regular price (60% off on Steam as of 2026-10-06), the price is reasonable for a game with this much content and free updates, but it is not flagged as an all-time low. Solo players who enjoy exploration and can tolerate repetition get strong value, while co-op-curious buyers should weigh the documented multiplayer quirks before committing.
Price checked 2026-10-06：$23.99，down from $59.99（60% off）。Player-fit tags
Good fit
- Players who enjoy self-directed exploration and will wander a procedural galaxy without needing a checklist
- Small co-op groups of two to four who want shared bases, Corvettes, or planet tours across PC, console, Switch, and Steam Deck
- Creative builders and tinkerers who like sandbox bases, fleets, and light terraforming even with imperfect tools
- Patient gamers willing to push past a weak tutorial to discover the breadth of mechanics at their own pace
- Long-haul players who appreciate free major updates over many years rather than a finished-at-launch experience
Probably not for you
- Players who want deep, directed progression or a strong extrinsic endgame goal
- Anyone expecting polished, friction-free co-op base building and shared spaceship ownership
- Players who dislike resource gathering and crafting loops, since repetition is a recurring complaint
- Gamers who need a strong tutorial or clear objective guidance from minute one
- Players who want a tightly curated singleplayer campaign instead of an open-ended sandbox
05Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon® Breakpoint: tactical open-world co-op shooter with deep customization and drone-driven stealth for friend groups
STEAM DEAL · 80% OFF
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon® Breakpoint
Worth picking up if you have a steady squad of three or four friends who like tactical shooters, but solo players should temper expectations about grind and endgame pacing.
Game highlights
Open-world tactical sandbox
The game ships as a tactical third-person shooter set across a vast open island where players choose between stealth and direct assault. Drones, gadgets, varied terrain, and enemy bases reward planning over run-and-gun, which lines up with what most players call the core appeal.
Customizable Ghost builds
Character creation spans thousands of cosmetic combinations and the gear loop supports looting and crafting loadouts as you push further behind enemy lines. Players note that finding and tuning weapons is one of the more satisfying long-term hooks.
Persistent co-op progression
Official multiplayer support covers campaign, PvP Ghost War, and endgame content with a single character carrying skills, weapons, and customizations across every mode. Grouping with the same squad keeps progression shared and reduces the worst of the solo pacing problems.
Edition content for cheap
The store page lists Ultimate, Gold, and Deluxe editions stacking the base campaign with the Year 1 Pass, Infiltration Pack, and Ultimate Pack. At the current 80 percent discount, even the higher tiers land at a low price, which softens the sting of the bundled DLC structure.
Drone and high-tech toolset
Piloting recon and attack drones, scouting enemy positions, and coordinating gadget use with teammates are central to clearing tougher bases. Multiple reviews cite drone play as the moment Breakpoint clicks tactically.
What players are saying
What keeps coming up positively
- Co-op campaign missions with friends feel like the intended way to play and carry most of the long-term fun.
- Gunplay, weapon variety, and customization depth hold up well even years after launch.
- The island itself is visually strong and offers enough biome variety to keep traversal interesting.
- At deep discounts, players widely agree the value flips from poor to genuinely worth a try.
Where the friction shows
- Always-online requirement and Ubisoft server outages repeatedly lock players out, including in single-player.
- The base package only covers episode 1, pushing episodes 2 and 3 behind paid DLC that many feel was misleading.
- Gear score and progression loops create a noticeable grind, especially when pushed toward group content.
- AI teammates feel tacked on compared with the co-op experience, and AI behavior draws frequent complaints.
Is it worth buying?
At $11.99 against a $59.99 regular price, the base game sits at an 80 percent discount. That pricing makes sense for squad-based players who specifically want a long co-op shooter, while solo players without a group should weigh the always-online requirement and grind before paying anything above the deepest sale tiers.
Price checked 2026-10-06：$11.99，down from $59.99（80% off）。Player-fit tags
Good fit
- Three- or four-player friend squads planning weekly tactical co-op sessions
- Players who enjoy methodical stealth, drone scouting, and base-infiltration planning
- Gunplay-focused players who like deep weapon customization and loot progression
- Tactical shooter fans who already played Wildlands and want the next entry with friends
- Players with a stable internet connection and no plans to play offline
Probably not for you
- Solo players without a regular squad, since endgame pacing and gear score assume group play
- Anyone needing offline or unreliable-internet play, because the always-online check blocks the title screen
- Players averse to gear-score grind and repeated resource gathering loops
- Buyers who want the full story in the base purchase, since episodes 2 and 3 sit behind paid DLC
- Anyone uncomfortable with the risk of Ubisoft servers or launcher access removing access later
06Street Fighter™ 6 for couch co-op: ranked netplay, Modern controls, and a steep DLC grind to watch out for
STEAM DEAL · 60% OFF
Street Fighter™ 6
Street Fighter™ 6 is one of the most polished fighting games you can buy today, and the discounted base package is a smart pick if you mainly want to play local versus or ranked with a small friend group. Just know that expanding the roster past 18 fighters through character passes quickly stacks up, so budget accordingly if your circle wants the full lineup.
Game highlights
Three distinct modes for solo, ranked, and hangout play
The official description outlines World Tour as an immersive single-player story mode where your custom avatar explores Metro City and learns from Masters, Fighting Ground for classic versus and training, and Battle Hub as a shared online lobby with classic Capcom arcade cabinets. That split gives casual groups a clear destination for couch sessions, solo players a long RPG-style campaign, and competitive players a home in ranked matches. There is genuine breadth here beyond just picking a character and queueing online.
Three control types make the entry barrier noticeably lower
Official materials confirm Classic, Modern, and Dynamic control schemes are built into every match. Modern lets beginners pull off special moves with simplified inputs, while Dynamic handles combos automatically for newcomers who just want to play. Classic preserves the traditional six-button layout for veterans. Pair that with the Real Time Commentary Feature that explains your gameplay, and the on-ramp for first-time fighting game players is genuinely friendlier than most in the genre.
Cross-platform multiplayer and shared screen PvP
Steam categories list Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online PvP, Shared/Split Screen PvP, and Shared/Split Screen alongside Steam Achievements, Trading Cards, and Cloud saves. Practically, that means two people on one PC can play side by side without any setup headaches, while anyone in your group on console can still queue against you online. It is a rare fighting game that handles both couch and long-distance rivalries without friction.
Drive Gauge and 18 redesigned fighters anchor the core combat
The Drive Gauge is positioned as a central resource to manage each round, layered on top of the base roster of Ryu, Chun-Li, Luke, Jamie, Kimberly, and other returning or new faces. Each launch fighter gets striking new redesigns and cinematic specials, and the whole package runs on Capcom's RE ENGINE. This is the system your friend group will be learning together, so expect a long climb before matches feel intuitive.
Adjustable difficulty and Steam Cloud convenience
Store categories confirm Adjustable Difficulty, Custom Volume Controls, Camera Comfort, Save Anytime, and Steam Cloud support. Training Mode in Fighting Ground is also where most players spend their first dozen hours, since practicing combos and Drive System interactions against DLC characters is a known friction point reviewers flag. Having cloud saves means your control settings and training progress carry between sessions cleanly.
What players are saying
What keeps coming up positively
- The combat system feels polished, responsive, and easy to recommend as a competitive fighting game.
- Modern controls and the new control options genuinely lower the barrier for players new to the genre.
- Online netplay and cross-platform play make it easy to find matches with friends regardless of hardware.
- Battle Hub offers a fun social space with classic Capcom arcade cabinets to hang out in between sets.
Where the friction shows
- DLC character passes and individual fighter prices add up fast, with no in-game way to grind coins for new fighters.
- Paid costumes and color variants for base-game outfits feel exploitative to many long-time series fans.
- Balance patches and new stages arrive far slower than in earlier Street Fighter titles, frustrating active players.
- Training mode does not let you practice freely against DLC characters you have not purchased, which limits matchup learning.
Is it worth buying?
At $15.99 against a $39.99 regular price, the base game is a strong pickup for anyone planning to stick to the 18 launch fighters and local versus. If your friend group only plays one or two characters each, there is no immediate pressure to buy a character pass. The math changes fast once anyone wants Akuma, Sagat, or the Year 3 and Year 4 additions, since each pass sits around $39.99 and there is no free unlock path. Treat the discount as covering the core game only, and decide on DLC after you have logged real hours.
Price checked 2026-10-06：$15.99，down from $39.99（60% off）。Player-fit tags
Good fit
- Friends who want a reliable local versus fighter with shared split-screen support
- Players introducing non-fighting-game friends thanks to Modern and Dynamic control types
- Small competitive groups planning to grind ranked online together across platforms
- Solo players who want a long single-player World Tour campaign before touching multiplayer
- Collectors who enjoy the Battle Hub social lobby and classic Capcom arcade cabinets
Probably not for you
- Players who want every character unlocked out of the box without paying for passes
- Anyone expecting free balance patches and frequent new stages like earlier Street Fighter entries
- Solo players with no interest in online or local versus matches
- Fighting game newcomers who refuse to spend time in Training Mode learning matchups
- Budget-conscious players in regions where DLC pricing feels especially punishing
07The Jackbox Party Pack 9 review: phone-driven party games shine brightest with Fibbage 4 for friend groups
STEAM DEAL · 45% OFF
The Jackbox Party Pack 9
A solid pick for groups that already own few Jackbox packs and want fresh prompts, but veterans may find four of the five games skippable. The current 45% discount makes it easier to justify if Fibbage 4 alone sounds worth $16.49.
Game highlights
Five games, phone-based play, up to 10 players plus 10,000 audience members
The pack ships five distinct titles: Fibbage 4 (2-8 players), Quixort (1-10 players), Junktopia (3-8 players), Nonsensory (3-8 players), and Roomerang (4-9 players). Everyone joins from a browser on their phone or tablet, so no extra controllers are needed, which is the core appeal for hosting. Audience members can also join and sway outcomes, which streamers lean on heavily.
Fibbage 4 is the clear anchor
Multiple reviewers treat Fibbage as the reason to buy and the rest as filler, citing video questions, the Enough About You mode, and fan-submitted prompts. Reviewers who already enjoy Fibbage call this entry a worthwhile refinement of a familiar format. One reviewer bluntly states Fibbage carries the entire pack on its own.
Junktopia and Nonsensory offer novel prompts with familiar structure
Junktopia asks players to invent backstories for strange objects and get them appraised, similar in spirit to the invent-and-sell loop from an earlier Jackbox pack. Nonsensory is a drawing, writing, and guessing game where you guess where prompts rank on silly scales. Reviewers found both functional but not standout, with Nonsensory generally faring better than Junktopia in informal rankings.
Quixort is a quirky solo-or-team trivia sorter
Quixort lets one player sort alone or a team sort falling answers into order before they hit the floor, mixing reflexes with trivia knowledge. It stands out as the pack's only true single-player option and gets a thumbs-up from several reviewers who like the sorting twist. Group play relies on shared screens and quick coordination.
Remote play works, but matchmaking is on you
There is no built-in online matchmaking; remote sessions require screen-sharing through Zoom, Discord, Steam Broadcast, or similar tools. Several reviewers highlight the phone-join system as a genuinely novel hook, especially for mixed-language families once localization arrived. Expect to manage invites, audio sharing, and a host screen yourself.
What players are saying
What keeps coming up positively
- Fibbage 4 is repeatedly singled out as the strongest entry and the main reason to pick up this pack
- Phone-based joining is praised as a clever, friction-free hook that impresses new players
- Short round lengths make the pack friendly for come-and-go gatherings where people drift in and out
- Language localization after launch was a welcome addition for Spanish-speaking households
Where the friction shows
- Several reviewers say the non-Fibbage games are mid and rarely get chosen once other packs are on the shelf
- Roomerang's roleplay hook falls flat if any player refuses to lean in, since the game cannot punish flat answers
- The install size is a recurring joke and occasional complaint, with reviewers calling the footprint unreasonably large
- Some players feel this pack is weaker than earlier entries and would prioritize buying older packs first
Is it worth buying?
At $16.49 USD (45% off the $29.99 regular price) it is a fair buy for groups who want fresh material and specifically want Fibbage 4, or for newer Jackbox owners building a small rotation. Veterans who already own several packs may find only one or two games worth queuing up, so waiting for a deeper sale is reasonable if you are not a Fibbage completist.
Price checked 2026-10-06：$16.49，down from $29.99（45% off）。Player-fit tags
Good fit
- Friend groups looking for a low-friction party game that needs only phones and one shared screen
- Hosts who want short rounds that handle players trickling in and out over an evening
- Families who value post-launch localization and need English, Spanish, French, Italian, or German support
- Solo players who want Quixort's single-player sorting mode between group sessions
- Streamers who want the 10,000-audience-member feature to let viewers sway outcomes
Probably not for you
- Hardcore Jackbox collectors who already own most packs and report rarely choosing these five
- Players who want built-in online matchmaking rather than juggling Discord or Zoom invites
- Anyone expecting five equal hits, since reviewers consistently rank four of the five games below Fibbage 4
- Groups where several members refuse to roleplay, since Roomerang loses its hook without willing participants
08The Elder Scrolls® Online: a friend-friendly Elder Scrolls MMO for players who love to quest through Tamriel together
STEAM DEAL · 75% OFF
The Elder Scrolls® Online
At $4.99 against a $19.99 list price, the base bundle is a strong pickup for friend groups who want a deep Elder Scrolls sandbox to roam together, but anyone planning to stick around should plan on paying for ESO Plus or buying Chapters, because inventory pressure and paid mounts make a free-to-roam experience painful fast.
Game highlights
Friend-first co-op across a massive Tamriel
Official multiplayer and co-op support sit alongside PvP and PvE zones across Tamriel, from Morrowind's mushroom forests to Oblivion gates, giving a friend group endless backdrops to quest through together. Reviewers consistently frame ESO as a game best enjoyed with companions, leveling, crafting, and queuing as a group. Players can join up to five guilds at once, which makes it easy to find people to run content with even outside a fixed group.
Story-first design for a solo or paired player inside the MMO
The official pitch leans hard on Elder Scrolls storytelling and voiced quests, and reviewers back that up, calling the writing and voice acting a genuine strength. Even players who do not love traditional MMOs say it can be played like a single-player RPG at your own pace. The combination of a 1,000-year-pre-Skyrim setting and quarterly Seasons-style content drops keeps the lore feed steady.
Huge world with tons of activities beyond combat
Questing, crafting, housing, world bosses, large-scale Cyrodiil PvP, and dungeons give groups a long checklist. Reviewers call out the enormous map, entertaining quest writing, smooth controls, consistently good music, and strong city design with real verticality. There is essentially always something to do, which is why long-term players report thousands of hours without running out.
Cyrodiil PvP as a friendly on-ramp
Large-scale Alliance War PvP in Cyrodiil is repeatedly called some of the best large-scale PvP in a mainstream MMO. New players can jump in, support siege, throw heals and AoE, and contribute immediately rather than being gated behind gear grinds. Reviewers describe the PvP community as low-drama and welcoming, which suits friend groups who want a casual battleground.
Housing, cosmetics, and a deep cosmetic shop
Official materials showcase houses like Seabloom Villa on Auridon's coast, plus exclusive mounts such as the Hailcinder Vale Elk, with a Crown Store selling furnishings, pets, costumes, and mounts. Reviewers note a wide cosmetic catalog and a subscription that includes shop currency, so fashion and home decorating become a real side hobby for players who like to tinker.
What players are saying
What keeps coming up positively
- Story, voice acting, and Elder Scrolls lore come up constantly as reasons to keep playing, even from players who normally dislike MMOs.
- Group play is a clear high point, with friendly communities, easy grouping, and PvP that lets newcomers contribute right away.
- The world is enormous and varied, with cities, music, and atmosphere that hold up over thousands of hours according to long-term players.
Where the friction shows
- Inventory is treated as a paid feature, and reviewers say the craft bag and bag space force a subscription just to play comfortably.
- Monetization stacks up: base game, Chapters/DLC, ESO Plus, a paid Seasons pass, Crown Store mounts, and cosmetics, which many players describe as aggressive.
- Long-term progression, late-game endgame, and riding-skill timers feel like a grind that nudges players toward spending real money to skip it.
- Combat and zones can feel repetitive after dozens of hours, especially for solo players who run out of group content to chase.
Is it worth buying?
The 75% discount brings the base bundle to $4.99 from a $19.99 list price, which is a low-risk entry if you and your friends want to try Tamriel together. Be aware that ongoing play realistically requires either an ESO Plus subscription or buying Chapters and Crown Store items to avoid inventory pain and slow riding-skill gains, so budget for more than the sticker price if you plan to stick around.
Price checked 2026-10-06：$4.99，down from $19.99（75% off）。Player-fit tags
Good fit
- Friend groups who want a long-running shared Elder Scrolls sandbox to quest and dungeon together
- Players who enjoy story-heavy, voiced questing they can play at a relaxed solo or duo pace
- PvP-curious groups looking for approachable large-scale Alliance War battles
- Lore fans who want to explore Tamriel 1,000 years before Skyrim with seasonal content drops
- Housing and cosmetics hobbyists who like decorating homes and collecting mounts
Probably not for you
- Players who refuse to pay a subscription or buy Chapters, since inventory pressure and paid mounts make free play frustrating
- Anyone sensitive to layered monetization including DLC, Crown Store, and a paid Seasons pass
- Solo players looking for a tightly guided endgame, since late-game content feels thin to long-term veterans
- Players who dislike heavy grind, since riding skills, crafting, and endgame progression all lean on repetition
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