Quick answer
Jackbox is the better pick for adults who love wordplay and for playing with people in other places; everyone needs a phone. Pass the Remote! is the better pick for mixed ages and for groups where not everyone has (or should use) a phone; it needs only the Siri Remote.
Pass the Remote! and Jackbox side by side
| Pass the Remote! | The Jackbox Party Packs | |
|---|---|---|
| What players need | Just the Siri Remote, passed around the room | Everyone's own phone, tablet or computer, joined at jackbox.tv with a room code |
| Price | Free to play; one optional $9.99 Unlock Everything that includes future content | $19.99–$29.99 per pack (Survey Scramble $9.99); each pack sold separately |
| Players | Solo, or 2–4 colors; each color can be a whole team | Varies by game; many recent games let up to 10,000 more people join as an audience and vote |
| Age rating | 9+ on the App Store | 13+ on the App Store (the Naughty Pack is 16+) |
| Content style | Trivia, charades, hangman, memory and quick arcade games for mixed ages | Comedy writing, bluffing, drawing and trivia, mostly written for teens and adults |
| Remote play | No: everyone plays in the same room | Yes: the host shares the game over a video call or stream, and everyone joins at jackbox.tv |
| Setup | Pick colors and pass the remote; nobody joins on a phone | Each player opens jackbox.tv on their device and types the room code |
| Platforms | Apple TV only (tvOS 18.0 or later) | Apple TV, iPad and Mac, plus PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and more |
Jackbox details from the US App Store and jackboxgames.com, checked October 12, 2026.
When is Jackbox the better choice?
When your group is mostly teens and adults who like writing jokes and bluffing, when everyone has a phone, or when some of your friends are somewhere else.
- Wordplay and comedy: in many games everyone writes a funny answer and the room votes, which suits quick-witted teens and adults.
- Everyone plays at once on their own phone, so nobody waits for a turn.
- Friends in other places can join: share the game over a video call or stream, and they play at jackbox.tv.
- Big crowds: many recent games let up to 10,000 more people join as an audience and vote.
- Variety: eleven numbered Party Packs plus spin-offs, each with several games.
When is Pass the Remote! the better choice?
When your group mixes kids, parents and grandparents, when not everyone has a phone (or you'd rather the phones stayed away), and when you want to start playing in seconds.
- No phones at all. One Siri Remote runs all 11 games. Nobody downloads an app, joins a room or signs in.
- Mixed ages. Up to four color teams of any size, so a grandparent and a grandchild can play on the same side. It's rated 9+ on the App Store.
- One price, everything. Free to play with a starter lineup, and one optional $9.99 Unlock Everything opens every game's extra content, including what we add later.
- Turn-taking games. Trivia with a fun fact after every answer, charades, hangman with your own words, memory and quick arcade turns.
- No ads, no data. The App Store privacy label is Data Not Collected.
Is there a game like Jackbox that doesn't need phones?
Yes. Pass the Remote! is a party pack for Apple TV played with only the Siri Remote, passed from player to player. It has 11 games, including Trivia Battle, Charades & More and Read the Room, a clue-giving game.
It's a different kind of party game: one person plays at a time while the room helps, instead of everyone typing answers on their own phone at once.
Other games like Jackbox on Apple TV
Kahoot! also has every player answer on their own device, SketchParty TV passes one iPhone or iPad around for drawing, and Pass the Remote! needs only the Siri Remote.
The best Apple TV party games, sorted by what you need to play
Pass the Remote! vs Jackbox: questions
Does Jackbox work on Apple TV?
Yes. The Jackbox Party Packs are on the Apple TV App Store at $19.99 to $29.99 each. The game shows on the TV, and every player joins on their own phone at jackbox.tv.
Is Jackbox family friendly?
Partly. The Party Packs are rated 13+ on the App Store (the Naughty Pack is 16+). Jackbox says most of its games have a Family-Friendly filter in their settings, so check the pack before playing with younger kids.
Can you play both?
Yes. They're separate apps on the same Apple TV. You can keep both: Jackbox for a grown-up night with phones out, Pass the Remote! when the grandparents and kids are playing too.
Jackbox Games and The Jackbox Party Pack are trademarks of Jackbox Games, Inc. This page is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jackbox Games.
