{{Short description|Genre of video games}} {{About|the genre of video games|parties within role-playing games|Party (role-playing games)}} {{multi issues| {{Primary sources|date=January 2026}} {{Unreliable sources|date=January 2026}} }} {{Video games}} A '''party video game''' is a genre of video game that stems from in-person party games, involving player-to-player interaction as the central gameplay element. These games are often defined by simple controls which can be easily picked up and understood by players of any skill level.
Party video games generally consist of short-term experiences which may be played in succession, and are sometimes characterized in the form of minigames. These experiences may be played singularly or in a group, and usually feature several players competing simultaneously.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Oddo |first1=Marco Vito |title=Video Game Slang Explained |url=https://collider.com/gaming-terms-video-game-slang-explained/ |website=Collider |date=18 July 2021 |publisher=Valnet Publishing Group |access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref>
== History == The first party video game is thought to be ''Olympic Decathlon'', releasing in 1980.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1981-12/1981_12_BYTE_06-12_Computer_Games#page/n7/mode/2up | title=New Games New Directions | work=BYTE | date=December 1981 | access-date=3 September 2024 | author=Williams, Gregg | pages=6–10}}</ref>
In 1983, ''Party Mix'' was released for the Atari, and consisted of an anthology of five multiplayer games, which began the format of party video games releasing as a series of individually-selectable minigames.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Weiss |first=Brett |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BzxTtml8Jq4C |title=Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984: A Complete Reference Guide |date=December 20, 2011 |publisher=McFarland & Company |isbn=978-0-7864-8755-4 |page=88 |access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref>
In 1995, ''You Don't Know Jack'' was released, the first of the ''You Don't Know Jack'' franchise and the precursor to the ''Jackbox Party Pack'' collection in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Brendan |date=June 5, 2013 |title=Jellyvision changes name to Jackbox Games |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/jellyvision-changes-name-to-jackbox-games |access-date=3 September 2024 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref>
In 1998, ''Mario Party'' was released on the Nintendo 64.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mario Party US-Bound |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/12/02/mario-party-us-bound |work=IGN |date=December 1, 1998 |access-date=3 September 2024 |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920205659/https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/12/02/mario-party-us-bound |url-status=live }}</ref> Its launch eventually brought about the rest of the ''Mario Party'' franchise, in wake of the game's success across markets. ''Mario Party 2'' was released in 1999, and ''Mario Party 3'' was released in 2000.
The launch of the Wii in 2006 led to the creation of ''Wii Play'', a minigame collection that was bundled with certain copies of the Wii console.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/15/hands-on-wii-play |title=Hands-On Wii Play |first=Craig |last=Harris |publisher=IGN |date=September 15, 2006 |access-date=3 September 2024 |archive-date=October 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015115513/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/15/hands-on-wii-play |url-status=live }}</ref> Years later, in the summer of 2010, Nintendo released ''Wii Party'', which received a 7/10 on IGN, citing it as "a pretty good game to bring out during family game nights or videogame friendly cocktail parties."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=2010-10-03 |title=Wii Party Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/10/03/wii-party-review |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>
The introduction of the Nintendo Switch in 2017 changed party gaming to a hybrid portable and home-used party game. The Joy-Con controllers could be detached and used to play with two-players without additional accessories, which promoted spontaneous multiplayer gaming. Additional controllers can be paired to the console for a total of four-players can play. ''Super Mario Party'' (2018) was a continuation of the board-and-minigame format of its predecessors, and ''Mario Party Superstars'' (2021) revived the nostalgia of the Nintendo 64 and GameCube on the new platform. The Switch was also used as a standard multiplayer game like ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'' (2017), which was still popular among players to have group racing sessions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Machkovech |first=Sam |date=2017-03-06 |title=How does Nintendo Switch actually stack up at a party? |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/03/how-does-nintendo-switch-actually-stack-up-at-a-party/ |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=Ars Technica |language=en}}</ref>
Remote and online party games increased in popularity in the late 2010s and the early 2020s. The ''Jackbox Party Pack'' series also proposed a smartphone controller system, which enabled more players to join without using the traditional controllers.<ref name=":2" /> The social deduction game ''Among Us'' was popularly used to conduct online gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic due to its easy rules and group discussion format.<ref name=":3" /> Online streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube made party games more visible, making the gameplay an activity that could be enjoyed by online viewers as collective entertainment.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />
== Gameplay and design == Party games are designed for quick plays, with simple rules along with easy to follow gameplay. Through the use of clear visual cues, prompt instructions, and quick rounds, players new to video games can start playing within seconds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is the Party Video Game Genre? |url=https://www.europeanstudios.com/encyclopedia/party-video-game-genre/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=European Studios |language=en-US}}</ref> Developers typically design these games around amusement, group interaction, and light competition, where winning matters less than having fun together.<ref>{{Cite web |last=nyfa |date=2016-01-14 |title=Three Principles Every Video Game Designer Should Follow |url=https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/three-principles-every-game-designer-should-follow/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=NYFA |language=en-US}}</ref> Many modern titles are designed with accessibility in mind. For example, Jackbox Games, which uses phones as controllers, removing the need for extra accessories or experience. The developers refer to this approach as "inclusivity through design".<ref>{{Cite web |title=These Design Principles Made Jackbox a Party Game Phenomenon |url=https://www.builtinchicago.org/articles/jackbox-games-design-party-pack |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Built In |language=en}}</ref>
== Social and cultural impact == Party video games allow users to connect and interact by completing various challenges together. Researchers found that these games helped maintain friendships, reduce boredom, and increase group get-togethers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Ballard |first=Mary E. |last2=Spencer |first2=Michael T. |date=March 2023 |title=Importance of Social Videogaming for Connection with Others During the COVID-19 Pandemic |url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9047596/ |journal=Games and Culture |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=251–264 |doi=10.1177/15554120221090982 |issn=1555-4120 |pmc=9047596 |pmid=38603156}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Wu |first=Cocuhen |last2=Chang |first2=Chih-Hsuan |date=2025-03-24 |title=How multiplayer online games can yield positive effects on individual gamers, gaming companies, and society as a whole |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-025-04690-6 |journal=Humanities and Social Sciences Communications |language=en |volume=12 |issue=1 |page=420 |doi=10.1057/s41599-025-04690-6 |issn=2662-9992|doi-access=free }}</ref> During COVID-19, many people turned to online party games, such as Jackbox Party, Among Us, and Gang Beasts to stay in touch.<ref name=":0" />
Schools and employers have used them to encourage teamwork and communication, showing playful interactions can lead to collaboration.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |date=2024-08-19 |title=10.4 The Impact of Video Games on Culture |url=https://nic.pressbooks.pub/massmediainafreesociety/chapter/10-4-the-impact-of-video-games-on-culture/ |journal=Mass Media in a Free Society |language=en |via=Pressbooks}}</ref> The humor and visual design in these games typically reflects broader social values, such as how players interact, compete, and joke with each other.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-27 |title=Video Games and Culture - Atlas Localization |url=https://atlaslocalization.com/video-games-and-culture/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Popular culture == Party video games have become a part of popular culture in gaming and media. Their characters, sound effects, and funny moments that are often shared through memes, clips, or on social platforms (e.g. Twitch; YouTube). Many are featured on streaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube, or TikTok, where gameplay has turned into a form of shared entertainment. Viewer can watch and comment on live sessions of streamers playing games such as Jackbox<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Gardner |first=Matt |title=Jackbox Games Brings The Party Back–And This Time, It's Global |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattgardner1/2022/09/16/jackbox-games-brings-the-party-backand-this-time-its-global/ |access-date=2025-11-13 |work=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> or Among Us,<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Frizby |date=2024-08-05 |title=Exploring Among Us' success story as an Indie game - Raidiant |url=https://raidiant.gg/exploring-among-us-success-story-as-an-indie-game/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250626050615/https://raidiant.gg/exploring-among-us-success-story-as-an-indie-game/ |archive-date=2025-06-26 |access-date=2025-11-13 |work=Raidiant |language=en-US}}</ref> turning it into a type of social performance.<ref name=":2" />
== Education == Games (such as Kahoot,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=Alf Inge |last2=Tahir |first2=Rabail |date=2020-05-01 |title=The effect of using Kahoot! for learning – A literature review |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360131520300208 |journal=Computers & Education |volume=149 |article-number=103818 |doi=10.1016/j.compedu.2020.103818 |issn=0360-1315 |via=Science Direct|doi-access=free |hdl=11250/2646041 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Minecraft,<ref>{{Cite web |last=bio |first=See full |title=13 (Secretly) Educational Video Games That Kids Will Actually Like |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/13-secretly-educational-video-games-that-kids-will-actually-like/ |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=CNET |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Minecraft Education: A Comprehensive Guide for Teachers |url=https://www.structural-learning.com/post/minecraft-education |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=www.structural-learning.com |language=en}}</ref> Jackbox Party,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Connecting with Students Through Play: 5 Games We've Used in Our Virtual Youth Programming |url=https://cpp-college.netlify.app//programs/education-blog/connecting-students-through-play-5-games-weve-used-our-virtual-youth-programming |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=cpp-college.netlify.app |language=en}}</ref> or Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roos |first=Rob |date=2017-10-09 |title=Speaking Strategies with "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes" |url=https://vgesl.wordpress.com/2017/10/09/nobody-explodes/ |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=Videogames in Education |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Having a Blast with a Computer-Mediated Information Gap Task: Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes in the EFL Classroom {{!}} JALT Publications |url=https://jalt-publications.org/node/27/articles/5944-having-blast-computer-mediated-information-gap-task-keep-talking-nobody-explod |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=jalt-publications.org}}</ref>) are sometimes used in classrooms as a way of improving teamwork, creativity, and communication. They help with social learning because players need to listen, cooperate, and adapt with each other to whatever happens. The genre provides an opportunity to allow individuals to bridge the cultural and social barriers. It turns a simple activity into an interactive experience shared with others rather than something done alone.<ref name=":2" />
== See also == * List of party video games
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Video game genre}}
Category:Party video games Category:Video game genres