A free Jackbox alternative: the party game where phones are the band
Room codes and phones, like Jackbox. No packs to buy, no TV, no console. And it's a rhythm game.
If you've played Jackbox you already know the setup: one screen hosts, everyone joins on a phone with a room code. Our Band Sucks keeps the part that works and drops the rest. There's no host screen, no console and no $30 party pack; the whole game runs on the phones themselves, in the browser, for free.
The other difference is what you do once you're in. Jackbox games are trivia, drawing and writing jokes. Ours is a rhythm game: each phone is an instrument, the band plays one of ten original songs, and everyone finds out live who can keep a beat.
The quick rundown
| Our Band Sucks | Jackbox Party Packs | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no ads | About $30 per pack |
| What you need | A phone each, with a browser | A console or PC on a TV, plus a phone each |
| Download | None, it's a web page | The pack, on the host machine |
| Players | 1 to 4 (the host included) | Usually 1 to 8, some games up to 10 |
| What you do | Play drums, guitar, keys or vocals on a song | Trivia, drawing, writing, bluffing |
| A round lasts | One song, about 3 minutes | 10 to 20 minutes per game |
| Same room needed | No, any phone with the code | No, with a stream of the host screen |
What Jackbox still does better
Bigger groups. Jackbox seats up to eight or ten, plus an audience; our band tops out at four. Variety, too: a party pack is five games, and there are ten packs. We have one game with four instruments, four modes and ten songs. And the big screen: Jackbox's host view on the TV is part of the show. We don't have one, the show is on your phones and on your friends' faces.
If you have a TV, a console and eight people, Jackbox is a great night. If you have four people and four phones, read on.
When to pick Our Band Sucks
There's no TV
A picnic, a car park, a train, someone's kitchen. If the phones have signal, the band can play.
Nobody wants to buy anything
No pack, no subscription, no account. Send a link and everyone's in.
You're two to four
Jackbox with three people is quiet. A band with three people is a band.
You'd rather play than type
No prompts to write, nothing to read aloud. Thumbs on the screen, eyes on the notes.
Switching takes a minute
- 1
Open the link on a phone
Tap Party. That phone hosts. There's no host screen to set up.
- 2
Send the code
Four letters, or an invite link. Friends open it on their phones, no download.
- 3
Pick instruments and a song
Drums, guitar, keys, vocals. Ten songs, four difficulties per player.
- 4
Play
Three minutes later you have a score, a combo and a highlight reel. Pick the next song.
Questions, answered badly
Is it really free?
Yes. There's nothing to buy and no account. It's a web page.
Does it need a TV like Jackbox?
No. Each phone is a player's screen and instrument; there's no host display.
How many players?
One to four. Short on people? Virtual bandmates fill the empty seats.
Can we play remotely?
Yes. The room code works from anywhere with a connection.
Is it a trivia or drawing game?
No. It's a rhythm game: you play an instrument on a song with your thumbs. No singing, no writing.
More on the landing page's FAQ, or ask the band on the feedback page.
Your band sucks?
Go prove it.
Jackbox, Guitar Hero, Rock Band and Fortnite Festival are trademarks of their owners. Our Band Sucks isn't affiliated with any of them; they're mentioned so you know what kind of game this is.
