Jackbox party games have become massively popular in recent years for their hilarious, engaging group play. But what if you want to play these games on your Roku TV or streaming device? Unfortunately Jackbox isn‘t available as a channel on Roku, but there is a workaround using AirPlay mirroring from an iPhone or iPad.
In this guide, I‘ll walk you through exactly how to mirror your Apple device‘s screen to Roku. I‘ll also overview the Jackbox Party Pack 10 games available this way and offer tips to make it more family-friendly for game night. Let‘s get your whole household in on the fun!
What Are Jackbox Games and Why You Want Them for Family Night
Jackbox offers a collection of über popular party games played on phones, tablets and PCs that connect online. One person owns the game on their device while everyone else connects for free on the web browser of their mobile device or laptop.
The games support anywhere from 1-8 players (some require 3+ players) and pack a ton of goofy humor across a wide variety of mini-games. We‘re talking fill-in-the-blank phrases, drawing contests, musical rhythm challenges, trivia and more. Most games last just 5-10 minutes so they‘re easy to pick up and learn.
People love Jackbox games because they‘re designed to get groups laughing together. The mini-games put your humor, creativity and quick thinking skills to the test. Inside jokes emerge and soon you‘ve got an endless source of running gags with your friends or family.
Now let‘s get Jackbox beamed over to your Roku!
Why Jackbox Isn‘t Available as a Roku Channel
You may be wondering — if Jackbox games are so popular, why aren‘t they available as a channel on Roku devices?
The reason comes down to hardware limitations. Roku streaming devices are designed to be affordable and convenient for media playback. But they lack the storage space, memory and processing power needed to run more demanding games like those in the Jackbox series.
For example, the latest Jackbox Party Pack 10 requires over 1.5 GB of storage space. But even top-of-the-line Roku devices max out with around 8GB total storage. And that‘s for the operating system plus all your other channels too.
Similarly Roku devices only have 1-2 GB of memory (RAM) while Jackbox games need more to run smoothly.
The good news is with AirPlay mirroring, we can stream Jackbox from a more powerful Apple device onto the TV using Roku. Keep reading to see how.
Step 1: Buy and Download Jackbox Party Pack 10 on Your Apple Device
Since the Roku will essentially be mirroring another device‘s screen, you need to first purchase Jackbox on said device. Currently only Jackbox Party Pack 10 is available on iPhone/iPad and Mac computers (not other Jackbox packs).
Here‘s how to buy and install Jackbox Party Pack 10:
- On your compatible iPhone, iPad or Mac, open the App Store.
- Search for "Jackbox Party Pack 10" and tap to purchase (currently $14.99 USD).
- Tap the download button once the purchase is complete.
- When finished, you can open the app from your home screen to verify it‘s installed.
Compatible devices include:
- iPhone/iPad running iOS 12.3 or later
- Mac running macOS 10.14.5 or later
Step 2: Start AirPlay Mirroring to Your Roku
Now comes the fun part — beaming your Apple device‘s screen over to the Roku.
You‘ll access a feature called AirPlay mirroring to wirelessly send the screen display to a compatible Roku player or Roku TV model.
To start mirroring:
- Make sure your Roku is powered on and set to the correct input if needed.
- On your iPhone/iPad, swipe down from the top-right to open Control Center. On a Mac, click the AirPlay icon in the menu bar.
- Tap/click Screen Mirroring.
- Select your Roku device. An AirPlay code will appear on the TV screen.
- Enter the code on your Apple device and wait a few seconds. Your device screen should now mirror to the TV.
Note: Not all Roku devices support AirPlay mirroring. You can verify compatibility here. If your Roku is unsupported, I recommend picking up an inexpensive Roku Express which starts under $30.
Step 3: Play Jackbox Party Pack 10 Games on Your Roku!
Once your Apple device screen is mirrored on the TV, simply open the Jackbox Party Pack 10 app and start playing!
The Party Pack includes 5 all-new Jackbox games to enjoy:
Time Jinx
Up to 8 players compete in wacky trivia centered around historical events. Questions involve crazy scenarios and you can take on side challenges too. It‘s perfect for history buffs or anyone who enjoys offbeat humor.
Dodo Re Mi
This musical rhythm game has you tapping along to the beat of songs. Choose your track and instrument (each represented by a cute bird avatar) to play. With multiple difficulty beatmaps per song, it will keep your family jamming for hours.
Tee KO2
The drawing game where players design t-shirts then vote on the funniest/strangest entries. Unleash your creative side to make the most ludicrous shirts you can, then see if they‘ll win over the crowd.
Fixy Text
Participants try to continue or derail a growing text message thread. You only get a few seconds to add your line before passing to the next player. The non-sensical conversations that emerge will leave your family in stitches.
Hypnotorious
A secret identity game where players answer personal questions, then vote on who seems to be the odd one out each round. But one person has been assigned an alternate fake identity so they have to avoid standing out! Think mafia or werewolf style deduction.
Tips to Make Jackbox Family-Friendly for Game Night
While Jackbox games are silly fun for all ages, some content in Party Pack editions can push closer to PG-13 humor. Fortunately there‘s a Family Friendly mode you can toggle on that filters out more risqué content.
To make your Jackbox games squeaky clean for kids:
- In the main menu of any Jackbox game, select the Censor chat toggle to turn on.
- Scroll down and enable Family Friendly mode too. This omits certain words/phrases and inappropriate drawing suggestions.
You can also disable player names and avatar images which cuts down on unwanted content. Set this in each game‘s settings menu.
For a young crowd, I recommend the music game Dodo Re Mi and drawing laughs with Tee KO2 as safer starter options. Time Jinx history trivia and identity deduction in Hypnotorious work well too.
Use your best judgment when deciding age-appropriateness and whether to keep Family Friendly mode enabled. Now let the family fun commence!
Troubleshooting Tips: Fixes for Common Roku Mirroring Issues
If you run into trouble getting your Roku to mirror properly, here are some top troubleshooting tips:
- Ensure your Roku and Apple device are on the same WiFi network. AirPlay works best with a strong 5GHz signal vs. 2.4GHz or weak connection.
- Force quit any apps running in the background on your Apple device. This prevents slowness or freezing when mirroring.
- Reboot both the Roku and your iPhone/iPad/Mac then retry the steps. Power cycling fixes many temporary glitches.
- Check if a software/firmware update is available for either device. Having the latest OS version improves compatibility.
- As a last resort, factory reset your Roku player to clear any lingering configuration issues, then set up mirroring again from scratch.
In most cases, AirPlay mirroring works flawlessly provided you have compatible devices. But if issues do occur, run through these tips before you get discouraged! A simple reset or app closure typically does the trick.
Best Devices to Play Jackbox If You Don‘t Have a Game Console
While Roku is great for convenience, you‘ll get the smoothest performance with Jackbox games using an actual gaming device. If you don‘t already own an Xbox or PlayStation, here are the best Jackbox-compatible products to consider:
Apple TV 4K (or newer):
Already have iPhone/iPad? Apple TV boxes work seamlessly thanks to AirPlay screen mirroring built-in. Plus you get access to hundreds of other great streaming apps.
Nintendo Switch:
It‘s become hugely popular for indie party titles like Jackbox. Play on the go or hook it up to your TV for big-screen gaming sessions. Family-friendly fun!
Desktop PC/Laptop:
Computers offer plenty of horsepower to run Jackbox Party Packs smoothly. Use your HDMI port to connect the display to a TV. It takes a bit more setup vs. the simplicity of a Roku but delivers a better gameplay experience.
Chromecast with Google TV:
This affordable $50 streamer has enough power for mobile gaming. Use the Cast feature to mirror your Android phone‘s screen. If you already have a household of Android/Chromebook users, it‘s a logical fit!
Let the Laughter Roll with Jackbox Party Games on Roku
As you can see, it just takes a few easy steps to transmit Jackbox games from your Apple device onto the living room TV thanks to Roku AirPlay compatibility. While the Roku may not be the optimal way to play, it lets more people join the fun if they don‘t have the right gaming gear on hand.
Just gather everyone‘s phones to connect the web controller and get your family ready for endless laughs together thanks to the hilarious mini-games in Party Pack collections like Jackbox 10. Try out creative drawing battles, off-the-wall trivia, musical rhythms and more.
Finally, be sure to toggle on Family Friendly mode if young kids will be around. This keeps the game content squeaky clean. Now let the good times and inside jokes roll! Everyone loves a great group activity that brings people together.
