The 9 Best PS4 Party Games of 2021

Best Overall: Jackbox Party Pack 7 (PS4)

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As the number denotes, there are plenty of Jackbox Party Packs, but number seven is the best so far. Each has been specifically designed to get groups laughing and chatting, even if your loved ones aren't physically close. Only the host needs to own the game, with up to eight participants able to join by entering a room code on any mobile device or web browser. All they need to do is see the game screen. More people can even jump in and participate as audience members.

The five games in Party Pack 7 include Quiplash 3, a classic where players write responses to prompts and everyone votes on their favorite answers. New to this edition is a "Thriplash" final round which requires three-part responses and the option of using user-generated prompts. 

Others include Champ'd Up, a drawing-based game where you sketch zany characters who are pitted blindly against each other. There's also The Devils and the Details, putting you into a devil family needing to co-operate on household chores, all while tempting you with selfish tasks that boost only your own score. Then there's the speech game, Talking Points, and the mad-libs-style guessing game Blather 'Round. There isn't really a weak game in the pack, so this is a fine way for everyone to enjoy themselves.

_{ESRB: T (Teen) | Install Size: 1.87GB}

Best Board Game: Ubisoft Entertainment Monopoly Plus (PS4)

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If you can't gather physically for a fun (and competitive) game of Monopoly, there's always Monopoly Plus on the PS4 instead. It's a faithful recreation of the property-buying, rent-collection capitalist clash that's been responsible for so many family arguments over the years.

The game includes a number of popular rule variations, but you'll still recognize all the familiar locations and game pieces, spruced up with some shiny new animations and a three-dimensional quality. You can even customize the board to your liking by changing the property names and icons. 

Players in the same room can play only using a single PS4 controller, which is both useful and a little irritating. You can, at least, play on a smartphone or tablet through the PlayStation mobile app. However, it's online multiplayer where Monopoly is at its best, enabling you to play with others anywhere in the world. It's a fun and familiar take all round.

_{ESRB: E (Everyone) | Install Size: 1GB}

Best Family Game: Team 17 Overcooked! 2 (PS4)

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Cooking can be a fun activity for the whole family but it can also be stressful and involve a lot of planning. That's the angle that Overcooked! 2 has pursued, spicing things up so that your teamwork skills are truly tested. You and your buddies play as two to four cartoony chefs working together against the clock to grab the right ingredients, chop, and cook them up, before serving them based on specific food orders.

Sounds simple? Not exactly. Each kitchen has its own culinary theme as well as its own zany challenges such as conveyor belts, river rafts, and swamp creatures to contend with. Some levels can get overwhelming, especially for younger players (or those who struggle to work well as a team), but it's always satisfying when you pull off a victory. 

There's no need to be experienced with the first version to get to grips with things here. Instead, Overcooked! 2 takes the core formula and adds plenty of fresh levels and challenges to lure you in. New content is regularly added to celebrate changing seasons or the holidays, and you can always buy new extras too.

_{ESRB: E (Everyone) | Install Size: 2.79GB}

Best Puzzle: Steel Crate Games Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes (PS4)

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Ever wanted to defuse a bomb like your life depends upon it? Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes offers a safe taste of that experience. Only one player, the Diffuser, is allowed to see and manipulate the bomb, while other players (the Experts) must listen to their description before interpreting the downloadable/printable bomb-refusal manual in a bid to figure out how to defuse it.

Each bomb is convoluted and procedurally generated so there's endless challenges here. It's tense and incredibly frantic, but also a lot of fun, providing you all take it in a good-natured manner.

Because the Experts never get to see the bomb, they can call in their commands through any type of voice chat, so the game lends itself well to remote playing. Even better, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes was originally designed with VR in mind so if you have a PlayStation VR headset, the Diffuser can isolate themselves in a virtual world for an even more stressful yet immersive experience.

_{ESRB: E10+ (Everyone 10+) | Install Size: 704MB}

Best Action: Matt Makes Games Towerfall Ascension (PS4)

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On the surface, TowerFall Ascension may not immediately bear any resemblance to Nintendo's Super Smash Bros but actually, it owes a lot to it. TowerFall Ascension offers head-to-head couch multiplayer mayhem with a pixel-art indie game style twist. Four players on a single-screen 2D map duke it out in an archery-based platform-jumping deathmatch adventure.

You begin with only three arrows but you can collect more by catching them in mid-air or finding them stuck among the environment. There's a surprising amount of strategy involved here with the need for some shrewd jumping and melee skills. It's intense but highly accessible. 

This updated edition now comes with a campaign mode where one or two players can fight against waves of foes. It's not as strong as the deathmatch mode, but it does add a bit more value for money. Frustratingly, it's a local-only multiplayer experience but if you can gather some friends, it's a blast to play.

_{ESRB: E10+ (Everyone 10+) | Install Size: 397MB}

Best Platformer: Sony Interactive Entertainment LittleBigPlanet 3 (PS4)

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A smash hit on the PlayStation 3, LittleBigPlanet makes its way to the PS4 with some fresh twists on its charmingly creative co-op platforming gameplay. As before, you're traversing imaginative lands via a delightful Stephen Fry-narrated campaign, but this time around, main character Sackboy has new tools and power-ups at his disposal. He's also joined by three new playable friends, each offering a different take in terms of their mechanics and how they move about the screen.

The game doesn't quite take advantage of those new characters like it possibly should, but there's still oodles of creativity going on here. You can tweak Sackboy's appearance, skills, gadgets, and friends, for instance. You can also create and share your own levels, as well as play your way through the millions made by other members of the online community. These include levels from the previous two games, too. The creator tools are far more powerful than before, supporting up to 16 playable layers so you can truly let your imagination run riot, providing you put the time in.

_{ESRB: E (Everyone) | Install Size: 15.68GB}

Best Music: Fuser (PS4)

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Harmonix has long been a leader in music gaming thanks to titles such as Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and Dance Central. That trend has continued with Fuser, a DJ simulator where you mash up tracks as part of a virtual music festival.

Fuser's online multiplayer lets you take part in head-to-head DJ battles or opt to collaborate onstage with up to three other DJs, with eight spectators who can rotate in to celebrate with you. A freestyle mode also makes it possible to create mashups on your own before sharing them with the wider community, plus there are periodic challenges that ask players to vote on their favorites.

When it comes to music-making itself, Fuser's intuitive system means even novices can create something special if sometimes a little strange. You begin by picking songs from your catalog, which includes hits from pretty much any era or genre you can think of with new options available for purchase. From there, you can isolate music into drum, bass, lead instrument, and vocal tracks, before dropping them into any combination you feel like.

More advanced DJs can develop their technical skills by dropping tracks right on the beat to adjusting the key or adding audio filters. Even without sophisticated techniques, though, you and your friends will have a blast messing around with what's achievable here.

_{ESRB: T (Teen) | Install Size: 11.67GB}

Best Rhythm: Ubisoft Just Dance 2021 (PS4)

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Dance games are a tried-and-tested way to get a party going, and that's exactly what Just Dance does best. The 2021 version has a strong song list, ranging from current hits like Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande's "Rain on Me" to modern classics like Eminem's "Without Me."

It's a blast to grab some friends and follow the energetic and entertaining moves of the on-screen characters who dance in front of vibrant backdrops. It's hard not to smile even if you can't dance well. A dedicated Kids Mode can be useful when participating with a mixed age range, which makes it one of the best PS4 games for kids, too. 

Just Dance 2021 is also far more accessible now that specific motion accessories aren't required. Up to six players can jump in simply by downloading the free controller app to their smartphone and holding it in their hands. There's also the online, cross-platform World Dance Floor mode that pits you against dancers around the globe. Adding to the fun is a qualifying round that sorts you into one of three "rooms" based on your skill level.

Finally, there's a free one-month subscription to the Just Dance Unlimited streaming service, which provides you with access to over 600 songs from previous Just Dance games, as well as exclusive content and new tracks.

_{ESRB: E (Everyone) | Install Size: 19.61GB}