Laughter echoed through the Live Oak Event Center on Friday as University of Central Florida (UCF) students gathered for Jackbox Knight, a night of comedic competition. The event, organized by Late Knights—an initiative within UCF’s Office of Student Involvement—invited students to participate in games from the “Jackbox Party Pack,” a collection of party-style video games known for their humor.
Devyn Brennan, the Programming Director for Late Knights, along with Executive Director Megan Dever, coordinated the event. Brennan highlighted that Jackbox Knight offered a unique experience compared to their usual events. “A lot of our events tend to be trivia-based or dance parties, but this one is more of a social hangout, like you’re hanging out with friends,” she said.
Brennan explained that Jackbox games are ideal for creating this relaxed atmosphere. The games, known for their comedic nature, only require one computer to run, and a projector displayed the gameplay for everyone. Participants used their phones to join in via a shared browser.
Throughout the evening, students competed in various games, each offering prizes like headphones, water bottles, and board games. Freshman sociology major Isaac Adams shared that the event was a fun way to unwind after a busy week. “It was more fun than I expected,” he said. “After taking three tests this week, it’s nice to relax, make people laugh, and relieve some stress.”
The night’s most popular game was “Quiplash,” where players are given prompts and must come up with the funniest responses. The audience votes on their favorites, with the most humorous answers winning. Other games, like “Trivia Murder Party,” offered a horror-themed twist, where players answered trivia questions and participated in mini-games to sabotage one another.
Participants brought their A-game, using clever jabs at rival universities, UCF’s mascot Knightro, and trending internet references to secure votes. Adams, for example, won a Late Knights water bottle after making jokes about “The Rizzler,” a young TikTok influencer known for his Costco videos.
Olivia Simpson, a freshman psychology major, participated in the games but didn’t win any prizes. Nevertheless, she found the event rewarding in its own way. “I went alone because it was close to where I live,” she said. “I met a couple of people and we ended up working as a team in the later rounds. It was a lot of fun, and we’re planning to hang out again soon.”
While Late Knights plans to continue hosting their traditional events, Brennan and Dever are open to organizing more events like Jackbox Knight in the future. “What sets Late Knights apart is that relaxed, social vibe,” Dever said. “We love trying new things, like Jackbox games, to create more fun, interactive events for students.”
