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Twelve years ago, I created a ridiculous little card game called Gentle Jack. It was crude, chaotic, and full of toilet humor, exactly the kind of drinking game you’d expect to become an inside joke among friends.
I made it for my own circle of friends, never expecting it to live beyond our drunken dinner tables. But something weird happened.
People loved it.
Friends brought new friends to play. Word started to spread. Strangers began messaging me to ask if they could buy or borrow the game for their parties.
Mind you, I never got invited to those parties.
Do I sound bitter? I’m not bitter. (Maybe a little.)
As life does, it eventually dragged me in other directions, and Gentle Jack got shelved, gathering dust while I went about with adult things.
Fast forward to 2023. A spark lit up again. I’d always dreamed of starting my own game studio, and this time, I wasn’t going to let it pass me by.
I want to tell wild stories and craft unforgettable games. Not for corporate shareholders, but for the weird, wonderful people who actually play them.
So I decided: the first game my studio would launch would be the first game I ever made.
By the way!
Did you know we’re launching a Kickstarter campaign? In the next few months, our campaign for ‘Gentle Jack: The Party Game for Bad Friends‘ goes live! Visit the official website or follow the Kickstarter page to stay in the loop.
Gentle Jack was back on the table.
2 Years of Chaos, Testing, and Biceps-Kissing
Since then, I’ve rebuilt the game from the ground up. I worked with amazing illustrators, tested it with strangers and friends alike, and went through prototype after prototype, as we drank in the name of research through countless unforgettable nights.
And now?
It’s ready. It’s real. And it’s everything I hoped it would be.
Now comes the real challenge: getting Gentle Jack out into a world that’s noisier and more distracted than ever.
To do that, I’m launching a Kickstarter on April 18th to fund the first production run.
If you’ve ever wanted to bring a chaotic, hilarious, and questionably tasteful party game to life, this is your chance.
So… What Is Gentle Jack?
The goal:
Collect as many Gadgets as you can, while sabotaging your friends into losing theirs. The player with the most Gadgets at the end wins.
Here’s how it works:
- Everyone starts with 3 Gadget cards
- On your turn:
- Draw a new Gadget
- Play a Gadget
Some Gadgets are helpful. Some are cursed.
Occasionally, you’ll force other players to draw from the Omen deck, a stack of black tarot-style cards that unleash chaos.
Think:
- Lose your Gadgets
- Take on a persistent effect called a Charm
- Or worse…
An example of a Charm: The Beefcake
You must kiss your biceps every time you drink.
Yes, really.
The game strategy? Be bold, be clever, and don’t flinch. The game rewards courage, and punishes cowards.
Here’s a quick visual breakdown of a typical turn:
It’s as simple as that!
Why Back the Kickstarter?
Backing Gentle Jack doesn’t just help fund the first print run, it helps launch a brand-new game studio built around players, not profits.
Plus, you’ll get:
- The exclusive Pioneer Edition of the game
- A limited-edition Metal Turn Coin, embossed with the Gentle Jack skull
- Your copy before anyone else
- And about 20% off retail pricing
Be Part of the Madness
If you’ve ever wanted a drinking game that feels more like an ancient cursed ritual, you’re going to love Gentle Jack.
Join us on Kickstarter when we go live on April 18th, and let’s make this ridiculous dream a reality.
👉 Click here to follow the campaign on Kickstarter
Thanks for being part of this.
