The Chicago-Based Game Maker Behind Cross Spin Returns with Two Creative New Ways to Get Game Night Talking
Chicago, IL – Great minds think alike. Or do they? Sometimes the funniest moments in game night come when two people could not be further apart! Whether you are trying to get on the same wavelength as your friends or dreaming up the most ridiculous response imaginable, Chicago-based JoPat Games has launched two brand-new ways to get everyone talking, thinking, and laughing.
Following the debut of its innovative crossword game Cross Spin, JoPat Games has expanded its lineup with Connect the Dots and Initial Reactions, two easy-to-learn party games for up to 10 players that put creativity and a little unpredictability front and center. Both games build on the philosophy that inspired JoPat Games’ first release: the best games do not need complicated rules to create unforgettable moments. Sometimes all it takes is a couple of cards, a roll of the dice, and a group of friends who think they know each other!
“With Cross Spin, we wanted to take something familiar and give it a completely new twist,” said Chris Savino, founder of JoPat Games. “We are bringing that same approach to Connect the Dots and Initial Reactions. Both games are incredibly easy to pick up, but the fun comes from seeing just how differently everyone thinks. We want to make games that get people laughing, talking, and wanting to play one more round.”
CONNECT THE DOTS: GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE… EVENTUALLY!
Ever wonder how your brain gets from one thought to another? Better yet, does your brain take the same route as someone else’s? In Connect the Dots, players discover that the shortest distance between two ideas is not always a straight line!
With an MSRP of $19.99 and designed for 2-10 players, Connect the Dots is a game of creative connections and shared thinking. Players take two Launchpoint cards and try to find what links them. The challenge? Come up with the same connection! One person might see an obvious link, while someone else takes a completely different mental detour. When the answers do not match, those responses become the next starting points. Players use their new answers and try again, following an unexpected path toward common ground. With every attempt, the connections evolve and players get another glimpse into how their friends’ minds work. Sometimes the perfect link is obvious. Other times, it takes a few hilariously mismatched attempts before two minds finally meet in the middle! Whether you are playing with a best friend who finishes your sentences or a family member who always seems to be on another planet, Connect the Dots turns everyday associations into an unpredictable game-night adventure.
INITIAL REACTIONS: ROLL THE LETTERS, BRING THE LAUGHS!
If Connect the Dots is about getting players to think alike, Initial Reactions is all about seeing just how wildly different their imaginations can get! With an MSRP of $19.99 and designed for 3-10 players, this party game takes the prompt-and-response fun of adult party games and adds an unexpected alphabetical twist. Players dream up funny, clever, and downright ridiculous responses to prompts to impress the HPIC, Head Player In Charge. But before they can answer, there is one more challenge: roll the dice! The dice determine which letters their responses must start with, turning even the simplest prompt into a creative comedy challenge. Suddenly, the perfect punchline might be off-limits, and players have to come up with something even better. The result? A game where unpredictable letters meet unpredictable humor, and the most unexpected answers can steal the show.
In Initial Reactions, creativity is king. The funnier, more surprising, and more imaginative the response, the better! It is the kind of game that can turn a prompt into an inside joke friends will be repeating for weeks. Even the same group can produce wildly different responses depending on the letters rolled. Every round offers a fresh opportunity to surprise your friends, show off your wit, or discover that your funniest friend has a very strange imagination.
TWO NEW GAMES, ENDLESS WAYS TO PLAY
Connect the Dots challenges players to find common ground, while Initial Reactions encourages them to embrace the unexpected. Though the games offer different experiences, both share the same essential ingredients: simple rules, big personalities, and plenty of memorable moments. Both games can play up to 10 players, so the games are perfect for small get togethers or large shindigs!
Connect the Dots and Initial Reactions launched in October 2026 and are now available on JoPatGames.com, Amazon, Faire, and TikTok Shop. For more information about the new games and the full JoPat Games lineup, visit JoPatGames.com.
ABOUT JOPAT GAMES
JoPat Games is a Chicago-based game company dedicated to creating easy-to-learn, fun-to-play games that bring friends and families together. Founded by Chris Savino, the company debuted with Cross Spin, a crossword-inspired game also available as a daily web puzzle and mobile app. With Connect the Dots and Initial Reactions, JoPat Games continues expanding its lineup of creative, approachable games designed to make every game night more memorable. Learn more at JoPatGames.com.
CONTACT:
Chris Savino, Founder
JoPat Games
chris@jopatgames.com
JoPatGames.com
