I’m sure all of us at some point in our lives have come across a quiz show when channel surfing and vicariously joined in from our sofa. On more than one occasion we’ve no doubt found ourselves shouting out answers at the TV and screaming or laughing at contestants in the studio for not getting it themselves.
It’s understandable as game shows are very engaging and keep our attention in a few different ways. We can always learn lots of random pieces of trivia from them, we sometimes become so invested in a player we want to see them succeed (or fail), and we always wonder how we would have fared if we were on the show ourselves. Pop culture trivia games specifically cater to fans of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, appealing to Baby Boomers with questions about music, TV, movies, sports, and politics from that era, allowing players to dive into the iconic pop culture moments of those decades, which is advantageous for some groups but can be a problem for others.
There are plenty of board games out there that let us put our random nuggets of knowledge to the test, and in some cases can give us that ‘game show feel’ from the comfort of our own homes. These make for excellent party games and ensure plenty of banter and laughs are had. Even if there is a competitive edge to some of them, it’s not dealt with, with nearly the same degree of seriousness strategy and similar games. The light-heartedness also means there’s plenty that can be enjoyed with family as well as friends.
Below are a handful of games to get you started that aren’t Trivial Pursuit. All are slightly different from each other but still retain the fun and simple gameplay that trivia board games are known for.
Wits & Wagers
By: Northstar Game Studio Players: 4-20 Ages: 10+ Time: 25 Minutes
Do you know what year the bikini swimsuit made its first appearance? Or how many feet wide an NFL football field is? Doesn’t matter. This trivia game is not just reliant on what you know but what you think other players know! Bet on the guess you think is correct and win big!
Wits & Wagers is a trivia game that doesn’t just rely on your general knowledge, but your ability to gauge other players’ knowledge as well. Each player/team starts the game with an erasable answer card, a dry-erase pen, and wager chips matching the color of their card. One player is designated as the question reader and will take seven questions from the deck of cards.
There are seven questions on each card and the question reader asks the 1st question on the card out loud at the top of the first round. Players then have thirty seconds to write their guess on the answer card. Every question’s answer is a number, so players can always guesstimate if they don’t know, but need to try and be closest to the correct answer without going over.
When the timer runs out, the guesses are placed face up on the betting mat from smallest to largest guess, with duplicates going in the same space on the board. Players will then have 30 seconds to place their bets on which guess they think is correct before the answer is revealed. Each space on the board comes with different odds and guessing correctly will win the player more poker chips as points.
Players have their own chips at the start of the game they can use to wager their guesses. These can be placed on the same guess or two individual guesses. When the answer card is flipped over, the payout space is the one with the closest to the correct answer without going over.
Chips are then dispensed to anyone who guessed correctly and bets on the correct guess, with various bonuses if appropriate. The game moves to round two where the question reader asks the second question on the card. This continues until all seven cards have been used and the winner is the player with the most points at the end of the game.
A fun and hilarity-ensuing party game, Wits & Wagers is a unique trivia game that rewards not just those with knowledge, but with keen insight as well. The bigger the group the better the experience! This is one you want to take with you to parties, holidays, family gatherings, and anywhere else.
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Blockbuster
By: Big Potato Games Players: 4-10 Ages: 12+ Time: 30-60 minutes
A movie game for anyone who has ever seen a movie! The game challenges you to act out scenes, and describe, and recite quotes from various movies. This party game is packed with all kinds of different challenges.
In Blockbuster, teams work together to win a collection of movie cards. These are gained by teams participating in a number of rounds where movie titles must be guessed, but the clues are given in a variety of ways. At the start of each round, a player from each team takes part in the head-to-head challenge. A separate player reads out a card that has a topic or theme on it.
Players are then timed to think of as many movies they can that match the theme and hit the buzzer each time they can think of an answer. The team that provided the most answers wins and proceeds with drawing six movie cards from the deck of 200+ options. They choose three of these and then pass the other three to the opposing team. The game board then comes into play: a recreation of a Blockbuster parking lot with two sets of three bays and a “Blockbuster” sign reaching into the sky.
Each of these bays is listed as “One word”, “Quote it”, and “Act it”. A player from the winning team selects which of the three cards go in which bay and then has thirty seconds to try and assist their teammates with guessing as many cards correctly. One word is first and, obviously, relies on picking a word carefully for the teammates to relate to the movie. Likewise with quote it, the player will need to think of a quote iconic enough that their teammates recognize the film.
Finally, with Act It, players use gestures and movements to act out clues as best as possible. If the team performs so well that they capture all three of their cards, they can then move on to the other team’s cards and try to win them too. At the end of the thirty seconds, the other team takes their turn and tries to win as many cards as possible after this play moves to the second round and starts with the head-to-head phase again.
The first team to claim at least one card from all eight of the movie genres wins.
Blockbuster is a great party game that comes with a strong air of nostalgia. Combining movie knowledge, charades, teamwork, and communication skills all into one game, this delivers a truly entertaining experience.
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Smart 10
By: Martinex Ages:10+ Players: 2-8 Time: up to 20-30 minutes
A portable pass-and-play trivia game, players can answer the question as many times as they like to gain plenty of answer markers. Get a question wrong though and lose them all. With ten possible answers to each question, it gets trickier the longer you play!
In Smart 10, players use a “Smart Box” to answer questions and keep track of their scores. The orange box has a slot on the side where question cards can be entered. When this is done, players will be able to see the round’s question and possible answers through a hole in the Smart Box and must remove pegs, or markers, that are spread around the question. Removing them will reveal a tick or a cross to confirm whether the answer was correct or not.
Each turn, players can choose to answer the question or pass it to another player. Players making their guesses remove the markers to reveal if their answer is correct. If it was, they get to keep the marker and can make another guess if they wish. If they’re incorrect they lose any markers they’ve gained and are out of that round. If a player passes they are likewise out of the round but at least don’t lose their markers.
The round ends either when all markers are removed, all players have passed, or dropped out. The scores are then input into the Smart Box, markers are replaced, and a new card is slid into place for the next round.
The first to score a set amount of points wins. The game recommends 30 but also states you can choose a total that suits the size of the group and the length of game you want to play.
A unique and fun travel-sized game, Smart 10 involves risk and reward gameplay and tests players’ knowledge on a variety of topics. Super simple to learn so that almost anyone can take part, it’s a great game to play at home or take with you on the go. With 100 double-sided question cards, it will keep players guessing for a long time!
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Colorbrain
By: Big Potato Games Ages: 12+ Players: 2-12 Time: 30 minutes
Do you know what color an Amethyst crystal is? How about the colors on the flag of South Africa? And what about all four of the different Cadbury’s Mini Eggs? If so, you could play a pivotal role in helping your team win at Colourbrain!
Colorbrain gives players the answers to each question from the start. They just have to use the right one! Players will be given eleven cards at the beginning of the game, each one representing a different color. Question cards are then shuffled and placed with the question facing up.
When a question card is played, players will then need to use their cards to guess which color, or colors, the object or thing in the question is related to. For example, if the question asked “What are the colors of the Google logo?” the correct answer would be red, blue, yellow, and green.
Players will then lay the colors they think are correct face down to make their guesses. Luckily, each card gives a clue as to how many colors the subject on the card is to give players a bit of help. Once everyone has made their guess, the answer is revealed, along with each player’s guess.
Scoring is based on how many players guessed correctly and only if a player guesses right and at least one other player guesses wrong, they score a point. If all players correctly guess, nobody scores, but in the next round the players who guess correctly will receive a bonus point. If nobody guesses correctly then nobody gets any points.
The first to ten is the winner. With over 300 question cards, the game should keep you busy as you’ll rarely come across the same questions twice.
Colorbrain is simple, fun, and addictive! The questions offer a varied challenge, with some of the answers being common knowledge and others obscure, offering some hilarious answers. It makes for a great party game to play at home or take with you on the go!
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Guess In 10
By: Skillmatics Ages: 8+ Players: 2-6 Time: 30 minutes
Test your knowledge on all manner of subjects in this general knowledge card game. Use problem-solving skills to ask the most poignant questions in order to guess the correct answer. Be the first to collect seven game cards to win!
Guess in 10 is a quiz game that’s also highly educational. The gameplay revolves around players asking up to 10 questions to try and figure out what is on their opposing team’s card. The game can be played head-to-head but it’s recommended to break into teams if there are more than three players.
Each team will take three clue cards (to be used later) and the first player chooses the first card from the stack, keeping it hidden from the other team at all times. Each card has three buzzwords at the top and at the start of a turn, two of these are read out.
The guessing team can ask any question they like to figure out what’s on the card, as long as it can be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’. If the team is stumped, they can use their clue cards and the opposing team must read out facts listed on the card to help the other players with their guess. The clue cards must be discarded when used, so playing them tactically is important.
Two guesses can be made to identify what’s on the card but if both are incorrect the card is discarded. If it is guessed correctly, the card is won. There is a ‘double or nothing’ option once a card is guessed correctly: players can choose to answer the bonus question at the bottom of the card if they wish.
Answering it correctly will mean they win the card and all three buzzwords on the next card must be revealed. Answering incorrectly means they lose their card! Once a team claims seven cards they’re declared the winners.
Guess in 10 is a great game for kids and adults. It’s quick to learn, easy to play, and will teach you a thing or two. There are many different variations covering things like animals, capital cities, countries, and dinosaurs, so there’s something for everyone.
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Conclusion: Challenge Your Group to a Trivia Game!
Trivia board games are a fun and entertaining way to test your knowledge and learn something new in the process. Whether playing with friends, family, or strangers, these games offer a level playing field for all players regardless of age or background. With options ranging from light-hearted party games focused on pop culture trivia to more serious quiz-style challenges, there are trivia board games out there for every occasion.
So, gather your group and challenge them to a game of Smart 10, Colorbrain, or Guess In 10. Who will come out on top as the ultimate trivia champion? Play to find out! Keep exploring and discovering new games to add to your collection, and never stop learning with these fun and engaging trivia games. Happy playing!
FAQ: Trivia Games
Q: Can these trivia board games be played with all age groups?
A: While each game has a recommended age range, many of these games can be adapted to suit younger players with some creative tweaks. For instance, “Guess in 10” can be played with younger kids by choosing topics they are more familiar with.
Q: Are these trivia board games suitable for educational purposes?
A: Absolutely! Games like “Guess in 10” are not only fun but also offer an educational component, making them great for classrooms or learning environments to enhance students’ general knowledge and problem-solving skills.
Q: How long does it take to play these games?
A: The playtime varies for each game but generally ranges from 30 minutes to an hour. This makes them perfect for family game nights, parties, or quick educational activities in classrooms.
Q: Where can these games be purchased?
A: These games can be found at most major retailers, online game stores, or directly from the publishers’ websites. Prices and availability may vary, so it’s recommended to shop around for the best deal.
Q: Are there digital versions of these games available?
A: Some games may have digital versions or apps developed for them, providing a versatile way to enjoy these games on the go or with friends and family remotely. Check the respective game’s website or app stores for availability.
Q: How many players are needed to play these trivia board games?
A: The player count varies per game. “Smart 10” and “Colorbrain” can accommodate 2-12 players, making them ideal for large groups, whereas “Guess in 10” is suitable for 2-6 players, the perfect range for smaller gatherings or family play.