The trivia board games most people start with are Trivial Pursuit, Wits & Wagers, Smart Ass and Timeline. For families with younger kids, Trivial Pursuit Family Edition and Brain Quest cards work well, and for a big group around a TV, the trivia games in the Jackbox Party Packs or a Kahoot quiz are easy to set up.
The right pick depends less on how clever your group is and more on how they like to play. Some trivia games reward the person who knows the most. Others, like Wits & Wagers, give everyone a chance, even if they don't know a single answer. That difference matters a lot when you've got mixed ages or a quiet friend who hates being put on the spot.
The classic: Trivial Pursuit and its editions
Trivial Pursuit is the game that made trivia a board game. You roll a die, move around a wheel-shaped board and answer questions from different categories. Get a question right on a category space and you earn a coloured wedge. Fill your playing piece with one wedge from each category, then head to the centre and answer a final question to win.
Who it suits: groups who enjoy general knowledge and don't mind a longer game. Main strength: it's familiar, it covers a wide range of topics, and there are many editions, including versions themed around decades, films, TV shows and music. Main limit: a full game can drag, and players who know less can feel left out. Many people speed it up with house rules, such as needing fewer wedges or playing in teams.
A tip if you're choosing an edition: pick one that matches your group. A themed edition about a show everyone loves will get more laughs than a general one full of questions nobody can answer. If you like the old favourites, my guide to classic board games has more ideas.
Party trivia
Party trivia games are built for noise, quick rounds and bigger groups. They're less about one person being right and more about everyone joining in.
- Wits & Wagers. Every question has a number for an answer, like a year or a distance. Everyone writes a guess, the guesses go on the table in order, and then players place scoring tokens on the guess they think is closest. Who it suits: mixed groups, including people who say they're bad at trivia. Main strength: you can score well without knowing anything, just by reading the room. Main limit: some players find all the guessing less satisfying than a straight question and answer. Play for points only.
- Smart Ass. One player reads clues about a person, place or thing, starting hard and getting easier. Anyone can shout out an answer at any time, but a wrong guess knocks you out of that round. Who it suits: fast, competitive groups. Main strength: no waiting for your turn, so everyone's always in the game. Main limit: quieter players can get drowned out by loud ones.
- Timeline. Each card shows an event, invention or discovery, with the year on the back. You place your card in the line where you think it fits. Who it suits: history fans and small groups who want a quick game. Main strength: it's portable, fast to learn and you learn as you play. Main limit: once you've seen the cards a few times, you start remembering the dates.
One note: Cards Against Humanity often turns up on trivia lists, but it isn't a trivia game at all, so I've left it out. For more games built around laughs and big groups, see my guide to party board games.
Trivia for families with kids
Trivia can be tough for children when they're up against adults. These options even things out.
- Trivial Pursuit Family Edition. It has two sets of questions, one for kids and one for adults, so everyone gets questions at their level. Who it suits: families who want the classic game without the frustration. Main strength: it keeps kids in the game. Main limit: older kids may want the adult questions sooner than you'd think.
- Brain Quest. Card decks of quiz questions sorted by school year, often used at home or in the car. Who it suits: younger children and road trips. Main strength: no board needed and easy to pick up anywhere. Main limit: it feels more like learning than a party game, so it's not for every mood.
- Timeline. It works well for families too, because kids can make a sensible guess without knowing the exact year.
A simple trick for any trivia game with kids: let them answer with a clue or two, or let them team up with an adult. And if trivia isn't landing, switch to guessing games, which work for almost any age.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Trivia you can play on a phone or TV
If you'd rather skip the cards, screen-based trivia can be the easiest option for a crowd.
- Jackbox Party Packs. These are paid collections of party games for PC, consoles and smart TVs. Several packs include trivia games, such as Trivia Murder Party and You Don't Know Jack. Players join from their own phone's web browser with a room code, so nobody needs to install anything. Who it suits: big groups and remote game nights over a video call. Main strength: very little setup and lots of laughs. Main limit: you need the game on one device, and each pack only includes some trivia games.
- Kahoot. A quiz tool where a host shows questions on a big screen and players answer on their phones with a game PIN. It has a free plan. Who it suits: families, classrooms and anyone who wants to write their own questions. Main strength: you can make a quiz about anything, including your own family. Main limit: someone has to build or pick the quiz first.
- Trivia Crack. A free phone app where you spin a wheel of categories and answer questions against friends or strangers. Who it suits: solo players and people who want a quick game between other things. Main strength: easy, colourful and free to download. Main limit: it has ads and in-app purchases, and it's more of a one-on-one game than a group one.
Quick comparison
| Game | Players | Age | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trivial Pursuit | Two or more, or teams | Teens and adults | General knowledge fans |
| Trivial Pursuit Family Edition | Two or more, or teams | Kids and adults together | Family nights |
| Wits & Wagers | Small to big groups | Teens and adults | Mixed groups |
| Smart Ass | Small to big groups | Older kids and adults | Fast, loud games |
| Timeline | Two or more | Older kids and adults | Quick games and travel |
| Brain Quest | One or more | Young kids | Car trips and learning |
| Jackbox trivia games | Groups | Check each game's rating | Parties and video calls |
| Kahoot | Any size | All ages | Custom quizzes |
Host your own trivia night
You don't need a box to run a great trivia night. Here's a simple checklist:
- Pick a format. Teams of two to four work best. Plan a few short rounds rather than one long one.
- Choose themes. Mix general knowledge with rounds your group loves, like a favourite TV show, music or your family's own history.
- Write your own questions. Aim for a mix of easy, medium and hard. Every team should get some right.
- Keep score where everyone can see it. A whiteboard or a big sheet of paper keeps the energy up.
- Plan a tiebreaker. A number question where the closest guess wins works well.
Make a trivia game? See how to get it featured on this list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best-known trivia board game?
Trivial Pursuit is the best-known trivia board game. Players answer questions from different categories to collect a wedge for each one, then answer a final question in the centre to win.
Which trivia game is good for people who are bad at trivia?
Wits & Wagers is a good pick. Every answer is a number, and you can score by choosing which guess is closest, so you don't need to know the answer yourself.
What trivia games work for families with young kids?
Trivial Pursuit Family Edition has separate questions for kids and adults. Brain Quest cards suit younger children, and Timeline works because kids can make a sensible guess without knowing the exact year.
Can you play trivia games on a TV or phone?
Yes. The Jackbox Party Packs include trivia games that players join from their phones, Kahoot lets you build your own quiz, and Trivia Crack is a free phone app.
