Playing Trivial Pursuit as a board game in the traditional way is still fun, but it is certainly worth exploring the other options and other versions of the game that are out there in order to get your trivia fix. Trivial Pursuit is a brand that people know and are familiar with and as such there are versions of the game available all over the digital world. This means that if you have access to a PC, to a phone, or to a video game console, then you will be able to play the game whenever you like.
One of the big bonuses when it comes to playing in a digital space is that you don’t need a group of friends in the same room to make a game happen. Be it answering questions in a single player mode – or playing live with people from around the world – playing the game digitally allows for a different experience with a level of competition even if you feel like getting your trivia on at 3am in your local time zone.
Here is a guide to show you how to play Trivial Pursuit online in a number of different ways and on a number of different operating systems and platforms:
Trivial Pursuit on iOS/Android
At one point there was an app-based version of the game called Trivial Pursuit & Friends. This version of the game was also the best way to play Trivial Pursuit online PC. It no longer seems to be available in the App Store or for download via Microsoft as of writing (November 2020) so anyone looking to work trivia into their schedules will have to look for a different game.
We did an in-depth look into why there aren’t any apps for TP and what your alternatives are — here.
Trivial Pursuit Live!
Trivial Pursuit Live! from Ubisoft is the main way to play Trivial Pursuit on modern consoles. Released in conjunction with Hasbro Games in 2015, this game is available to play on Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, and PS3. It is a game that will let you play trivial pursuit on Xbox One with multiple controllers and it has Trivial Pursuit live online multiplayer. The best part is that it lets you play Trivial Pursuit online free after you have purchased the base game for your desired console.
This game is unlike the Trivial Pursuit board game that many people are used to. There is no board, there are no dice, instead the format is based more around that of a quiz show as you try to prove your knowledge is superior to those you are playing against. These competitors can either be on the couch with you – the best way to play the game for the sake of rivalry and banter – or online against people from all over the world. You can also play against the AI in a pinch.
Question categories cover all the different areas of general knowledge you would expect and there is a decent amount of variety in how the questions are answered via a number of different minigames. One issue is a pretty repetitive host, but outside of that this version of Trivial Pursuit – with its slightly scaled back difficulty – is one that most adults can enjoy regardless of their overall trivia capability.
Trivial Pursuit Live Switch
This version of the game is basically the same as the one mentioned above. The main difference is that it was released in 2018 due to the Switch being a later condole release than the PS4 and Xbox One. Like the other versions, however, there seem to be some issues with online play, meaning that it is much more fun as a couch play type of game with friends and family in the same room. Adapted difficulty levels and catch up rounds mean that the trivia buff in the family won’t be running away with this version of the game as can sometimes happen in the original board game. This makes for a much more rewarding gameplay experience for everyone involved.
Trivial Pursuit Steam
There is no official version of Trivial Pursuit available on Steam from either Ubisoft of Hasbro Games. That does not, however, mean that the platform is without at least one adaptation of Trivial Pursuit, you just have go a roundabout way to get there.
Tabletop Simulator was released in July 2015 by Berserk Games as a multiplayer physics sandbox where players were able to create their own version of tabletop games for the community to download and play. Trivial Pursuit for Tabletop Simulator is the version of the game available that will be most familiar to players of the board game. The game has been updated as recently as 2019 and it now features over 5,000 questions with cards from the first and second Genus editions, some custom questions from the creators, and niche card sets in Lord of the Rings and Dr. Who. With the classic board and dice rolling action, choose this game if you want your digital experience to mirror what everyone loves about Trivial Pursuit in the first place in this Trivial Pursuit online app.
Disney Trivial Pursuit Online
This is a catchall heading for the various niche and geek editions of the game that has a physical presence in terms of a board game but no online trivia version. There are plenty of Disney quizzes and trivia sites out there, just none under the Trivial Pursuit banner at this time. This might have something to do with the licensing issues that can crop up when creating games in different spaces and media formats.
Trivial Pursuit Online Games
The only version of Trivial Pursuit that is available to play online on a PC without buying software at this point is the Trivial Pursuit Genus Edition from Zylom Games. This is a subscription-based service with thousands of games to choose from across all genres, with Trivial Pursuit being one of them. The game features three modes – one of them being a local multiplayer – and has over 2,000 questions localized to the country that the player is playing in. The Solitaire mode is about as close as you can get to the board game version of Trivial Pursuit in the digital space from a licensed game, though one major difference to account for the limitations of a PC is that every question is multiple choice.
Trivial Pursuit Tap
You can now play a game of Trivial Pursuit on your Amazon Echo device with this Alexa Amazon skill. Read our in-depth guide and review of it here.
Conclusion
Trivial Pursuit is an established brand and as a result, it is fair to expect that it would have a robust presence in the digital market. This, however, is simply not the case. There is basically nothing available for those looking to play on the PC with the feel of an actual game of Trivial Pursuit, while there is nothing at all available on phones or tablets.
This seems like a massive oversight given how people like to game as we move into the 2020s – especially given that a bite-sized trivia format would totally fit in with that market with its ‘play on the go’ type of content (and a trend toward virtual trivia events).
There are many trivia apps out there and it seems like – for now at least – Hasbro Games are content to leave the digital space for other developers while concentrating on their core brand of board games to be played physically and in person.
Want to challenge friends & strangers online at a game other than TP? Check out our big list of online trivia competitions, including some that have cash prizes!
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