Trivial Pursuit has been with us for decades (since 1981, to be exact!). You probably remember finding an edition under the tree on Christmas morning as a kid or playing with your friends in middle school. Trivial Pursuit will forever stay in our hearts, no matter how old the original game gets.
Besides, Hasbro (the manufacturer of Trivial Pursuit games) continues to surprise us with new editions of Trivial Pursuit every year. The games never get a chance to get old because many are up to date. If you’re bored of general knowledge, that’s not a problem. Trivial Pursuit has got a game for every interest, no matter how niche (trust us, there is a lot—in fact, we have a complete list of every Trivial Pursuit game right on this very website).
We could go on and on about how great Trivial Pursuit is. The truth is, it will always stay in our board game collections, and the original Genus will forever be one of the best of all time, but sometimes you need to spice things up a bit. When Trivial Pursuit gets boring, we recommend you try out a different trivia board game with similar gameplay. Who knows, maybe that’s just the thing you need to get you excited about trivia again!
You will have a lot of fun choosing the right game for you. Each game on this list is unique in its own way. They are all fun and so different, while maintaining some classic elements of Trivial Pursuit gameplay.
It’s hard to pick the best fun alternative to Trivial Pursuit, but we have to. For the sake of the argument, it will have to be the first game on this list—Bezzerwizzer. Bezzerwizzer is an excellent alternative to Trivial Pursuit that invites players to get into teams and test their knowledge in 20 different categories. You don’t have to scroll too far to learn more about it. Just keep reading!
Bezzerwizzer
Bezzerwizzer is often compared to Trivial Pursuit, though it actually has very distinct features of its own. The game originated in Denmark, hence the name. In translation from German, the word actually means something like “know-it-all,” which is perfect for all Trivial Pursuit players! Jokes aside, Bezzerwizzer fits in this category of games because it requires players to answer trivia questions and move around the board.
Bezzerwizzer features other elements that are unlike any regular game of Trivial Pursuit. For instance, the game requires players to get into teams, which significantly speeds up the gameplay. The game is played in rounds. Each round, each team has to draw four categories out of 20. You then get the chance to answer questions and move around the board if you answer correctly. The fun begins when you can swap categories with other teams and steal questions from your opponents.
There is a more significant element of strategy to Bezzerwizzer than Trivial Pursuit. If you’re looking for a game that will challenge you mentally, this is a great option. The challenge doesn’t lie so much in the actual questions, though. You don’t need to have a lot of trivia knowledge to play and win. The US version of the game offers a whopping 3,000 questions in 20 different categories. The abundance of categories makes the game more diverse and inclusive for a wide range of players.
- This is Bezzerwizzer
- The game of trivia, tactics and trickery
- It's a friendly competition to be the first to the finishing line
- A game of quick wit and tenacious tactics
- The real trick is to win
Wit’s End
Wit’s End has virtually the same gameplay as Trivial Pursuit. You answer questions and move along on the board to reach your final destination and win. Naturally, the first player to reach the end of the board wins the game. Much like with Trivial Pursuit, the last square is actually in the center of the board, so all players are invited to make their way inwards. Roll the die, answer questions, and move your token on the board.
The questions are not as difficult as those in Trivial Pursuit Genus, but they are rather similar. While Trivial Pursuit tests how book smart you are, Wit’s End tests your wits. In other words, you’ll encounter more questions than the answers to which you just know, without any real explanation. One thing that makes the game quite difficult is that you get demoted if you answer incorrectly. Thus you have to work twice as hard to compensate for your mistakes.
Just like Trivial Pursuit, the game is about an hour long. This is a great substitution for those who are tired of Trivial Pursuit’s questions. Wit’s End features a variety of question types, such as Teaser, Odd1Out, Sequence, and Wild Card. Wild Card features a number of different subcategories, like Brain Trivia, True of False, and Matching Pairs. Sequence invited players to list items. Odd1Out asks you to point out the item that doesn’t belong. Teaser is full of fun riddles.
- Wit's End is a challenging trivia and brain-teasing game that will test your wits as well as your knowledge. Answer questions in four unique mind-challenging categories as you work your way to the top of the board.
- Think laterally and wrap your mind around a TEASER, deduce the ODD-1-OUT, figure out the SEQUENCE, or try your luck in the WILD CARD category. These four unique categories engage your powers of deduction as well as your knowledge.
- The question cards are packed with trivia, riddles and brain teasers on history, current affairs, popular culture, geography, science, arts and more. This game will engage friends and family in a wide array of subjects.
- So think hard and have fun being at your Wit's End! Award-winning classic party and trivia game for adults and family. For 2 to 6 players or group teams. Ages 16 to Adult.
- Click the Wit's End video to play a round of the game. Are you ready for the challenge? Give it your best! Experience the excitement in pursuit of the winning answer.
Wits & Wagers
If you’re looking for a general knowledge trivia game like Trivial Pursuit, Wits & Wagers is the right call. Much like classic Trivial Pursuit, this game offers fantastic general knowledge trivia for players from the age of 10. The wide age range is very inclusive, even more so than standard Trivial Pursuit games. Another thing players will find exciting is that the average game can be as short as 25 minutes. It’s the perfect time frame for those who get bored easily. At the same time, you can continue playing again and again if you enjoy the game.
One major difference between Wits & Wagers and Trivial Pursuit is that Wits & Wagers features a gambling element. Players get to bet on the answer that they think is closest to the correct one. It could be your own answer, or it could be someone else’s. You don’t have to rely purely on your knowledge of random trivia facts. You can win by betting on your friends.
This game is similar to Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It, where players get to bet on whether or not their friends know the answers. Though the games are quite different, they still have a similar concept. If you’ve tried the Trivial Pursuit version and liked it, you are guaranteed to enjoy Wits & Wagers! Wits & Wagers comes in different editions. Each features unique elements of its own. Browse through the games to find the one that suits the occasion best.
- Most Award-Winning Party Game in History - Get ready for endless fun and learning with the best rated board game for families and friends.
- Trivia without needing to be a buff - The hit game where you don’t need to know the answers to win. The real fun is betting on the best guess!
- Party Atmosphere - Experience the thrill of the casino with a high-rolling trivia gaming experience! Get lucky, and you'll cheer like you hit the jackpot!
- Family Friendly - Trivia questions are suitable for players ages 10+, but are also kid-friendly. Perfect for a family or fun casino game night with friends!
- Deluxe Edition - Casino-quality wagering chips, crease-free felt mat, deluxe dry-erase markers with erasers and Premium cardboard currency chips.
Smart Ass
Smart Ass resembles Trivial Pursuit visually, but the game itself follows a different rhetoric. The similarity between the two lies in the game board. Players have to follow the circular track to get to the final square. Naturally, the first person to reach the finish line wins. It can be as low as two players. The game is suitable for players from the age of 12, so it’s quite inclusive. You can only assume that there are no controversial questions, since children are invited to play too.
The game board comes with a deck of cards. On these cards are questions. Well, kind of. The cards feature descriptions of items, one item per card. Your opponent reads them out in a sequence from most difficult to easiest. While that’s happening, you have to guess the item they’re describing. It’s not exactly trivia, but it’s an excellent substitute for trivia and no less fun than Trivial Pursuit.
In this game, you want to be called the smart ass. That’s the general goal of most trivia games, so Smart Ass is not too far off. This is an interesting take on trivia board games. Smart Ass has the board element, but the trivia is upside down. The items are usually quite simple, which allows children to join in on the fun. However, it’s a challenge to guess the item from the first description. Perhaps, it could be a challenge you would enjoy. There’s only one way to find out!
- Shouting Allowed: Play Smart Ass, the game where it's ok to yell out the answer, even when it's not your turn.
- Answer Correctly and Win: Be the first to answer the who, What, and where Am I questions, and move closer to being the ultimate Smart Ass
- More Content: Are you already a Smart Ass fan, but ready feel like you’ve played your original game to death? Have no fear! All new content is here! Smart Ass is new again, with completely new topics and clues.
- What's Included: Game Board, 6 Playing Pieces and Stands, 411 Question Cards, Jumbo Category Die, Jumbo Movement Die, Instructions
- Why We Love It: If you're looking for a fun family game that will get everyone laughing while they exercise their brains, Smart Ass is it! It's a fast-paced party game with tons of questions about people, places and things. You'll be surprised how much you know when the pressure's on to come up with answers quickly. The first person to answer the topic card correctly earns the point and the bragging rights among the group, of course!
Phone Phever
While most board games are centered around getting your kids away from their phones, Phone Phever actually encourages phone usage. This unusual game is perfect for teenagers who cannot get off their phones, and their parents who just want to spend some quality time together. Trivial Pursuit might not be reason enough for the youngsters to get downstairs and play a game with their families. Maybe Phone Phever will do the trick!
Much like Trivial Pursuit, this game includes six categories of trivia: music, movies, TV, history and technology, law and politics, and the rest of Western pop culture. Right off the bat, we see that the categories are centered around pop culture rather than things you could learn in school. That will definitely get your teenage children going more than the geography and literature categories in Trivial Pursuit. Besides questions, Phone Phever also features challenges. You could be asked to type something using only your nose, for example.
As you already gathered, the game involves phones. That’s right, players are asked to answer questions alone or with the help of Google. If all the players are tech addicts, Phone Phever becomes a game of who can Google something faster. At least you get to do it together with your friends or family, right?
So, how is it similar to Trivial Pursuit? The game board, of course! Players get to move around the board until they arrive at their final destination in the center of the board. The first one to get there is the winner. Phone Phever is a suitable game for those who want to get a little bit further away from their roots (those being Trivial Pursuit, of course) and explore new genres of trivia. It is still a trivia board game, but it’s more entertaining for the younger generation. The ability to use phones keeps the gameplay short and sweet, so nobody can get bored.
- Perfect gift for board game lovers, adults, teens, tweens and all smartphone addicts!
- Cards offer 1,200 unique trivia questions and challenges across six different trivia categories - TV, music, movies, law and politics, history and technology, and everything else!
- 3 or more players or teams; Ages 13 to adult; 30-60 min. play time
- This award-winning game is compatible with ALL smartphones (smartphone not included); no app required
- The Uproarious Game of Smartphones and Phone Smarts - only your phone needs to be smart!
Buying Guide
Each and every one of these games is so unique and special that picking the best game becomes absolutely impossible. At the same time, because they are so different, you can easily identify what you do and don’t like. For instance, if you don’t like smartphones and don’t think they belong in board games, don’t go for the last game on the list—Phone Phever. On the other hand, if you are not the biggest trivia buff or simply want to appease your teenage daughter who won’t get off her phone unless she’s in the shower, go for Phone Phever!
A great advantage of Phone Phever is that it features quick gameplay. Nobody will have enough time to get bored. If you suffer from a short attention span, you will also enjoy Wits & Wagers and Bezzerwizzer. All three games are quite fast-paced and raunchy. Beside the obvious trivia element, they all require some extra strategy on your part. Bezzerwizzer is extra special because it invites players to split into teams. While any game on this list can be played in teams, Bezzerwizzer should be your pick if you intend on always playing in teams.
Wit’s End is probably the closest you can get to Trivial Pursuit on this list. The game features pretty standard gameplay with pretty standard questions. If you find Trivial Pursuit boring, then you’ll find that Wit’s End has less of the boring stuff and more of the pop culture stuff. Wits & Wagers bears similarities with Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It. If you’ve been a fan of that particular edition, then the gambler in you will definitely love Wits & Wagers.
Finally, Smart Ass. There is a very specific market for that game, and that is people who don’t enjoy trivia that much. It’s a bit more of a guessing game with some elements of trivia, but not too many. If you have grown really bored of trivia and are looking to ease back into it, Smart Ass might just be your way in. Plus, you can play with people from all age groups.
Play On, Player!
There is no definitive answer to the question of which game is the best on this list. You know which one is most similar to Trivial Pursuit, which one is best for teenagers, and which one is actually Swedish. Do with that information what you will. One thing is for sure, if Trivial Pursuit is not your jam at the moment, but you’re not ready to leave trivia behind completely, these games can offer just the right entertainment. Be sure to also check out the lists of our picks for the best trivia board games, the best trivia board games for kids, the best trivia games for families, the best family Trivial Pursuit games, the best multiplayer trivia games, and a ranking of the newest trivia board games currently available. None of this for you? Try your hand at making your own trivia game!
Have you tried any of these games? Which one is your favorite? Which game do you think is the best alternative to good old Trivial Pursuit?
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