Who said games are for kids? Games have no gender, age, or ethnicity. That’s the reason why everyone loves board games; they are inclusive. However, if your kids want to have a little fun on their own, that’s fine too!
Not all trivia board games for adults are suitable for children. For example, the classic versions of Trivial Pursuit games are recommended for players over the age of 16. A game might have an inappropriate theme or questions that your 8 year old daughter or son simply won’t know the answers to. Children often require different gameplay too, as adult games might be too long and complex.
That doesn’t mean you can’t still play together! Children’s games tend to have simpler themes, but the questions are still challenging for everyone. If you’re looking to spoil your baby a little bit or prepare a Christmas surprise for the whole family, then you’ve come to the right place.
Let’s skip ahead to the best game on this list. Though Trivial Pursuit for Kids: Nickelodeon Edition is my personal favorite, it’s not nearly as versatile as Wit’s End – Junior Edition. The game is quite similar to Trivial Pursuit, though Wit’s End is a popular brand on its own. There is an abundance of questions for children aged between 8 and 12. What really speaks to me is the game’s versatility. Not only is it fun, it is also educational and stimulating. What can be better than tricking your kids into learning something? It’s justified as long as it’s all in good fun! Keep reading for a full overview of some of the best trivia board games for kids.
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Buying Guide
Even though trivia board games for kids might seem like a niche category, there are still a lot to choose from. To narrow down your search, you can ask yourself a few questions.
For starters, are you actually buying a present for your child, or are you looking to treat the whole family? Some games have 2 separate question decks for children and adults. This feature makes the game more fun for both of you. Plus, your kids can keep playing as they grow up, and, eventually, they can switch to the adult questions. There is no need for a dual structure like this if you expect your kids to play with other children.
Another important question is: how old is your child? A game for 7 year olds won’t be interesting to 14 year olds, and vice versa. Some games do cater to a wider variety of ages. You should still look for something that will fit your kid’s age category best.
Does your kid have any interests or hobbies that you’d like to build on? Maybe they’re interested in national parks or animals. You can purchase an appropriately themed game that will encourage them to keep learning in a fun way. But don’t lose sight of the fact that the main purpose of any game is entertainment. You can contribute to that by finding a game your kid will actually enjoy. If they love Nickelodeon, for example, opt for a game that will have questions about their favorite shows.
Finally, look closely at the gameplay and format of the game. Some board games force players to focus on the gameplay and strategy more than on the actual questions. That’s OK, as long as your kids like the game. Many people prefer answering trivia questions and don’t really care about the board game element. That’s great too! Games with a large emphasis on the board often take longer to finish, which can make children impatient. Especially so if they’re playing with no adult supervision. Think about your child’s personality and focus on that.
Brain Games Kids
Rating: 3/5
If you’re familiar with the National Geographic series called Brain Games, then you’ll quickly recognize the concept of this game. It is basically the Brain Games board game, but for kids. The game can be fun for the whole family, as long as all players are at least 8 years old.
There are 128 challenge cards in the box. Unlike most trivia board games, this one asks the players to complete challenges too. That adds a fun and interactive edge to the game. 128 is not a large number, so you’ll probably go through all the questions rather quickly. That’s unfortunate, as the game will stop being fun after a while.
Though the recommended age is 8 and up, the game is not suitable for very young children. Some of the questions require basic science knowledge, and some kids only start taking science in middle school. One good thing is that you don’t really need the game board to play. You can play without it and it’s just as fun!
Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?
Rating: 3/5
Everybody knows the famous TV show “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” and its cheeky host Jeff Foxworthy. Now you can reenact it in your living room with this board game. The object of the game is to earn money. Though the game has 5th Grader in the title, you don’t need to be in 5th grade to play. In fact, the questions range from 1st to 5th grade, so everyone 8 and up can play.
The game is perfect for a family game night. If you’re not confident about your own answer, you can cheat and peek at your opponent’s answer. The game comes with 650 questions. One major complaint many people have is that they’re unable to read the questions and answers. This is because you have to use a special red decoder that the game comes with. That makes it difficult to understand what the question cards say. I would have rated the game a 4/5 if it wasn’t for that. Otherwise, the game is good fun for the whole family.
Buffalo Games: Weird But True Board Game
Rating: 4/5
This board game is based on the Weird But True! book series by National Geographic. If your kids are familiar with it, then they’ll have a splendid time playing the game! The game allows for up to 5 players at a time.
There are several features that make this game stand out. For starters, a game only lasts between 20 and 40 minutes. Nobody likes when things drag on — and children tend to be especially impatient. Half an hour is the perfect playing time. You can finish a whole game without complaining or getting bored.
All the players get to answer all the questions, so nobody ends up feeling left out. One card can have multiple winners too. It’s the perfect situation if you’re playing with someone who hates to lose. There are a variety of fun categories that keep the game fresh. True or false questions are titled Fact or Fiction, Brain Blitz refers to the exercise where you have to name as many things in one category as you can, and Eye Wonder asks players to guess what an image shows based on its closeup.
The game is especially fun for those who like the Weird But True! series. Your kids will have a blast playing this game, but it won’t be long before they know the answers to all the questions. It’s a good game to play infrequently, because it can easily get boring if played too often.
Trivial Pursuit for Kids – Volume 6
Rating: 4/5
This is the latest edition of Trivial Pursuit for Kids. It is basically just like a traditional game of Trivial Pursuit, except the questions are tailored to kids. There are 1,200 multiple-choice questions, which makes the game more fun to play and speeds it up. The 6 categories are specifically tailored to children: All About Nature; Fun & Games; Today & Tomorrow; Whatever; Yesterday; Music, Movies & More. The game is meant for all players 8 and up.
There’s no denying that the game is quite fun for kids. If they are ever jealous or want to play the adult Trivial Pursuit, this edition should satisfy their craving. Trivial Pursuit games are generally fun to play and easy to follow.
However, even though the game is specifically made for kids, your youngest children will definitely require adult supervision. You can explain the game and help them understand the rules by playing a few rounds with them.
Trivial Pursuit: Family Edition (2008)
Rating: 4.5/5
If you grew up playing Trivial Pursuit with your family, you know how frustrating the game can be for young children. Hopefully, this edition of the game will take some of the pressure off the younger players. The game comes in the classic Trivial Pursuit format, but there are 2 separate question decks. Half of the 1,200 questions are for kids and the other half is for adults.
Right off the bat, it’s safe to say that the game is very inclusive. Anyone can play, be it your great grandpa or youngest sibling. In short, the game is fun for the whole family. It is also not as slow paced as some of the other Trivial Pursuit games. If you still find the game too slow for your liking, you can play the short game. In that version, players can get a colored wedge for every question answered correctly. That’s a great feature, considering kids can get quite impatient.
One complaint many people had is about the content of the questions. There are far too many questions about pop culture. If you don’t watch a lot of TV and your kids prefer reading, then you will have a hard time playing the game.
Trivial Pursuit: Disney For All
Rating: 4.5/5
If you’re an old fan of Trivial Pursuit, then you’re definitely familiar with all the old school Disney versions of the game. This is the latest one, so it’s probably the one you would be buying. The game is intended for the whole family to play together. Unlike the Nickelodeon version, you don’t actually have to be a Disney genius to play and win.
The box claims that the game is suitable for children starting at age of 8. In reality, the game is probably only suitable for kids around that age. That’s not a bad thing! The questions are rather simple, so hardcore Disney fans would not be challenged.
You can play this game with 3 or more other players. There are 3 categories/question types that allow players to win without knowing much about Disney. Take 2 Trivia gives players 2 chances to earn a point (or wedge). My Disney consists of personal trivia, and Disney List invites players to create lists or eliminate options from lists.
Overall, it is a good game for younger kids. Its main advantage is that players don’t have to be obsessed with Disney to play. However, that’s its main disadvantage too. Players claim that the older versions had better questions and were more challenging. The game is also filled with questions about the Disney channel, which some parents don’t approve of. I think it’s the perfect game for children. It’s not too challenging and it’s appealing to the eye!
Trivial Pursuit for Kids: Nickelodeon Edition
Rating: 5/5
The Nickelodeon Edition of Trivial Pursuit is quite similar to the Disney Edition. There is nothing difficult or unusual about the gameplay. You’ll know what I’m talking about if you’ve ever played Trivial Pursuit. If you haven’t, then you’ll pick it up very quickly.
The game comes with over 1,000 multiple-choice questions, which, once again, is the perfect format for children. The questions focus on fan favorite movies and shows such as SpongeBob SquarePants, The Fairly OddParents, and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron. If your kids grew up watching Nickelodeon, then they’ll have a lot of fun playing this game.
However, kids that are not familiar with the shows will have a rather hard time playing. This game is not as popular as the Disney version, but it’s a great alternative that people of all ages can enjoy!
Wit’s End – Junior Edition
Rating: 5/5
You might be familiar with the adult version of Wit’s End. Imagine the same game, but for children aged 8-12. There are 1,280 questions, which is more than in most other board games. Each question card has 2 sides, with questions for 8-10 year olds on one side, and 11-12 year olds on the other side.
This game can be fun for the whole family if played at home, but teachers also use it in schools to educate their pupils. The questions are quite educational and entertaining, but the actual board game is not for everyone. To my surprise, some people called it boring. Overall, it is quite similar to Trivial Pursuit. If you’re looking for an intellectually challenging trivia game, then this is a great option!
This marks the end of our list, but there are so many more games you can explore! If you’re deciding between two games, read the reviews. The reviews will tell you everything you need to know about any game, from one player to another. And while we’re done with this section of the article, you can read on for some honorable mentions. These games are out of print and harder to get, but they sure set the bar for trivia board games now!
Trivial Pursuit: Master Game – Young Players Edition (1984)
Trivial Pursuit dates all the way back to the 1980s. The iconic board game brand first came out with a board game for younger players in 1984. The original game is quite difficult to find now. The truth is, your kids probably wouldn’t even enjoy it, as the questions will appear dated and irrelevant. Nevertheless, it is still an iconic children’s trivia board game.
The game was made for children 7 and up. Much like other trivia board games for children, Trivial Pursuit was meant for the whole family. It is hard to tell how everyone reacted at the time, as there were no social media platforms where people could share their opinions. It’s safe to say that it was definitely a revolutionary product, however!
Trivial Pursuit: Master Game – Walt Disney Family Edition (1985)
The original Disney edition of Trivial Pursuit made quite the stir in the world of board games. You can tell that the brand put a lot of thought into the game. Each category of questions was meant to represent a Disney world or theme park. The game came with 2 question decks; 1 for adults and 1 for kids.
The best part is that not all the questions are about Disney! You could tell that Disney was the general theme, but there were general knowledge questions too. It was an outstanding game for the whole family. No matter how many times the brand tries to recreate it, it will never be quite as exciting as it was in 1985!
Win, lose, or draw
Are you actually smarter than a 5th grader? Of course, the point is to have fun, not to win! However, your kids might disagree. Let them play, and learn how to win and lose. If they have fun, that’s all that matters. And if they learn a thing or two, that’s a nice bonus! And for more trivia games for the whole family, check out this list! Plus, entertain the kids with these 100 trivia questions just for them and 55 Kids’ Jeopardy! questions!
Are you familiar with any of these games? Tell us about your experience in the comments! What game would you like to hear about next?
If your kids are into Harry Potter, be sure to check out our top picks for Harry Potter trivia games.
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