You’ve got friends coming over, snacks are ready, and now you need the perfect trivia questions to make your game night memorable. The problem? Most trivia lists online are either too easy (everyone knows the capital of France) or so obscure that nobody has fun.
The Quick Answer: The best trivia questions hit the sweet spot—challenging enough to spark debate, but not so impossible that everyone shrugs. Mix categories, include a few gimmes for confidence, and throw in some questions that make people say “I should have known that!”
I’ve hosted dozens of game nights over the years, and I’ve learned that the right mix of questions transforms a good evening into a great one. Here are 150+ trivia questions organized by category, from crowd-pleasers to brain-busters.
How to Run a Great Trivia Night
Before diving into the questions, a few tips from experience:
- Mix difficulties within each round: Start with an easier question to build confidence, then escalate
- Keep teams to 3-5 people: Larger teams mean some players never contribute
- Use a visible scoreboard: Competition drives engagement
- Read questions twice: People miss details the first time
- Have a tiebreaker ready: “Closest without going over” number questions work perfectly
For planning your perfect trivia setup, check out our board game night ideas for more hosting tips.
General Knowledge Questions
These questions work with almost any crowd—not too specialized, but not boring either.
- Q: What is the smallest country in the world by land area?
A: Vatican City (approximately 0.17 square miles) - Q: How many hearts does an octopus have?
A: Three - Q: What is the hardest natural substance on Earth?
A: Diamond - Q: Which planet has the most moons in our solar system?
A: Saturn (currently 146 confirmed moons) - Q: What is the only letter that doesn’t appear in any U.S. state name?
A: Q - Q: How many bones are in the adult human body?
A: 206 - Q: What is the largest organ in the human body?
A: The skin - Q: Which country has the longest coastline in the world?
A: Canada - Q: What is the chemical symbol for gold?
A: Au (from Latin “aurum”) - Q: How many time zones does Russia span?
A: 11 - Q: What is the only mammal capable of true flight?
A: Bat - Q: Which ocean is the largest?
A: Pacific Ocean - Q: What does DNA stand for?
A: Deoxyribonucleic acid - Q: How many players are on a cricket team?
A: 11 - Q: What is the capital of Australia?
A: Canberra (not Sydney!)
Movies & TV Questions
Entertainment questions are crowd favorites—most people can contribute even if they’re not “trivia people.”
- Q: What was the first feature-length animated movie ever released?
A: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) - Q: Which actor has won the most Academy Awards?
A: Katharine Hepburn (4 wins) - Q: What is the highest-grossing film of all time (not adjusted for inflation)?
A: Avatar (2009) - Q: In “The Office” (US), what is the name of the paper company?
A: Dunder Mifflin - Q: Which movie features the line “Here’s looking at you, kid”?
A: Casablanca (1942) - Q: How many films are in the Harry Potter series?
A: Eight - Q: What animated film features a clownfish named Marlin searching for his son?
A: Finding Nemo - Q: Which TV show features a fictional paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania?
A: The Office - Q: Who directed “Jurassic Park”?
A: Steven Spielberg - Q: What is the name of the coffee shop in “Friends”?
A: Central Perk - Q: Which actor plays Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
A: Robert Downey Jr. - Q: What year was the first “Star Wars” film released?
A: 1977 - Q: In “Breaking Bad,” what subject does Walter White teach?
A: Chemistry - Q: Which film won the first Academy Award for Best Picture?
A: Wings (1927) - Q: What is the name of the fictional kingdom in “Frozen”?
A: Arendelle
Music Questions
Music trivia spans generations, making it perfect for mixed-age groups.
- Q: Which band was Freddie Mercury the lead singer of?
A: Queen - Q: What instrument has 88 keys?
A: Piano - Q: Who is known as the “King of Pop”?
A: Michael Jackson - Q: Which song holds the record for most weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100?
A: “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X (19 weeks) - Q: What was Elvis Presley’s first #1 hit?
A: “Heartbreak Hotel” (1956) - Q: How many members were in the original Spice Girls lineup?
A: Five - Q: Which country did ABBA come from?
A: Sweden - Q: What instrument does a timpanist play?
A: Kettledrums (timpani) - Q: Who wrote the song “Imagine”?
A: John Lennon - Q: Which artist has won the most Grammy Awards of all time?
A: Beyoncé (32 Grammys as of 2024) - Q: What is the best-selling album of all time?
A: “Thriller” by Michael Jackson - Q: Which Beatles album features them crossing Abbey Road?
A: Abbey Road - Q: What was Madonna’s first #1 hit in the US?
A: “Like a Virgin” - Q: How many strings does a standard guitar have?
A: Six - Q: Which rapper’s real name is Marshall Mathers?
A: Eminem
History Questions
History buffs love these, but keep the mix accessible for casual players too.
- Q: In what year did World War II end?
A: 1945 - Q: Who was the first person to walk on the moon?
A: Neil Armstrong (July 20, 1969) - Q: What ancient wonder of the world still exists today?
A: The Great Pyramid of Giza - Q: Which ship sank on its maiden voyage in 1912?
A: RMS Titanic - Q: Who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
A: Michelangelo - Q: What year did the Berlin Wall fall?
A: 1989 - Q: Who was the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?
A: Margaret Thatcher - Q: In what year did the United States declare independence?
A: 1776 - Q: Which civilization built Machu Picchu?
A: The Inca - Q: What was the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America?
A: The Mayflower - Q: Who was the first Emperor of Rome?
A: Augustus (Octavian) - Q: What year did humans first land on the moon?
A: 1969 - Q: Which war was fought between the North and South regions of the United States?
A: The Civil War (1861-1865) - Q: What ancient library was one of the largest and most significant of the ancient world?
A: The Library of Alexandria - Q: Who invented the telephone?
A: Alexander Graham Bell
Science & Nature Questions
These questions satisfy curious minds and often spark interesting discussions.
- Q: What planet is known as the “Red Planet”?
A: Mars - Q: What is the chemical formula for water?
A: H₂O - Q: How long does it take for light from the Sun to reach Earth?
A: About 8 minutes (8 minutes and 20 seconds) - Q: What is the largest mammal in the world?
A: Blue whale - Q: What gas do plants absorb from the atmosphere?
A: Carbon dioxide (CO₂) - Q: How many bones does a shark have?
A: Zero (their skeleton is made of cartilage) - Q: What is the speed of light?
A: Approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (or about 186,000 miles per second) - Q: Which animal can sleep for up to 3 years?
A: Snail - Q: What is the most abundant gas in Earth’s atmosphere?
A: Nitrogen (about 78%) - Q: What is the hottest planet in our solar system?
A: Venus (due to its thick atmosphere trapping heat) - Q: How many stomachs does a cow have?
A: Four (technically four compartments) - Q: What is the process by which plants make their own food using sunlight?
A: Photosynthesis - Q: What animal has the longest lifespan?
A: Greenland shark (can live over 400 years) - Q: What is the largest desert in the world?
A: Antarctica (a cold desert) - Q: What part of the human body contains the most gold?
A: The toenails (though the amount is microscopic)
Sports Questions
Sports trivia gets competitive players engaged—these questions range from common knowledge to deeper cuts.
- Q: How many players are on a basketball team on the court at once?
A: Five - Q: Which country won the first FIFA World Cup?
A: Uruguay (1930) - Q: In tennis, what is a score of zero called?
A: Love - Q: How many holes are played in a standard round of golf?
A: 18 - Q: Which NBA player is known as “His Airness”?
A: Michael Jordan - Q: What sport is played at Wimbledon?
A: Tennis - Q: How many rings are on the Olympic flag?
A: Five - Q: Which country has won the most FIFA World Cup titles?
A: Brazil (5 titles) - Q: What is the maximum score possible in ten-pin bowling?
A: 300 (a perfect game) - Q: In which sport would you perform a slam dunk?
A: Basketball - Q: How long is a marathon?
A: 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometers) - Q: Which team has won the most Super Bowls?
A: New England Patriots (tied at 6 with Pittsburgh Steelers) - Q: What sport uses the terms “strike” and “spare”?
A: Bowling - Q: In which city were the first modern Olympic Games held?
A: Athens, Greece (1896) - Q: What is the national sport of Canada?
A: Lacrosse (summer) and Ice Hockey (winter)
Food & Drink Questions
Everyone eats—these questions are accessible and often surprising.
- Q: What is the main ingredient in guacamole?
A: Avocado - Q: Which country produces the most coffee in the world?
A: Brazil - Q: What is sushi traditionally wrapped in?
A: Seaweed (nori) - Q: What fruit is known as the “king of fruits” and has a notoriously strong smell?
A: Durian - Q: What is the most consumed beverage in the world after water?
A: Tea - Q: What nut is used to make marzipan?
A: Almond - Q: Which country is the origin of the croissant?
A: Austria (though popularized in France) - Q: What is the hottest pepper in the world (as of 2024)?
A: Carolina Reaper (though Pepper X has challenged this) - Q: What type of pasta is shaped like little ears?
A: Orecchiette - Q: What gives bread its holes?
A: Carbon dioxide gas from yeast fermentation - Q: What is the most expensive spice in the world by weight?
A: Saffron - Q: Which country invented pizza?
A: Italy - Q: What is the primary ingredient in hummus?
A: Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) - Q: What type of food is Brie?
A: Cheese - Q: What vegetable was used to carve jack-o’-lanterns before pumpkins?
A: Turnips
Geography Questions
Geography questions test general awareness—perfect for well-traveled groups or armchair explorers.
- Q: Which is the only continent that has land in all four hemispheres?
A: Africa - Q: What is the longest river in the world?
A: The Nile (though the Amazon is close and debated) - Q: Which city is known as the “Big Apple”?
A: New York City - Q: What is the tallest mountain in the world?
A: Mount Everest (8,849 meters / 29,032 feet) - Q: Which country has the most natural lakes?
A: Canada - Q: What is the capital of Japan?
A: Tokyo - Q: Which two countries share the longest border?
A: Canada and the United States - Q: What is the smallest continent by land area?
A: Australia (or Oceania, depending on definition) - Q: Which river flows through Paris?
A: The Seine - Q: What country has the most pyramids?
A: Sudan (not Egypt!) - Q: What is the largest country by land area?
A: Russia - Q: Which desert is the largest hot desert in the world?
A: The Sahara - Q: What is the deepest lake in the world?
A: Lake Baikal in Russia - Q: Which city straddles two continents?
A: Istanbul (Europe and Asia) - Q: What country has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
A: Italy
Pop Culture & Internet Questions
These questions skew younger and keep things current—great for groups under 40.
- Q: What does “FOMO” stand for?
A: Fear Of Missing Out - Q: Which social media platform has a character limit of 280 characters?
A: X (formerly Twitter) - Q: What was the first video to reach 1 billion views on YouTube?
A: “Gangnam Style” by PSY - Q: What year was Facebook founded?
A: 2004 - Q: What is the most-followed TikTok account?
A: Khaby Lame (as of 2024) - Q: What does “meme” originally mean?
A: A unit of cultural information (coined by Richard Dawkins in 1976) - Q: Which video game features the characters Mario and Luigi?
A: Super Mario Bros. - Q: What year was the first iPhone released?
A: 2007 - Q: What does “LOL” stand for?
A: Laugh Out Loud - Q: Which streaming service released “Stranger Things”?
A: Netflix - Q: What is the most-played video game of all time?
A: Minecraft (over 238 million copies sold) - Q: Which app is known for disappearing messages and filters?
A: Snapchat - Q: What does “NFT” stand for?
A: Non-Fungible Token - Q: What social media platform is known for “pins” and “boards”?
A: Pinterest - Q: What was the name of the first-ever website?
A: info.cern.ch (created by Tim Berners-Lee)
Board Game & Gaming Questions
Perfect for your crowd since you’re already hosting game night!
- Q: In Monopoly, what color is the most expensive property (Boardwalk)?
A: Dark blue - Q: How many letters are there in a Scrabble game?
A: 100 - Q: In the game Catan, what resources do you need to build a settlement?
A: Brick, lumber, wheat, and wool (one of each) - Q: What is the name of the ghost that chases Pac-Man that is colored red?
A: Blinky - Q: In chess, which piece can only move diagonally?
A: Bishop - Q: How many squares are on a standard chess board?
A: 64 - Q: In Clue (Cluedo), what is the name of the victim?
A: Mr. Boddy (Dr. Black in UK version) - Q: What card game’s name means “one” in Italian?
A: Uno - Q: In Dungeons & Dragons, what does “D20” refer to?
A: A 20-sided die - Q: What is the highest-selling board game of all time?
A: Chess (followed by Monopoly)
Tips for Creating Your Own Trivia Questions
Want to customize your trivia night? Here’s what I’ve learned works best:
Balance Difficulty
Aim for roughly 30% easy (most people will know), 50% medium (groups will figure it out), and 20% hard (stumpers that separate the winners).
Avoid Ambiguous Questions
Questions with multiple potentially correct answers cause arguments. Be specific: “As of 2024, who holds the record for…” is better than “Who holds the record for…”
Include Visual or Audio Rounds
If you have a screen, picture rounds (name the celebrity, identify the logo) break up text-heavy questions and engage different skills.
Personalize When Possible
Add questions about your group—inside jokes, shared experiences, or friends’ specialties. “What year did [host name] start their job?” gets laughs.
Test Your Questions
Run through your questions beforehand. If you have to explain why the answer is correct, the question needs work.
Common Trivia Night Mistakes to Avoid
- Reading too fast: Give people time to process and discuss
- Arguing about answers: As host, your answer is final—keep things moving
- Too many rounds: 5-6 rounds of 10 questions is plenty for most nights
- Forgetting prizes: Even small rewards (candy, choosing the next movie) motivate players
- Unbalanced categories: Don’t load up on your expertise—vary the subjects
Final Thoughts
Great trivia questions create moments—the triumphant shout when someone remembers an obscure fact, the groans when the answer seems obvious in hindsight, the debates that spark new conversations. These 150+ questions should give you plenty of material for multiple game nights.
Mix and match categories based on your group, add your own questions as you think of them, and remember: the goal isn’t just to test knowledge—it’s to have fun together.
Ready to take your game nights further? Explore our guide to classic 80s board games for more nostalgic entertainment, or check out the best Christmas board games for seasonal gatherings.
