The Universal Appeal of Quizzes
Whether you’re watching The Chase, shouting answers at Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, or playing Trivial Pursuit with family, quizzes have a magical way of bringing people together.
They spark curiosity, encourage competition, and reward that satisfying “I knew that!” moment. From rainy Sunday afternoons to summer barbecues, a good quiz works in any weather, any setting, and with any crowd.
A Short History of the Quiz
The word quiz first appeared in the 18th century, though its origins are oddly mysterious. One story claims an Irish theatre owner invented the word as a nonsense term, challenging people to guess its meaning. Others say it stems from the Latin qui es? — “Who are you?” or "Who is it?".
By the late 19th century, quizzes were appearing in newspapers and pubs across Britain. The post-war years brought pub quiz culture, turning trivia into a social institution. Then came the TV quiz boom - from University Challenge and Mastermind to The Big Fat Quiz of the Year - turning general knowledge into national entertainment.
Today, quizzes live everywhere: pubs, offices, living rooms, and apps like Quizified, where daily trivia keeps our brains buzzing one question at a time.
Why We Love Quizzes So Much
They reward curiosity.
We spend our lives picking up bits of knowledge — about music, history, sport, films, science — and quizzes are the perfect way to use it. They give everyday facts a purpose.They bring people together.
Few activities work so well across ages and interests. Teenagers, parents and grandparents can all play the same game and each bring something to the table.They’re easy to organise.
You don’t need equipment, expensive props, or special skills — just questions, enthusiasm, and maybe a pen and paper.They’re timeless.
Whether indoors on a rainy night or outdoors with a picnic, quizzes fit anywhere. No weather dependency, no setup hassle — just guaranteed fun.
The Famous Quiz Inspirations
If you’re thinking of creating your own quiz, it helps to borrow inspiration from the greats:
The Chase: Blends speed, strategy and personality — great for timed or elimination rounds.
The Big Fat Quiz of the Year: Combines humour and pop culture; ideal for themed or year-in-review quizzes.
Trivial Pursuit: The gold standard for category-based trivia (arts, science, geography, entertainment).
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?: Uses progressive difficulty and lifelines - perfect for solo quizzes or fundraising events.
Watching how these shows create tension, laughter and variety is a brilliant lesson in pacing your own quiz.
How to make a quiz everyone enjoys
Creating a great quiz isn’t about showing off how clever you are — it’s about making sure everyone feels clever at least once. Here’s how to design one that hits the sweet spot.
1. Pick Your Audience and Tone
A quiz for friends at the pub can be cheekier than one for the office or family dinner. Match your questions to the crowd — too easy and it’s dull, too hard and it’s frustrating.
2. Mix Up the Rounds
Variety keeps energy high. A well-balanced quiz might include:
General Knowledge: The backbone of any quiz. Mix topics like history, sport, and pop culture.
Picture Round: Show landmarks, album covers, flags, celebrities or even people in the room.
Audio Round: Short song clips or famous voices. “Name that tune” or “Who’s speaking?” always goes down well.
True or False: Quickfire and great for all ages.
Multiple Choice: Keeps things inclusive for less confident players.
Themed Round: E.g. “Films from the 90s” or “Food Around the World.”
Bonus Round: Use riddles, emoji clues, or “guess the connection” puzzles for creativity.
Head over to our quiz essentials for 10 quiz questions on various topics.
3. Balance Difficulty
The golden rule: everyone should be able to answer something. Know your audience to create the ideal mix of genres and eras. A good ratio is:
60% easy or medium (confidence boosters)
30% moderate (the satisfying ones)
10% tricky (the bragging rights questions)
4. Keep It Moving
If you’re hosting, maintain a rhythm — no long pauses, no over-explaining. Encourage laughter, celebrate wrong answers, and keep the energy up.
5. End on a High
Finish with a fast-paced “lightning round” or a funny finale question to leave people smiling.
Good luck and don't forget to head over to our 'Play Now' and 'Print and Play' Sections if you need a little inspiration, or an entire quiz made for you!
