What is trivia?
Trivia is the quiz game everyone knows: questions about facts, from history and science to film and sport, and points for knowing the answer. Pub quizzes, school quiz nights and TV quiz shows have made it a favorite group game for generations.
Online trivia adds the thing a paper quiz can't: speed. On Ping44 you're not just racing to be right, you're racing everyone else to be right first, and the reveal after each question shows exactly who knew it and who guessed.
How to play trivia
- A question appears on everyone's screen at the same time, with its category and difficulty underneath.
- Tap the answer you think is right. Generated questions are always multiple choice; in a host's own quiz, some questions ask you to type the answer instead.
- You get one try. Once you've answered, wait for the others.
- The question closes when everyone has answered or the time runs out.
- The reveal shows the right answer, how many players chose each option and what everyone scored.
- The next question starts automatically after 30 seconds. The host can pause the countdown or move straight on.
- After the last question, the final scores are shown. The highest total wins.
The right answer isn't sent to anyone's screen until the question closes, so there's nothing to peek at.
Trivia modes on Ping44
The host picks the mode under Game mode in the lobby.
Classic: questions written for you
In Classic, Ping44 writes a fresh set of questions for every game with an AI model, so each game brings new questions. The host steers it with:
- Topic tags: one topic, in letters only, up to three words and 25 characters, such as "African history", "space" or "pop music". Leave it empty for general knowledge.
- Difficulty: Easy, Medium (the default) or Very hard. Very hard asks for expert-level knowledge.
- Language: English, French or Vietnamese. It starts as the host's language.
Generating the questions takes up to about 30 seconds, and everyone in the room sees that it's on its way. Each account can generate up to 12 sets of questions an hour. Play again after a Classic game generates a brand-new set.
Custom: your own quiz
In Custom, you play questions the host wrote. You write them under Manage questions, and they're saved to your account, so you can build a quiz once and play it again with another group. Each question is either:
- Multiple choice: the correct answer plus the wrong answers to show beside it.
- Open text: players type the answer. Capitals don't matter, but spelling and accents do.
Pick up to 25 of your questions for a game. Since you know the answers, Host is spectator is on by default: you watch while everyone else plays, and you need at least two other players to start. Play again reshuffles the same questions.
Settings
- Number of questions: 1 to 25 in Classic. The default is 10. In Custom, it's the number of questions you pick.
- Time per question: 5 to 60 seconds, in steps of 5. The default is 20.
- Auto-start next question: on by default. Turn it off and the host starts each question.
- No timer for first round: the first question waits for everyone to answer, handy for teaching newcomers.
Scoring on Ping44
The server times every answer from the moment the question appears:
- Right answer: up to 10 points. The faster you answer, the more you get, falling evenly from 10 for an instant answer to 1 at the buzzer. A right answer always scores at least 1.
- Wrong answer or no answer: 0 points.
- Question wins: whoever scores the most on a question gets a win in their stats. Players who tie for the top score each get one.
For example, on a 20-second question, a right answer after 5 seconds scores 8 points (three quarters of the time left).
Room scores add up across every game you play in the room, so trivia points count toward the same scoreboard as NOUN or Scribbly later in the night.
Tips and strategy
- Speed matters, but only when you're right. A wrong answer scores nothing however quick it is, so take a second when you're unsure.
- Read every option. Wrong answers in generated questions are written to look believable.
- Choose the clock for your group. 10 seconds makes a frantic speed round; 30 or more suits harder questions and newcomers.
- Match difficulty to the room. Easy works for a mixed family group; Very hard is for a room of enthusiasts.
- Use topics for theme nights. One topic tag turns the quiz into a music night, a geography challenge or a quiz about your own country.
- Write a custom quiz for special occasions. Questions about a birthday guest or your team's year make a quiz no one else can play.
How to start a game of trivia on Ping44
- Go to ping44.com, sign in (free, with email or Google) and create a room.
- Share the invite link, the room code or the QR code. Friends can join as guests by just picking a name.
- In the lobby, choose Trivia.
- Pick Classic or Custom under Game mode. For Classic, add a topic and choose the difficulty and language; for Custom, pick your questions in Manage questions.
- Set the number of questions and the time per question, then start. Anyone else in the room can watch as a spectator.
Why play trivia on Ping44
- Fresh questions every game on the topic you choose, in English, French or Vietnamese.
- Your own quiz when you want one, saved to your account.
- Big groups welcome. Up to 100 players answer the same question at once.
- Fair play. The server times every answer and keeps the right answer hidden until the question closes.
- Built-in voice chat, so it feels like a quiz night in one room.
- More party games in the same room. Switch to 20 Questions, NOUN, Scribbly or any of the other party games without leaving.
- Free, with no ads, in the browser, with nothing to install.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play trivia online with friends for free?
Yes. Create a room on Ping44, send your friends the invite link and choose Trivia in the lobby. It's free, with no ads, and plays in the browser on phones, tablets and computers.
How many people can play?
From 2 to 100. Everyone answers the same question at the same time, and anyone else in the room can watch as a spectator. In Custom mode with the host spectating, you need at least two other players.
Where do the questions come from?
In Classic mode, Ping44 generates a fresh set of multiple-choice questions for every game with an AI model, on the topic, difficulty and language the host chooses. In Custom mode, you play questions the host wrote and saved to their account.
Can I make my own trivia quiz?
Yes. Choose Custom mode, open Manage questions and write your questions, either multiple choice or with a typed answer. They're saved to your account, and you can pick up to 25 for each game.
How does scoring work?
A right answer scores up to 10 points: the faster you answer, the more you get, and never less than 1. A wrong answer or no answer scores 0. The top scorer on each question gets a win.
What languages can the questions be in?
Generated questions can be written in English, French or Vietnamese. They start in the host's language, and the host can change it in the lobby. Custom questions are in whatever language you write them.
Is there a limit on generated questions?
Each account can generate up to 12 sets of questions an hour. Custom games, with questions you wrote yourself, don't count toward it.
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